Page 1 of 26
26% of the U.S. don't know who we declared independence from
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:48 pmby Bei Song
According to this poll, 26% of U.S. don't know that we declared independence from Great Britain:There’s good news for American education. About three-quarters of residents — 74% — know the U.S. declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776. The bad news for the academic system — 26% do not. This 26% includes one-fifth who are unsure and 6% who thought the U.S. separated from another nation. That begs the question, “From where do the latter think the U.S. achieved its independence?” Among the countries mentioned are France, China, Japan, Mexico, and Spain.
I've always heard that Americans weren't the brightest, but when it comes to who we declared our independence from, surely we can do better than
74%?
The Declaration of Independence and the Founding Fathers were practically the first thing in American history you learn. Well, I did at least.
Are Americans really this stupid?
And yes, I am American.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:50 pmby Helertia
Bei Song wrote:Are Americans really this stupid?
See my sig.
I read an article that said something like a third couldn't locate England on a map.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:51 pmby Rhopurs
You've made my day. Another anecdote for the break room at work.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:51 pmby Jordaxia
Bei Song wrote:According to this poll, 26% of U.S. don't know that we declared independence from
England
Bet you feel like a right lemon now.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:52 pmby Shia Majority
Pretty sure America declared independence from Israel in 1948.
Wait.. nope. Still one nation.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:52 pmby Bluth Corporation
I agree; there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for not knowing that the US declared its independence from Safavid Persia.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:52 pmby Lacadaemon
Probably about 30% of the population in any large country is most likely functionally illiterate, so it's hardly surprising. I would guess if you canvased the EU - which is the only comparable economic/political block to the US - you'd find a staggering about of ignorance too. For example, Jesus is the king of Poland.
\
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:53 pmby Helertia
Jordaxia wrote:Bei Song wrote:According to this poll, 26% of U.S. don't know that we declared independence from
England
Bet you feel like a right lemon now.
Oh, thats a good point. Lets see, we would have been the United Kingdom of Great Britain at that point (Ireland came later)
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:53 pmby Saurisia
Ah, the result of 50 years of educational decadence...
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:53 pmby The Tavan Race
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:54 pmby Bei Song
Helertia wrote:Bei Song wrote:Are Americans really this stupid?
See my sig.
I read an article that said something like a third couldn't locate England on a map.
Yeah, I've read that too. I've also heard from a friend that he did a survey in his school where participants located Louisiana and Iraq, and something like 20% couldn't get Louisiana, and 50% Iraq.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:54 pmby TerraPublica
*Cries incessantly*
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:54 pmby Buffett and Colbert
Eh, you can get a poll to say anything. I'd be willing to bet that the results were skewed (although my bet wouldn't be that high...).
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:55 pmby Wamitoria
Bei Song wrote:Are Americans really this stupid?
Damn, more than 1/4 of Americans are 'tards.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:56 pmby EvilDarkMagicians
My god.
Though I bet if you asked a few people around here "Where did gain independence from" they would probably name a few countries.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:56 pmby Avenio
Saurisia wrote:Ah, the result of 50 years of educational decadence...
Ah, yes, nothing says educational decadence like 20-year-old textbooks, broken down schools and burnt out teachers. Yep. That's totally the problem here.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:56 pmby Ifreann
Jordaxia wrote:Bei Song wrote:According to this poll, 26% of U.S. don't know that we declared independence from
England
Bet you feel like a right lemon now.
The irony is delicious.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:57 pmby Zende
Yeah being American is the greatest.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:58 pmby Western cuba
Why would we declare independence from China people are stupid we learn this in Fourth Grade!
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:59 pmby OMGeverynameistaken
I wonder how may of the 6% who said we declared independence from a state other than Britain were just putting down what they thought would get a laugh.
Polls are not truth, people. It's important to remember that.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:00 pmby Lacadaemon
To be fair, most of them thought of themselves as Englishmen, and that's who they thought they were declaring independence from. The fact that it was technically the United Kingdom of Great Britain, probably didn't figure largely in anyone's though process. Mostly because Scotland didn't count (still doesn't) and doubly so for Wales.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:01 pmby Buffett and Colbert
Lacadaemon wrote:To be fair, most of them thought of themselves as Englishmen, and that's who they thought they were declaring independence from. The fact that it was technically the United Kingdom of Great Britain, probably didn't figure largely in anyone's though process. Mostly because Scotland didn't count (still doesn't) and doubly so for Wales.
I thought there was no United Kingdom back then.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:01 pmby Jordaxia
Lacadaemon wrote:To be fair, most of them thought of themselves as Englishmen, and that's who they thought they were declaring independence from. The fact that it was technically the United Kingdom of Great Britain, probably didn't figure largely in anyone's though process. Mostly because Scotland didn't count (still doesn't) and doubly so for Wales.
Yawn.
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:01 pmby Saurisia
Considering that the world economy's tanking and more and more people are becoming stupid, I say that all those smart and sane build a bunch of rockets and flee to the moon. But something tells me that we'd be screwed either way...
Posted:
Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:02 pmby Jordaxia
Buffett and Colbert wrote:Lacadaemon wrote:To be fair, most of them thought of themselves as Englishmen, and that's who they thought they were declaring independence from. The fact that it was technically the United Kingdom of Great Britain, probably didn't figure largely in anyone's though process. Mostly because Scotland didn't count (still doesn't) and doubly so for Wales.
I thought there was no United Kingdom back then.
Act of Union, 1707 for your future reference.
