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Fewer people in US proud to be American: Poll

Saturday, 04 July 2015 1:26 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 04 July 2015 1:27 PM ]

Fewer people consider themselves to be "extremely proud" to be an American compared to a decade ago, a new Gallup poll indicates.

Fewer people in the United States consider themselves to be "extremely proud" to be an American compared to a decade ago, according to a new survey.

While most people - 54 percent - consider themselves "extremely proud" to be American, that number is down from a peak of 70 percent in 2003, a new Gallup poll indicates.

In addition, 27 percent say they are "very proud" to be American, 14 percent say they are "moderately proud," 4 percent are "only a little proud" and 1 percent state that they are "not at all proud."

The highest percentage of people who were "extremely proud" to be an American came between 2002 and 2004, not long after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

That number has steadily declined in the following years, with a sharp drop between 2004 and 2005 from 69 percent to 61 percent.

“This indicates that patriotism is not necessarily a fixed characteristic, but can vary depending on circumstances -- most notably when the US is under duress, as was the case after the events of 9/11,” Gallup said.

Gallup first asked this question nearly 15 years ago, at the end of Bill Clinton's presidency. The poll is taken annually in June before the Independence Day holiday on July 4.

This year’s Fourth of July comes amid worries over possible security threats, a spike in shark attacks on East Coast beaches and the danger of wildfires in the West.

AHT/HRJ

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