Gallup’s Very First Published Poll

The Data: Gallup began polling during the Great Depression, and its first survey focused on “relief and recovery,” also historically described as welfare. In September 1935, 60% of Americans said government spending for relief and recovery was too great, while 31% said it was about right and 9% said it was too little.

More Context: This question was part of the first Gallup poll ever fielded and ran in newspapers nationwide through the “America Speaks” column. And while the relief and recovery aspect of the New Deal was not popular at the time, in 1937, two years after Social Security was established, Gallup found three-quarters of Americans approving of “the present Social Security tax on wages.”

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The Polling: World War II dominated the global stage in the 1940s. Gallup polled Americans about their views of the war before and after the U.S. officially joined the conflict on Dec. 8, 1941.

The Trend: Public opinion shifted gradually as the war expanded. In September 1939, Americans were divided on declaring war even if England and France faced defeat. In June 1940, after France fell to Germany, 61% of Americans still preferred to keep out of war. By July 1941, after Germany attacked the then-Soviet Union, 62% said helping England was more important, but 33% still preferred to keep out. It wasn’t until after Pearl Harbor that consensus was reached to enter the war.

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The Data: The early 1950s marked a period of Cold War tension and atomic fear. In January 1951, 50% of U.S. adults said they would not feel reasonably safe living in their city or community if an atomic war occurred, whereas 42% said they would feel safe.

Community Differences: Perceptions of safety varied by community size. Americans living in locales with fewer than 10,000 residents were somewhat more likely to say they would feel safe (49%) than unsafe (44%). In contrast, majorities in cities of 10,000 or more said they would feel unsafe, including 56% of those in cities with populations of 100,000 or more.

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The Data: Gallup polling documented significant shifts in social norms as the U.S. witnessed major changes in civil rights in the 1960s and 1970s. About 70% of non-Black Americans in the late 1950s said they would move “if Black people came to live in great numbers” in their neighborhood. The majority, 65%, still said this in 1967, before registering 43% in 1978.

The Trend: By 1997, opinion had reversed. Roughly one in five said they would move, while three-quarters said they would not. Gallup continues to track attitudes toward race through the Center on Black Voices, a research initiative focused on the experiences and life outcomes of Black Americans.

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The Data: The late 1970s and early 1980s were marked by inflation rates over 10%. In September 1980, 51% of registered voters said the high cost of living and inflation were the issues they most wanted addressed in the first presidential debate that year between Ronald Reagan and John Anderson, far ahead of any other topic.

More Context: Foreign affairs ranked a distant second to inflation concerns, at 17%, followed by unemployment at 15% and tax cuts at 12%. Social issues such as race relations, abortion and women’s rights each drew mentions from 2% or less of voters. The priorities reflected widespread skepticism about President Jimmy Carter’s anti-inflation efforts and growing confidence in Reagan’s ability to handle rising prices.

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The Data: In 1937, large majorities of Britons told Gallup they believed Great Britain would be drawn into another major European war, including 83% in May and 75% in June.

More Context: Most Britons saw another war coming, but their willingness to personally join the fight was limited less than 20 years after the first world war. In November 1937, 62% of men said they would not volunteer if another war occurred, and 78% of women said they would not urge their husband to volunteer. At the same time, public support for collective security remained strong, with roughly three-quarters favoring continued backing of the League of Nations and about half supporting international agreements to reduce armaments.”