More than Two-Thirds of Gen-Z Don’t Know What America 250 Commemorates
A disturbing new national poll shows Generation Z is largely ignorant of basic American history and civics — a knowledge crisis one Tennessee history teacher warns could leave young Americans vulnerable to socialism and other radical ideologies.
The Cato Institute’s 2026 Fourth of July Survey, conducted with Morning Consult, found that a majority of Gen Z correctly answered only one of seven basic civics questions.
While 66 percent identified George Washington as the nation’s first president, 34 percent could not. Even more alarming, 61 percent of Americans under 30 did not know what the nation’s 250th anniversary commemorated. Only 39 percent knew it marked the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Gabriel Delaney, a history teacher at Franklin Road Christian School in Tennessee, told The Todd Starnes Radio Show the results reflect a broader abandonment of America’s heritage. Delaney is also featured in the upcoming book, “The Golden Age: How Trump Saved America.” Click here to read.
“There isn’t an emphasis on American culture, American heritage, the things that make America great, the things that have made America great,” Delaney said. “And it’s honestly sad to see how far our society has come from where we used to be and where we used to pride ourselves on being as well.”
The survey of 2,253 adults was conducted online June 25-26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. It found 52 percent of Gen Z could not identify Great Britain as the nation from which the colonies declared independence. Sixty-seven percent did not know why the colonies declared independence, while 64 percent failed to identify the Constitution’s primary purpose as establishing and limiting government power.
Delaney said teachers frequently follow curricula dictated by public school systems and local government officials.
“Teachers teach what they are taught to teach, how they are trained, how they are told, the curriculum that they are given by their public school or by their county,” he said.
Delaney warned that disconnecting young people from their national heritage makes them easier to influence politically.
“If you take away the heritage, you take the culture, you take away the past, then they’re going to be far more easily persuaded to places like socialism and other ideologies just like that,” he said.
That warning comes as the Cato poll found 53 percent of Gen Z holds a favorable view of socialism, compared with 45 percent who view capitalism favorably. Thirty-eight percent also expressed a favorable view of communism.
Delaney said the consequences extend beyond an inability to recognize famous historical figures or arrange major events on a timeline. Americans who do not understand the Constitution may also fail to recognize when their liberties are threatened.
“These rights don’t come from government,” he said. “These rights actually come from God himself. God is the creator, and God is the giver of these unalienable rights that no government or man can give or take away.”
Delaney said his Christian-school students study the Declaration of Independence, the Constitutional Convention and the development of American government through a biblical lens.
“You literally cannot talk about American history without talking about the influence of religion,” he said, “but specifically the religion of Christianity and God’s word.”
Homeschool your kids, America. Click here to pre-order a copy of the new book from Todd Starnes, “The Golden Age: How Trump Saved America.”