Zombie Americans have forgotten why 4th of July is a holiday

American Independence: When, and from whom?

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Hudson Valley may be replete with American Revolutionary history from Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh to the great chain crafted and placed across the Hudson to block the British from coming north, to the beacon fires atop Mount Beacon to alert the colonists of the advance of the Red Coats. But, how many people across the United States really know their history?


A national survey conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion at Marist College in Poughkeepsie found that only 58 percent of those Americans questioned nationwide new the US declared its independence from England in 1776. Of those questioned, 26 percent were unsure of the year and 16 percent mentioned another date. Six percent did not know America declared its independence from England.


Thirty-one percent of adults younger than 30 said the date was 1776 while 59 percent of those between 30 and 44 knew it, 75 percent between 45 and 59 years old had the right answer and 60 percent of those 60 and older said it was 1776.


In the battle of the sexes, 65 percent of all men questioned had the right answer and 52 percent of all women knew it.


The Marist poll concludes that many Americans need to brush up on American history.


http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/July/04/IndDay_MarPol-04Jul11.html