This Fourth of July, the United States turns 250. To mark the occasion, a Change Research survey of 1,714 registered voters, fielded June 10 through 17, 2026, asked Americans how they’re feeling about the milestone, what they think it means to be American today, and what they’re hoping for next. A sense of pride leads the way, but there are a wide range of opinions. When combined with those who feel hopeful, celebratory, or nostalgic, more than four in ten Americans are approaching the country’s 250th anniversary in a festive spirit.
How We Feel About the USA
Asked to pick one word for how they feel about the country’s 250th birthday this summer, more Americans chose proud (22%) than any other option, ahead of uninspired (15%), frustrated (13%), conflicted (11%), celebratory (9%), indifferent (9%), hopeful (7%), uncomfortable (5%), nostalgic (4%), not sure (3%), and anxious (2%).
That sense of pride builds with age, climbing from 12% among Americans 18 to 34 to 27% among those 50 and older. Pride is strongest among Republicans, at 45% Democrats and independents are also marking Independence Day too, but with a wider mix of feelings overall.
How We Describe Ourselves
When we asked Americans, in one sentence, how they’d describe the United States to a visitor from another country, one word came up more than any other, by a wide margin: freedom. For plenty of respondents, that single word was the entire answer.
“Freedom”
Hispanic/Latino Man, 65+, Republican
Right behind it was a sense of the country as a place built from many places.
“The United States is a giant melting pot of people and ideas.”
Black/African American Woman, 18 to 34, Democrat
“There are no perfect countries but the United States is the best nation to protect individual liberties.”
Hispanic/Latino Man, 35 to 49, Republican
“More opportunities than any other country to make something of yourself!”
American Indian/Alaska Native Man, 50 to 64, Independent
Not every answer was rosy. A handful of Americans summed the country up in a single, more pointed word instead, like “Divided.” But for every one-word complaint, there were a few more Americans holding pride and honesty in the same sentence.
“Beautiful cities and landscapes, lots of opportunities but lots of corruption at the higher level.”
Hispanic/Latino Man, 18 to 34, Democrat
What Makes Us American
Ask Americans what it actually takes to be “truly American,” and there was broad consensus on the basics. Believing in the principles of the Declaration of Independence, including equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, ranks first at 97% important, with 96% of Democrats, 97% of independents, and 99% of Republicans on the same page. Believing in democratic values like free elections, the rule of law, and free speech follows at 96%, and respecting American laws and institutions ranks third at 95%, both with similarly strong agreement across the political spectrum.
Accepting and respecting people of different backgrounds, cultures, and religions (87%) and feeling a sense of loyalty and commitment to the country (84%) round out the top five, each backed by strong majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike. Lower on the list, the parties diverge more, particularly on speaking English as a primary language and being a Christian. But on the core civic values that define the country on paper, Americans are remarkably aligned.
What Americans Want More Of
That gap between principle and practice is a big part of why, when we asked what Americans most want the country to accomplish over the next 25 years, the wish list reads less like a complaint and more like a to-do list.
By a wide margin, the single most common answer was affordable, accessible healthcare. Versions of “universal healthcare,” “healthcare for all,” and “fix health care” showed up throughout the sample, most often from Democrats and independents, but with real representation from Republicans too.
“Universal healthcare”
Hispanic/Latino Man, 50 to 64, Democrat
“Healthcare for all tax paying people in the US.”
Asian/Pacific Islander Woman, 18 to 34, Democrat
For many, healthcare was part of a broader wish for a lower cost of living overall: rent, groceries, gas, and the basics.
“Lower the cost of meat, gas and groceries.”
White Man, 50 to 64, Republican
The second most common theme cut across party lines almost entirely: a desire for more accountability from the people in charge. Calls for term limits and an end to corruption came from Republicans and Democrats alike, making it one of the few genuinely bipartisan items on the list.
“Get rid of both political parties and establish age and term limits for members of Congress.”
Hispanic/Latino Man, 65+, Independent
The wish list splits on a few of the country’s more contested issues. Immigration and reproductive rights are good examples: Republicans and Democrats often want very different things, but both are describing a country they want to see live up to its own standards a little better.
“Closed borders. Affordable food.”
Hispanic/Latino Man, 50 to 64, Republican
“Healthcare, including abortion, for all”
White Woman, 50 to 64, Democrat
On healthcare, the cost of living, and basic government accountability, the through line holds across the political map without much disagreement at all: Americans want a country that works better for everyone in it.
Looking Ahead with Hope
Looking out over the next five years, hope centers on each other just as often as it centers on any single policy. Asked what they’re most hopeful about for the country, Americans across the spectrum kept landing on a similar idea: getting along better.
“Unity”
White Woman, 50 to 64, Republican
“Getting along with one another.”
Hispanic/Latino Man, 35 to 49, Independent
“Safer, happier, healthier, calmer, blessed.”
Black/African American Woman, 50 to 64, Democrat
Plenty of Americans are also hoping for some relief at the register.
“The most hopeful that the cost of goods will go down.”
Black/African American Man, 18 to 34, Republican
“Lower interest rates”
Asian/Pacific Islander Man, 18 to 34, Democrat
Others looked beyond our own borders, hoping for peace overseas.
“Finding peace with Russia and China.”
White Woman, 35 to 49, Republican
And a smaller group placed their hope simply in the country’s institutions holding steady, regardless of who’s in charge.
“Continue following the constitution”
White Woman, 65+, Republican
For some, hope was also tied closely to the next election, a reminder that politics and patriotism are deeply intertwined for a lot of Americans. But the steadier, more lasting hopes, for unity, for affordability, for peace, were the ones that showed up in every corner of the political map.
A Hopeful 250th
Whatever Americans feel about the day itself, what they want next sounds a lot like the country’s founding promise: a little more freedom, a little more opportunity, and a little more togetherness, for everyone. As one respondent put it, summing up the next 25 years in three words:
“Peace, Unity, Prosperity”
White Woman, 50 to 64, Republican
Happy 250th, America!
Methodology
This Change Research survey was conducted June 10 through 17, 2026, among 1,714 registered voters nationwide. The modeled margin of error is ±2.5%.
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