Eight out of 10 American voters believe the U.S. was founded on ideals of freedom and equality

Just 11% believe the country's animating principle was a 'lie.'

Published: August 6, 2020 10:57am

Updated: August 7, 2020 11:51am

An overwhelming majority of American voters believe that the United States was founded on the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence, even if the country has at times failed to live up to those ideals, according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen.

Seventy-nine percent of the respondents believe that the statement that the U.S. was "founded on the ideals of freedom and equality, though we have never fully lived up to those ideals" is more accurate than the belief that those founding ideals were a "lie." founding. 

Just 11% believed the "lie" interpretation to be more accurate. 

Image
Just the News Poll, Which of the following statements about the U.S. founding is closer to the truth?
Just the News Daily Poll
With Scott Rasmussen

The strong support in favor of the country's foundational tenets comes after several months of sustained anti-American rhetoric on the part of commentators and activists across the country, many of whom believe that the U.S. was founded explicitly as a racist, unequal society. 

The national survey of 1,200 registered voters was conducted Jul. 30 – Aug. 1, 2020 by Rasmussen, a polling veteran. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2.8% for full sample. 

To see the full demographic cross-tabulations for this polling question, click here

To see the methodology and sample demographics for this polling question, click here.

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News