Most Americans agreed with South Carolina's decision to remove the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds, according to a Pew Research Center study released this week.

According to Yahoo, in all, data showed 57 percent of the 2,002 participants interviewed in the telephone-conducted poll favored the move, compared to just 34 percent in opposition. Deeper analysis of the findings revealed views were sharply splintered along racial lines and political affiliations.

Pew Research concluded that 76 percent of blacks, 56 percent of whites and 52 percent of Hispanics supported the removal of the flag. In addition, just 43 percent of Republicans were in agreement with the decision, while 49 percent of such respondents were opposed. Among independents, 53 percent supported the move, while 37 percent remain opposed.

When it came to Democrats, a whopping 74 percent of all respondents were in support of the move.

"Clearly, race, party and ideology matter on how people think about this issue," said Jocelyn Kiley, the center's associate director of research.

Indeed, among those in favor of the flag's removal, 36 percent indicated they associated its existence with racism, hatred or slavery, and some 20 percent of them stressed they consider it to be offensive or divisive.

Among those who didn't agree with the removal, 54 percent of respondents cited its historical significance as a reason why it should remain. Beyond that, some 27 percent said it was a misunderstood symbol, including 20 percent who added it has been wrongly cast as a symbol of hatred, racism or slavery.

Debate over the flag was recently rekindled when a white, self-described supporter of it walked into a historically African-American church in Charleston and opened fire on unsuspecting worshippers, killing nine.

The gunman, Dylann Roof, 21, has since been indicted on 33 counts and charged with a federal hate crime in the attack.