A rising number of young Americans are beginning to feel proud of their country once again. This marks a shift after years of decline in patriotism, especially among younger generations. For much of the last two decades, data showed that fewer Americans—especially millennials and Gen Z—felt strong pride in being American. Now, new numbers and cultural trends suggest that more young people are turning toward conservative values, embracing faith, and rejecting anti-American messages they once heard in school and on social media.
Surveys from recent years show how far patriotism had fallen. A 2023 Gallup poll found that only 39 percent of U.S. adults felt “extremely proud” to be American, the lowest number ever recorded. In 1998, 70 percent of Americans told the Wall Street Journal they saw patriotism as “very important.” By 2023, that number had dropped to just 38 percent. Among younger generations, the numbers were even lower.
Several factors are behind this decline. Many schools have focused more on America’s flaws than its achievements. Students often learn a version of U.S. history that highlights slavery, racism, and other wrongs, but skips over the founding values of liberty and the sacrifices made to defend them. At the same time, social media platforms like TikTok have become full of voices mocking American traditions, capitalism, and patriotism. Hollywood and big media companies have also played a role, often portraying love for country as outdated or embarrassing.
But there are signs the trend is starting to reverse. A growing group of young Americans—especially young men—are moving rightward politically. In the 2024 presidential election, about 46 percent of young voters backed Donald Trump, up from just 36 percent in 2020. That’s a major shift in a short time. Much of this change is being driven not by legacy media, but by new voices online who speak directly to younger audiences.
This shift matters. Patriotism isn’t just about waving flags or singing the national anthem. It’s about believing in the country’s ideals and wanting to contribute to its future. When people lose that belief, they often stop getting involved in their communities. They may not vote, volunteer, or even care about current events. This weakens democracy and can lead to more division.
A 2022 report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that only 13 percent of 8th graders were proficient in U.S. history. That means most students don’t understand the basics of how the country was founded or how its government works. Without a strong understanding of America’s story, it becomes easy to believe the worst about it—and hard to take pride in being part of it.
One group trying to make a difference is PragerU. Unlike taxpayer-funded networks like PBS, PragerU is funded by donations. It creates free videos, books, and lesson plans that teach American values and history in a way that is clear, engaging, and accessible. Its short videos—many of them featuring speakers like Dennis Prager, Douglas Carswell, and Pete Hegseth—have reached millions of young people. And with the launch of PragerU Kids in 2021, the effort now extends to children and families.
PragerU’s success shows that there is a hunger for content that celebrates America’s values—freedom, opportunity, and personal responsibility. While many schools and media outlets continue to focus on what’s wrong with America, PragerU offers a different message: that this country, while not perfect, is worth defending and improving.
The rise in patriotism among Gen Z is more than just a passing trend. It reflects a growing resistance to negative narratives about America. As more young people seek out facts and perspective on their own, they are rediscovering pride in the nation’s founding ideals.
At a time when civic knowledge is low and national pride has been under attack, the work of groups like PragerU plays a key role in shaping the future. The direction of the country depends on what the next generation believes. And increasingly, they are choosing to believe in America.
