2022’s Most Patriotic States in America, WalletHub

How could California not be listed among the 2022’s Most Patriotic States in America?

Nearly all public schools across the country require daily patriotic exercises, including the schools in California. However, California law does not specify what that patriotic exercise must entail, unlike the 45 states that require the Pledge of Allegiance to be conducted in schools daily, according to Scot Scoop News.

The Pledge of Allegiance in those 45 states is not required to be conducted by any individual student due to a Supreme Court ruling in 1943 dictating that students themselves could opt out of participating in or standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The California High School Graduation Requirements, along with the patriotic exercises requirement, dictate that all high school students must take a full year of American history and geography, along with one semester of American government and civics in order to graduate.

With the Fourth of July approaching but America troubled by issues like a 44% rise in hate crimes in major cities last year, the personal-finance website WalletHub recently released its report on 2022’s Most Patriotic States in America.

To determine where Americans have the most red, white and blue pride, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 13 key indicators of patriotism. Its data set ranges from the state’s military enlistees and veterans to the share of adults who voted in the 2020 presidential election to AmeriCorps volunteers per capita.

Top 20 Most Patriotic States

  1. Alaska
  2. Montana
  3. Virginia
  4. North Dakota
  5. Oregon
  6. Maryland
  7. Hawaii
  8. Vermont
  9. New Hampshire
  10. Iowa
  11. Washington
  12. South Dakota
  13. Colorado
  14. Delaware
  15. Maine
  16. Utah
  17. North Carolina
  18. Wyoming
  19. Idaho
  20. New Mexico

Key Stats

  • Blue states are more patriotic, with an average ranking of 24.92, compared with 26.08 for red states (1 = Best).
  • Alaska has the most veterans per 1,000 civilian adults, 137, which is 2.7 times more than in New York, the state with the fewest at 51.
  • New Jersey has the highest share of adults who voted in the 2020 presidential election, 78.30 percent, which is 1.5 times higher than in Arkansas, the state with the lowest at 54.00 percent.
  • Utah has the highest volunteer rate, 51.20 percent, which is 2.0 times higher than in New York, the state with the lowest at 25.00 percent.

Expert Commentary

What are the characteristics of a good patriot? 

“A good patriot loves his or her country and supports it in the face of challenges. That does not mean unquestioning love, but deep regard that motivates making one’s nation the best it can be.”
— Russ Crawford – Professor, Ohio Northern University

“A patriot is someone who can see the flaw, inequities, and injustices in one’s country and do what they can to address and rectify them. A patriot is someone who is committed enough to one’s country to want to make it better for everyone, especially those who have had the least access to the benefits or privileges a country promises.”
— Suzanne M. Chod – Professor, North Central College

What are the best ways for an individual to show patriotism? 

“There are many ways for an individual to demonstrate patriotism. The keyword is ‘individual.’ In the United States, individuals are free to be patriotic in whatever way they want. That could be flying the national flag at their house, serving in the military, voting, and taking part in the political life of the nation, but also includes a multitude of other ways. If one chooses to show patriotism by popping off fireworks on the 4th of July, that is fine. We have had times in our nation’s history when patriotism has been defined to require specific actions, but in contemporary America, we have the freedom to choose our own path.”
— Russ Crawford – Professor, Ohio Northern University

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

“We live in an inextricably interconnected world. Whether in your own community in the United States, traveling around the United States, or traveling abroad, cultural competency and appreciation and respect for cultures not one’s own should be a priority. One cannot be a good local and national citizen without being a good global citizen; they go hand-in-hand.”
— Suzanne M. Chod – Professor, North Central College

“There is room for both in our schools. Ideally, younger children should learn American history and civics, and older children should learn about international systems and our place in them.”
— Russ Crawford – Professor, Ohio Northern University
To view the full report and your state’s rank, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image Sources

  • Soldier: Shutterstock