USA Residents On July 4th we celebrate Independence Day. From which country did the United States win its independence? Great Britain Unsure Other countries mentioned Row % Row % Row % USA Residents 74% 20% 6% Region Northeast 84% 10% 6% Midwest 74% 21% 5% South 68% 26% 6% West 75% 18% 7% Household Income Less than $50,000 63% 30% 7% $50,000 or more 86% 9% 5% Race White 82% 13% 5% Non-white 56% 35% 9% Age 18 to 29 60% 33% 7% 30 to 44 75% 15% 10% 45 to 59 79% 17% 4% 60 or older 76% 19% 4% Age Under 45 67% 24% 9% 45 or older 78% 18% 4% Gender Men 81% 12% 7% Women 67% 28% 5% July 2010 Marist Poll National Residents "N=1004 MOE +/- 3%" Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Given the Thomas Jefferson quote in the immediately previous post about the need for an educated citizenry for democracy to flourish, the chart set out above is down right frightening. It's one thing not to know foreign geography - although it does make understanding world news a challenge - and something all together different not to know the basic history of one's own country. One thing I also could not help but notice is the fact that the level of ignorance in respect to accurate American history corresponds in large part directly with the geographic area withing the Bible Belt. This region - land of creationism, self-lauded patriotism, anti-gay intolerance and the Southern Baptists who constantly condemn public education - amazingly likes to pride itself on being the "real America." And the area with the best knowledge of history? Godless New England where most states now allow gay marriage. Perhaps a little less gay bashing and more serious education would do the Bible Belt some good.
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