A Cato Institute survey of 2,253 Americans, conducted with Morning Consult on June 25-26, found that 46% of respondents couldn’t identify what America’s 250th anniversary commemorates on July 4th, while 53% correctly linked it to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The knowledge gap was most pronounced among Gen Z, with 61% of respondents aged roughly 18 to 26 unable to identify the significance of the anniversary. Only 39% of that age group correctly connected the celebration to the Declaration of Independence.

The survey also revealed broader civic knowledge gaps: 57% of Americans didn’t know why the colonies declared independence from Britain, 58% couldn’t identify the main purpose of the Constitution, and 55% didn’t know the Supreme Court has final say in disputes with the president.

  • SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world
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    7 天前

    But if course. We can’t teach civics! That’s not patriotic. The schools need more bible and Ayn Rand, less Jefferson and Voltaire. /s

      • FerretyFever0@fedia.io
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        7 天前

        And don’t let them read the nasty bits with the genocides. Or the part where the teenage girls rape their father. Or the part where David kills off a guy to fuck his wife. Or the-

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      7 天前

      We can’t teach civics!

      Most people don’t spend their lives ingesting and regurgitating PolySci history factoids, such that its fresh in their brains the moment a random pollster bothers them for an answer.

      • [deleted]@piefed.world
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        7 天前

        The list of things in the article summary the absolute bare minimum someone who votes should know.

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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          7 天前

          American Education Brain is thinking the “bare minimum” is regurgitation of trivia factoids as a basis for competency.

          “July 4th Meaning” has nothing to do with one’s political valence or material conditions.