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CBS News poll on America at 250 and some of what Americans think is best about U.S.
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- When asked about the best aspect of the American way of life, most Americans chose "the people," ranking it above land, resources, economic system, or government.
- Freedom and democracy were cited as America's greatest inventions, followed by technological innovations like the light bulb, internet, automobile, telephone, and airplane.
- Hamburgers are considered the food that best represents America, with seniors favoring apple pie; regional preferences show pizza is more popular in the Northeast.
- Just over half of Americans feel at least somewhat excited about the America 250 celebrations, and half plan to fly the American flag this Fourth of July, with excitement levels correlating to flag-flying intentions.
- The findings come from a nationally representative CBS News/YouGov survey of 2,150 U.S. adults conducted in June 2026, with a margin of error of ±2.7 points.
