American Identity
09 June 2022
Polling Firm: YouGov
Sample Size: n=2,500 US Citizens (nationally representative)
Fieldwork Dates: May 17-June 3, 2022
Margin of Error: +/- 2.0 for US avg.
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Exploring American Identity Part 2: Fourth of July
June 20, 2022
Topic
American Identity
This report explores key narratives that Americans identify both in their own family history and in the shared American history. Some are broadly shared across the population, while others are experienced more strongly by particular groups. Although the Fourth of July evokes stories of national history, we find that personal stories of family history are a more powerful way to break through ‘us versus them’ narratives.
Key Takeaways
- Americans are concerned about where the country is headed. Most share a broad pessimism about the current and future state of the United States.
- Most do not describe America today with any positive attributes. Though most Americans say they want a future country that is “united”, “hard-working”, and “responsible”, Americans describe the country today mostly as “divided”, “chaotic”, and “intolerant”.
- Despite this pessimism, faith that Americans have more in common remains high and shared history and celebrations transcend lines of division.
- Americans across the political spectrum align in their recognition of the importance of key attributes of the country, including of individual liberties (86%), of opportunity (86%), and of being a “nation of immigrants” (71%).
- E Pluribus Unum: Shifting the focus to family history reveals narratives that are distinct as well as shared.
- The many: There are family narratives that resonate most strongly among particular subgroups of Americans. The one: However, Americans also share narratives of family experience. Meaningfully, 87% of Americans feel that their family’s journey resonates with “a story of working hard, doing your part, and passing on to the next generation a better life”.
72%
of Americans believe “we have more in common than what divides us.”
76%
of Americans say “American identity is important to them.”
71%
of Americans say that neither of the major political parties makes them feel hopeful about the country’s future.
Overview
The attitudes captured in the data show significant concerns around Americas future and its ability to live up to its ideals. The findings also reveal a wide spectrum of strength of attachment to American identity. Between the points of polarization, we see meaningful commonality in seeing the United States with nuance and humility, indicating the potential for American identity to help transcend conflict between groups and bridge lines of political division. Many Americans share the same family narratives, aspirations for the country, and support for various historic figures, events and holidays. We can celebrate our common national identity by asking about and sharing our family stories, where our research shows there are many important points of commonality. At a time of intense polarization, personal stories are also a more effective way to raise and talk about different and even divergent experiences as Americans.
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