AP New Year’s poll: Americans ready to bid farewell to 2016

In this Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Evalena Worthington, costumed as a pirate wench, practices being lowered from the mast of the sailing vessel America 2.0 outside the Schooner Wharf Bar in Key West, Fla. Emotionally wrenching politics, foreign conflicts and shootings at home took a toll on Americans in 2016, but they are entering 2017 on an optimistic note, according to a new poll that found that a majority believes things are going to get better for the country next year. (Rob O'Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP) In this Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Evalena Worthington, costumed as a pirate wench, practices being lowered from the mast of the sailing vessel America 2.0 outside the Schooner Wharf Bar in Key West, Fla. Emotionally wrenching politics, foreign conflicts and shootings at home took a toll on Americans in 2016, but they are entering 2017 on an optimistic note, according to a new poll that found that a majority believes things are going to get better for the country next year. (Rob O'Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP)

By Associated Press December 31, 2016 4 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Emotionally wrenching politics, foreign conflicts and shootings at home took a toll on Americans in 2016, but they are entering 2017 on an optimistic note, according to a new poll that found that a majority believes things are going to get better for the country next year.

A look at the key findings of the Associated Press-Times Square Alliance poll:

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SO HOW WAS 2016?

Americans weren’t thrilled with the year. Only 18 percent said things for the country got better, 33 percent said things got worse, and 47 percent said it was unchanged from 2015.