July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Blood and hardship were the price American patriots paid for the idea of God-given rights, the rule of law, and self-defense against tyrants. The colonists fought and suffered for seven long years until independence was secured and formally recognized by the Treaty of Paris. And though America’s 250th anniversary is a milestone worth celebrating, not everyone is cheering.
Recent surveys paint a troubling picture of confidence in American ideals, especially among Gen Z. According to a Quinnipiac University survey, 61 percent of Americans don’t believe the United States today is living up to the ideals stated in the “Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” 64 percent of 18-to-34 year-olds say our system of democracy “is not working.” Patriotism is also on the decline according to the June 4 survey which found that more than 1 in 5 citizens (22%) do not consider themselves proud Americans.
A poll from the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted April 16-20, 2026 confirms a decline in patriotism and national confidence. Only 1 in 4 Americans believed the U.S. “stands above all other countries in the world.” While 44 percent said the U.S. is “among the greatest countries, along with some others.”
Younger generations have a dimmer view of our democratic ideal of self-government. Only 51 percent of Americans ages 18-29 believe a “democratically elected government” is “very or extremely” important. 48 percent said it is “somewhat important” or do not believe it is important.
So why the pessimism? Several factors are certainly at play, but failure to teach civics and history plays a huge role. According the 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), scores on civics and history (NAEP tests this every 4 years) 68 percent of eighth-graders were deficient in American civics and 77 percent were deficient in history. When our educational institutions fail to teach about our institutions and ideals, the torch of liberty dims for the next generation.
According to a 2024 survey dubbed Losing America’s Memory: Historical Illiteracy in the 21st Century, nearly two-thirds of U.S. college students could not name the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 60 percent could not correctly answer the term lengths for members of Congress. The survey was conducted by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA).
When citizens are ignorant of American history and its core governing principles, it should come as no surprise that they will not defend our freedoms and institutions. Why be patriotic if our system of government isn’t better than any others? Surveys show that many Americans, particularly younger people, have become disillusioned with a Congress many believe is self-serving; frustrated with an economy that puts purchasing a home and wealth creation out of reach; and student loan debt that hangs around their necks like an albatross, while many college grads remain underemployed or unable to find a job in their field of study.
If ignorance leads to a decline in patriotism, then failing to understand the purpose of freedom is an accelerant to its decline. Freedom is not a license for social idiocy or a blank check for self-indulgence where government pays the tab for bad choices. George Washington said in his Farewell Address that religion and morality are “indispensable supports” to political prosperity. John Adams contended that our Constitution was made for a “moral and religious” citizenry. True freedom, we’re reminded, comes at a high price and moral discipline and noble purpose are part of the cost to maintain it.
Our Founders realized that without a higher order above the state, the government becomes the ultimate authority—and our rights, once seen as God-given and “unalienable,” become subject to the whims of whoever holds power. This is the breeding ground of tyranny.
Despite our collective forgetfulness and civic failures, the Declaration of Independence is a rare achievement whose ideals still attract multitudes of people from every nation who wait in line every year to become part of this grand experiment.
They come because human dignity is protected in our law, rooted in the conviction that our rights are endowed by our Creator rather than granted by a legislature. They come to live under the rule of law, the protection of private property rights, and the due process that allows for recourse when the state oversteps. These are the institutional protections that side with people over the state and give the best chance to pursue happiness.
Half of Americans still believe that our best days are ahead of us. While the road to the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence has been battered, the bedrock of the country remains. May we use this moment not just to look back at our faults, but to look forward with the courage to rediscover the truths that bind us together as a people. Happy 250th, America! Let’s make the next chapter even better.
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