Survey: Americans rank quality health care above some basic rights.(Newport News (Va.) Daily Press)

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. _ After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, nearly half of Americans say they're now willing to give up personal freedom and privacy to protect the country, an annual survey commissioned by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has found.

Americans also rank affordable health care and the right to education as more important to their welfare than freedom of speech, freedom of religion and other basic constitutional rights, the survey found.

Conducted by StrategyOne, the survey canvassed 1,000 U.S. citizens across the country last month to measure their attitudes on issues related to freedom and rights.

Americans are divided on whether they should preserve their freedoms or be prepared to make compromises, Colonial Williamsburg President Colin Campbell said.

"The results are provocative," Campbell said in a prepared statement. "Half of Americans would accept a curtailment of our basic constitutional rights.

"Americans' views about freedoms have evolved significantly since they were debated in Williamsburg more than 200 years ago. We assume the existence of fundamental rights and focus instead on modern needs and entitlements."

The survey found that 41 percent of those polled said Americans shouldn't be forced to give up personal freedoms to protect the country. Forty-nine percent said they would be willing to give up some personal freedoms.