What Americans Think Is Best About the U.S. as It Turns 250

The United States is turning 250 years old, and a new poll is giving Americans a chance to share what they think makes their country great. The survey was conducted by CBS News and YouGov in June. It asked people about America's best inventions, cultural strengths, and what they are most proud of as the big birthday approaches.

Some answers in the poll surprised historians. When asked to name America's greatest invention, 16 percent of people said democracy or freedom. However, democracy as a system of government actually started in ancient Greece thousands of years before the United States existed. This shows that many Americans feel strong pride in their country's values, even when those ideas came from somewhere else.

Another surprising answer involved the automobile. Six percent of people chose the car as America's top invention, but the car was actually invented in Germany by Karl Benz in 1886. Meanwhile, other respondents picked inventions that really did come from America. Fourteen percent chose the light bulb, 10 percent picked the internet, 5 percent named the telephone, and 4 percent selected the airplane.

The poll also asked what the United States does better than any other country. Movies and television came in first, with 58 percent of people saying America leads the world in entertainment. Technology and innovation were close behind at 56 percent. Music came in third at 41 percent, while sports and food ranked lower, at 38 percent and 31 percent.

Food was another fun topic in the survey. When asked which food best represents the United States, hamburgers came out on top with 33 percent of the vote. Barbeque came in second at 25 percent, followed by apple pie at 19 percent, hot dogs at 14 percent, and pizza at just 6 percent. Older Americans were more likely to pick apple pie, and people in the Northeast showed more support for pizza than people in any other region of the country.

The poll also looked at how excited Americans are about the 250th birthday celebration, called the semiquincentennial. Just over half said they were looking forward to the celebrations. About 23 percent said they were very excited, while 29 percent said they were somewhat excited about the events planned for America 250.

Patriotic traditions for the Fourth of July appear to be split down the middle. The poll found that 48 percent of Americans plan to fly the U.S. flag at home on Independence Day, while 52 percent do not plan to do so. This shows that while many people feel proud of their country, not everyone expresses that pride in the same way.

Finally, the survey asked what Americans think is the single best part of life in the United States. The most popular answer was 'the people,' chosen by 44 percent of respondents. That placed far ahead of other options like land, resources, and climate at 20 percent, the economic system at 17 percent, and the system of government at 10 percent. For most Americans, it seems the heart of the country is the people who live in it.