Cato Poll: 53% of Americans Don’t Know Why We Celebrate the Fourth of July

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As the country prepares to celebrate the 4th of July, new polling from the Cato Institute sheds light on how Americans feel about liberty, free speech, and the role of government in 2025.

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Below are some findings you might find interesting:

  • 53% of Americans don’t know why we celebrate the Fourth of July.
  • 54% of Americans don’t know that only Congress can declare war.
  • 54% of Americans don’t know that the Supreme Court has the final say over presidential actions.
  • More than a third of Americans don’t know there are three branches of government.
  • Nearly 20% of Americans under 25 don’t know that George Washington was the first president of the United States.

The data offers a timely snapshot of how Americans define liberty today—and whether they believe the country still lives up to its founding ideals.

Please reach out to Madison at mmiller@​cato.​org for any questions.

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