![The American flag is often viewed as a symbol of freedom and opportunity. [Image source: FunnDevelopment/YouTube]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/6/27/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-american-flag-is-often-viewed-as-a-symbol-of-freedom-opportunity-image-source-funndevelopment-youtube_2040999.jpg "The American flag is often viewed as a symbol of freedom and opportunity. [Image source: FunnDevelopment/YouTube]")
The Fourth of July is next Wednesday and many Americans around the globe are prepared for the national event. American patriotism comes in all forms, and WalletHub released a report on the most patriotic states in America. The personal finance website hailed Virginia as the most patriotic, with Maryland taking the 16th spot. The District of Columbia was not included in the poll.
Patriotism defined
WalletHub used 13 key indicators to determine patriotism. A state's average number of military enlistees, AmeriCorps volunteers per capita, and the number of adults who voted in the 2016 presidential election are a few components that were used.
WalletHub determined that red states are more patriotic than blue states. Alaska (2nd overall) has the most veterans per 1,000 civilians, and New York (46th overall) has the fewest. Maine (11th overall) has the highest number of adults who voted in the last presidential election, and Hawaii (7th overall) has the fewest. Utah (21st overall) has the highest volunteer rate, and Florida (30th overall) has the lowest.
Politics
Politically, both sides of the political aisle have different definitions regarding what patriotism means. 81 percent of those in the report identify as conservative, while 57 percent identify as liberal. Moreover, 85 percent align themselves with the GOP, and 66 percent say that they are either Independent or a Democrat.
Looking deep into the report shows that seven out of 10 Americans are patriotic. This has been largely unchanged since 2002. Also, 71 percent of Americans view themselves as highly patriotic. The numbers themselves don’t come out to 100 percent exactly because some individuals may be registered as Democrats but may view themselves as conservative or moderate.
The first celebration
According to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the first celebration of The Fourth of July was in Philadelphia and it featured dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, fireworks, and docked ships decorated with red, white, and blue -- much like today.
During the early days of the country there was talk about who was patriotic and who wasn’t. Every state did their part to dispel the tyranny that they believed was established by England.
The top 10 most patriotic states, according to WalletHub
- Virginia
- Alaska
- Wyoming
- South Carolina
- Idaho
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Washington
- North Carolina
- Georgia
