AP-NORC America 250 Poll

This July 4^th will mark the 250^th anniversary of the founding of the United States. As America approaches this milestone, Americans express nuanced views not only about whether the American Dream still holds true, but also about the rights and freedoms that define the nation’s identity. While freedom or liberty is the most common response when asked what unites Americans, political interests or values is most frequently cited when asked what divides Americans.

June 8, 2026

The American Dream

Only a third of the public feel the American Dream, the belief that if you work hard, you’ll get ahead, still holds true today. Half say that while the American Dream once held true, it does not anymore. Few, only 15%, say that the American Dream has never been true.

These findings are consistent with previous WSJ/NORC polls in which 31% of adults in 2025 and 34% in 2024 said the American Dream still holds true.

Not all adults are equally likely to believe that the American dream exists. Republicans are more than twice as likely as both independents and Democrats to believe that the American Dream still holds true (57% vs. 24% and 17%, respectively). Additionally, men are more likely than women (39% vs. 29%), and older adults are more likely than younger adults to believe it. Nearly half of adults 60 and older (46%) still believe in the American Dream compared with only a fifth of adults ages 18-29 (22%). White adults are more likely than Black adults to believe that the American Dream currently holds true (40% vs. 19%) while Black adults are more likely to feel that the American Dream has never been true (30% vs. 12%).

Adults born within and outside of the United States are similarly likely to believe that the American Dream still exists.

Americans’ views of the American Dream are closely tied to how they see their own economic prospects. Although few adults feel confident about their financial future, those who say the American Dream still holds true are more likely than others to feel confident they can find a good job, save enough for retirement, cover an unexpected medical expense, or buy a new home.

June 17, 2026

The American Identity

When it comes to America’s identity as a nation, nearly 9 in 10 say the freedom of speech (87%) and the right to vote (86%) are important. Eight in ten believe the same about freedom of religion. Fewer, but still a majority, believe the right to keep and bear arms is important to America’s identity (57%).

Although most of the public believe that freedom of speech is important to the United States’ identity as a nation, almost half (46%) perceive it as currently under major threat, with another third saying it is under minor threat.

The public is more divided on how much threat the right to vote is currently facing: about a third say it is under major threat, another third say it is under minor threat, and the remaining third say there is no threat at all. A similar pattern emerges regarding the right to keep and bear arms, with roughly similar shares perceiving it as under major threat, under minor threat, or no threat at all.

Fewer say freedom of religion is under major threat, though, 40% perceive it to be under minor threat.

By wide margins, Democrats are more likely than both independents and Republicans to perceive the right to vote or freedom of speech as facing major threat. Partisan differences are smaller when it comes to freedom of religion, with one-third of Democrats saying it faces a major threat, compared with about one-quarter of independents and Republicans. In contrast, Republicans and independents are more likely than Democrats to perceive the right to keep and bear arms as under major threat.

June 25, 2026

What Unites and Divides the Country

When it comes to overall perceptions of the nation, 2 in 10 adults (18%) describe America in one word as “great, prosperous, or powerful.” The next most common descriptors are “struggling or declining” (14%) and “free or freedom” (13%). These results are similar to a 2016 AP-NORC poll in which the same percent of adults described the country as “great or prosperous.”

Republicans are more likely to use positive words to describe the country compared with Democrats who are more likely to draw negative associations. More Republicans than Democrats described the country as “free or freedom” (22% vs. 6%) or “great, prosperous, or powerful” (30% vs. 9%). Alternatively, Democrats were more likely to use words or phrases like “struggling or declining” (22% vs. 6%) or “corruption or unfairness” (13% vs. 4%).

Half of respondents were asked what unites Americans and 2 in 10 cite “freedom or liberty” as the main principle. One in 10 point to “political interests or values,” “patriotism,” or “morality, values, and compassion.” These findings are similar to results from a decade ago, when “freedom or liberty” was also the most common response.

Republicans are more likely to cite “freedom or liberty” as a source of unity in America compared with Democrats (27% vs. 11%).

The other half of the respondents were asked about what divides Americans. There is more consensus on the source of divisions. About a quarter (27%) cite “political interests or values” as the main source of division, while 14% blame “leaders, government, or elites.” Another 14% point to “economic interests or values.” These views are similar to 2016, when 25% mostly blamed “political interests or values” and 18% named “economic interests or values” as the main sources of division.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say “political interests or values” divide most Americans (37% vs. 24%).Read more: