Presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers his acceptance speech on the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Thursday, August 30. See the best photos from the Democratic National Convention.
(CNN) -- Mitt Romney says that after more than three years of a Barack Obama presidency, the United States is uncharacteristically pessimistic about the future of its children.
The GOP presidential nominee said Thursday at the Republican National Convention that America's immigrants would always arrive confident that they could build a better life, and "that in America their children would be more blessed than they."
"But today, four years from the excitement of the last election, for the first time, the majority of Americans now doubt that our children will have a better future," Romney said.
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Polls do appear to show a recent, downward trend in optimism for kids' futures, and four polls from two different organizations since 2009 indeed had a majority of adult respondents saying they don't expect today's children to be better off than their parents.
But these results aren't unheard of. A poll also showed this type of result some 16 years ago.
Let's start with the more recent surveys.
Consider this set of four Rasmussen Reports polls, from January 2009 to this year.
January 2009: 47% said today's children wouldn't be better off than their parents.
October 2009: 62% said so.
March 2011: 60%
July 2012: 65%
The question for the July 2012 Rasmussen poll was: "Will today's children be better off than their parents?" The national survey of 1,000 adults had an error margin of +/- 3%.
Similarly, an April 2011 Gallup/USA Today poll had the pessimists in the majority, with 55% saying it was either somewhat unlikely or very unlikely that "today's youth" will have a better life than their parents.
Here's how those Gallup/USA Today numbers looked from 2008 to 2011 (sample of 1,013 adults, with a +/ 4% margin of error):
February 2008: 33% somewhat/very unlikely
December 2008: 42%
March 2009: 40%
January 2010: 38%
October 2010: 48%
April 2011: 55%
Gallup also keeps a collection of older, CBS News/New York Times poll results that used the same question:
October 1996: 42%
January 1998: 34%
December 2001: 27%
January 2003: 31%
Reports of majority pessimism, however, are not unique to the last three years. The Pew Research Center reported it in 1996, and near-majority pessimism in 2002 and 2006.
Here are some Pew results:
1996: 55% said children will be worse off.
1999: 36%
2002: 50%
2006: 50%
The 2002/2006 Pew surveys asked: "When children today in the U.S. grow up, do you think they will be better off or worse off than people are now?" The 2006 survey polled 2,250 people and had a margin error of +/- 2%.
The 1996 and 1999 surveys asked: "Looking to the future, do you think most children in this country will grow up to be better off or worse off than their parents."
Conclusion:
Surveys in the past three years, from two different organizations, show the majority of respondents don't expect today's children to be better off than their parents. But a poll from a third organization also showed this level of attitude back in 1996.
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CNN's Jason Hanna and Emily Smith contributed to this report.
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Attendees celebrate as confetti and balloons drop after Romney's speech.
Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan take the stage with their families at the end of the night.
People bow their heads for the benediction to wrap up the GOP convention.
Romney and Ryan wave to the audience after Romney's speech, which described a future of opportunity and promise for the nation.
Romney greets supporters as he enters the arena Thursday.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio introduces Romney after his speech.
Delegates wave signs on the final day of the RNC.
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Mitt Romney's wife, Ann, and son Josh sit in the VIP box.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks on stage.
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A woman clasps her hands during the program.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, speak during a tribute to former president Ronald Reagan on Thursday.
Callista and Newt Gingrich take the stage during the final day of the Republican National Convention.
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Texas Gov. Rick Perry applauds during the final day of the convention.
U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Florida, speaks on stage during the final day.
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A woman grasps her hands during speeches on the third day of the GOP convention.
Paul Ryan and his wife and children exit the stage after the biggest speech of his political career.
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George Engelbach, dressed as President Abraham Lincoln, attends the GOP convention.
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Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty takes the convention stage.
Delegate Carlos Mendez of Puerto Rico watches Wednesday night's program.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez delivers remarks. Her speech emphasized her belief in the American Dream.
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Sen. John McCain, who was a POW during the Vietnam War, addresses the crowd.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention.
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Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention. His father, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, was one of the hopefuls for the 2012 nomination.
Former President George W. Bush is shown on the giant screens at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
A woman gestures during the third day of the Republican National Convention.
Rosemary Edwards of Austin, Texas, kisses the face of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention.
A woman holds a campaign sign.
Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio speaks at the podium.
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Paul Ryan speaks during a soundcheck Wednesday.
Ryan waves with daughter, Liza Ryan, and sons, Charlie Ryan, right, and Sam Ryan from the stage during a soundcheck.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney exits a vehicle before boarding his campaign plane. As the Republican National Convention continues, Romney will travel to Indianapolis to address the American Legion.
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Arizona Sen. John McCain walks the floor.
Bradley Thompson kneels down to propose to Laura Bowman, who accepted, on the stage.
Journalists and media work the third day of the Republican National Convention.
Ryan gives the thumbs-up during a sound check at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
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Delegates watch Gov. Chris Christie deliver the keynote address.
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich waves as he takes the stage.
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American country and gospel vocal quartet Oak Ridge Boys perform.
Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, who is running for the U.S. Senate, speaks.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley waves on stage.
Former U.S. Rep. Artur Davis speaks. He changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican earlier this year.
Delegates crowd the floor after the tallying of votes during the roll call for nomination of president of the United States at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Delegates display signs in support of Mitt Romney after the tallying of votes during the roll call for nomination of president of the United States.
Scott Romney, brother of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, cheers during the roll call.
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Delegates from host state Florida face photographers and cameras as they pose for the official convention photograph.
A delegate takes a picture of the floor at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Ann Romney, Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's wife, stands onstage with stage manager Howard Kolins during a soundcheck.
People from the Texas delegation say the Pledge of Allegiance.
A delegate from Wisconsin sports a cheese hat at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Ann Romney leans on a seat aboard the campaign plane en route to Tampa.
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Republican candidate Ron Paul waves to supporters at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
A woman cheers during the second day of the Republican National Convention.
A delegate checks out the convention floor before other delegates arrive at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
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Priebus raises the gavel as he convenes the Republican National Convention.
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie walks through the convention center before the start of the abbreviated first day.
Last-minute adjustments are made to the main stage at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on the abbreviated first day of the GOP convention.
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A man reads a newspaper in the empty seats of the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
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A microphone is in place at the front of the convention hall in Tampa.
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