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

As the country prepares to celebrate the 4th of July, [new polling](https://www.cato.org/blog/53-dont-know-why-we-declared-independence-britain-1776) from the Cato Institute sheds light on how Americans feel about liberty, free speech, and the role of government in 2025.

July 3, 2025 • News Releases 

As the country prepares to celebrate the 4th of July, [new polling](https://www.cato.org/blog/53-dont-know-why-we-declared-independence-britain-1776) from the Cato Institute sheds light on how Americans feel about liberty, free speech, and the role of government in 2025.

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](mailto:mmiller@cato.org) for any questions.

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