Survey: Patriotism runs high as most Americans are achieving the American Dream

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(The Center Square) – A majority of U.S. adults say they are living the American Dream and are proud to be Americans, while negative sentiments toward AI’s effect on the American Dream have risen, a new report from the Archbridge Institute reveals.

President and CEO of the Archbridge Institute Gonzalo Schwarz told The Center Square that the report “implies that, despite challenges needing to be addressed, the American Dream is still resilient after 250 years and there is hope for the national ethos to be a unifying vision for America over the next 250 years.”

“A majority of Republicans and Democrats agree that the American Dream is alive and well and that we have the same or more opportunities than our parents did,” Schwarz said.

“People still believe the American Dream is a unifying narrative for our country, associating it more with freedom and the pursuit of flourishing than with material wealth,” Schwarz said.

According to the Archbridge Institute’s report, 67% of those surveyed have achieved or are pursuing the American dream.

Freedom of choice in how to live and having a good family life are essential aspects of the American Dream to those surveyed, followed by retiring comfortably and owning a home. Becoming wealthy is not a top priority, with 17% saying it is essential.

Seventy-three percent of those surveyed are proud to be Americans, prompting Schwarz to note that “patriotism is still running high” in the nation. 

Schwarz added that “80% of Americans think that you can be patriotic regardless of political or religious beliefs.”

“We are in a more positive situation than people think, and we can build from that position to continue removing barriers to the American Dream in our own lives and inspire others to do the same,” Schwarz said.

At 43%, nearly half of Americans say that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will act as a hindrance to realizing the American Dream, according to Archbridge’s report.

Schwarz noted to The Center Square that “the results regarding the relationship between AI and the American Dream are more negative since last year,” suggesting “that many Americans are more concerned about how new technology will affect their ability to achieve the American Dream.”

Archbridge began asking about AI sentiments in 2025, a year in which AI was newer to the scene and 31% of Americans viewed it as a threat to their future.

“It might be too soon to tell if this will remain significant,” Schwarz said. “As with previous technological revolutions, artificial intelligence will almost certainly impact our lives, culture, and economy, but public attitudes may influence how individuals prepare for and adapt to future changes.”

“On one side, artificial intelligence could enable people to pursue new dreams,” Schwarz said. “On the other side, technology is likely to replace some jobs, disrupt the labor market, and decrease social connection.”

Although most Americans believe they have achieved or are on their way to achieving the American Dream, sentiments in 2026 are more negative than previous years.

For instance, in 2022 18% of those surveyed said the American Dream was out of reach versus 33% saying so in 2026.

“The good news is that of those who say the American Dream is out of reach, only 8% (which is 3% of the total sample) cite a fundamental disbelief in the American Dream as the reason,” Schwarz told The Center Square.

“The majority of pessimism stems from economic concerns that good public policy can resolve,” Schwarz said. 

Economic concerns include issues such as higher living costs and rising home prices, according to the Archbridge Institute. 

Schwarz told The Center Square that the survey data in Archbridge Institute’s report “contains many key hopeful and positive messages, contrasting with the misleading, nihilistic, and doom-and-gloom image often presented in other surveys, media headlines, and political circles.”

Schwarz advised that “we should step back, take a longer-term view, and be inspired to rekindle the American Dream as a beacon of hope for America's next 250 years."

The Archbridge Institute’s survey was conducted in April and featured 2,069 respondents, according to Archbridge. The survey was carried out in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago.