Feature

Public trust in government remains low, as it has for much of the 21st century. Only two-in-ten Americans say they trust the government in Washington to do what is right “just about always” (2%) or “most of the time” (19%).

Twenty years ago, Americans came together – bonded by sadness and patriotism – after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But a review of public opinion in the two decades since finds that unity was fleeting. It also shows how support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was strong initially but fell over time.

Biden and Trump supporters tell us in their own words about America’s political divisions

In the nearly nine months since the coronavirus outbreak was declared a national emergency, almost every part of the country has been directly affected by the loss of life resulting from the virus.

Interactive chart that illustrates the shift in the American public’s political values from 1994-2017, using a scale of 10 questions asked together on seven Pew Research Center surveys.

The Pew Research Center survey, conducted in association with A+E Networks' HISTORY, asked everyone from Millennials to members of the Greatest Generation to list the events that most profoundly affected America.

The two parties look less alike today than at any point over the last quarter-century.

The 2014 Pew Research Center Political Typology looks beyond “Red vs. Blue” in American politics, sorting voters into cohesive groups, based on their attitudes and values – not their partisan labels. Use this tool to compare the groups on key topics.