With the Fourth of July holiday upon us this week, people across the nation are preparing to celebrate the birth of our nation with fireworks, cook-outs, and parades. The holiday is also a great way to remind people to reflect on what it means to be an American in 2019, more than 240 years after the Founders signed the Declaration of Independence.
Ever since the Continental Congress declared the original 13 American colonies were free from Britain's rule, America has grown to encompass 3.8 million square miles, 50 states, five self-governing territories, and more than 327 million people within its borders.
But what does it mean to be a patriotic American? And which states deserve the prize for being the most likely to bleed red, white and blue? Fortunately, Wallethub has gathered data from across the 50 states that ranges from the amount of enlisted military personnel to the share of adults who voted in the last presidential election and even the amount of AmeriCorp volunteers per capita.
Despite the fact it's the home to The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, New Jersey ranked as the least patriot state according to WalletHub. New York and California were 49 and 48 respectively, with the Golden State having a poor patriotic showing thanks to its low share of veterans and the lowest volunteer rate per capita, according to WalletHub's survey.
On the other side of the spectrum, New Hampshire was #1 on the list for the most patriotic states in America. Possibly boosted by its early significance in the primaries, the Granite State boasted the highest turnout for the 2016 Presidential election.
The top five most patriotic states included:
- New Hampshire
- Wyoming
- Vermont
- Utah
- Idaho
The five least patriotic states included
- New Jersey
- New York
- California
- West Virginia
- Texas
- Connecticut
Of course, we have to ask: What makes a good patriot? Professor of History and Political Science, Dr. Timothy Kneeland, says a patriot is an individual who "puts country before personal gain, country before their own comfort, and whose sense of responsibility puts country above personal honor."
"Recall the words of Thomas Paine in The Crisis or the signers of the Declaration of Independence - they were patriots," Kneeland adds.
Still, the way people perceive and express their patriotism can shift depending on which generation they belong to, Kneeland says. For example, for younger generations, patriotism isn't about belting out the national anthem.
"The younger generation may be less likely to adopt the cultural practices of the past, singing the national anthem, saying the pledge of allegiance, etc. They have been raised to think that being too American means being too parochial and they may be embarrassed by an overenthusiastic embrace of things that are labeled America," said Kneeland. "However, they still show their love of country by community service, civic engagement, etc."
Photo: Unsplash & WalletHub