Pew Research: What Makes Americans Proud? Freedom Still Matters—Even When We Disagree

New research from Pew asked people in 25 countries what makes them proud of their nation. For Americans, one answer rose above the rest: freedom.

About one in five Americans named freedom as their main source of pride—free speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, civil liberties. The U.S. was the only country surveyed where freedom ranked first.

That matters. Because even when we disagree on nearly everything else, freedom is still something Americans across the political spectrum care deeply about.

The research also shows some real divides. Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to cite freedom as a source of pride. Republicans often mention the military, U.S. international standing, and current leadership. Democrats emphasize diversity and multiculturalism. The words people use are different. The priorities are different.

And yes, some Americans—about one in five—said they don't feel proud right now. Many said they used to be, but aren't anymore. That's not apathy. That's people who still believe the country should live up to something better.

Here's what stands out to me: only 3% of Americans mentioned U.S. history as a source of pride. And among those who did, most talked about the nation's founding—the ideals in the Constitution, the vision of the Founding Fathers.

Some people spoke about those ideals with hope. Others with frustration. One person said they're proud of "the ideals upon which we are founded" but worried that "so much of this is being erased, forgotten, and replaced with things that I am not proud of."

That tension—between the ideals and the reality—isn't new. It's been the work of every generation. The abolitionists. The suffragists. The civil rights marchers. Reverend Jesse Jackson, who we lost this week, spent his entire life in that gap, pushing this country to live up to what it promised.

National pride isn't about pretending everything's fine. It's about believing the country can be better—and doing the work to make it so.

That's what we're here for.

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/02/17/6-facts-about-national-pride-in-the-us/