United States

Flag

Coat of Arms

Globular Map

### Ethnic Group(s)

Race:76.3% White13.4% Black5.9% Asian2.8% Multiracial1.3% Native American0.2% Pacific IslanderEthnicity:81.5% Non-Hispanic or Latino18.5& Hispanic or Latino

### Legislature

CongressSenate (Upper house)House of Representatives (Lower house)

### Important Event(s)

Independence from Great Britain, July 4, 1776

### Area

3,796,742 sq mi (9,833,520/sq km) (3rd/4th), 6.97% water

### Population

328,239,523 (3rd), 87/sq mi (33.6/sq km) (2019) (146th)

### GDP

$22.321 Trillion (2nd), $67,426 Per Capita (2020 estimate)

### Currency

United States Dollar ($) (USD)

The ****United States of America**** is a nation in North America, in the Western Hemisphere. The **United States of America** is a country located north of Mexico, south of Canada, west of the Pacific Ocean and east of the Atlantic Ocean.

In modern history, the United States is a global superpower, with nuclear weapons and political dominance over many countries, mostly democratic. The United States of America has a House of Representatives, a Congress, and a president. The president is elected by the people of the United States, who can run for one term, four years, or two terms in the second election, eight years. The current United States president is Donald Trump, though Joe Biden is planned to be the next president on January 20, 2021. The next election will start on November 5, 2024.

## History

### Before Humanity (Land formation - ~50,000 BC(?))

Prehistory of the United States relates to events that happened after the formation of the early Earth and before the first native scripts that have been discovered. During the Paleozoic Era, what is now "North America" was in the Southern Hemisphere. Aquatic life lived in the many seas of the continent before life was evolved enough to travel on land. During the later Paleozoic Era, seas on the continent was largely changed, and became swamps, becoming homes for early amphibians and reptiles. When the continents formed Pangaea, the geography of North America dried up. Synapsids, early mammals, were across the country before an extinction event killed nearly all synapsids.

The Triassic, beginnings of the Mesozoic Era, followed the extinction event. Dinosaurs evolved and ruled the lands, quickly moving across the United States. Pangaea began to split, and North America began moving northwest. During the late Jurassic period, the floodplains of western states were home to many dinosaurs. During the Cretaceous, the Gulf of Mexico expanded until it split North America in half, with other dinosaurs swimming in the gulf. The next extinction event ended the Jurassic period.

The Cenozoic era began after the Jurassic extinction event. The inland sea of the Cretaceous gradually disappeared as mammals began to dominate the land. During the Eocene, the western states were home to mammals like horses and camels, as well as carnivores. Mammals began learning to swim, and new mammals, including whales, started swimming across the oceans. Rhino-like animals, named titanotheres dominated regions of South Dakota. After this point, the climate in the United States began to cool, until glaciers spread. Mastodons, saber-toothed cats, and mammoths ruled the lands of the Americas. This period ended after North America became populated by humans after humanity crossed the land bridge from Siberia into Alaska.

### Tribes in All Directions (~50,000 BC(?) - 1492)

The pre-Colombian Era includes American history from tribes entering the Americas through Siberia until European and Russian colonization started. The "pre-Colombian Era" literally refers to the period of time before Christopher Columbus travelling to the Americas in 1492, in practice the phrase is used to denote the entire history of indigenous American cultures until the American cultures were destroyed or changed by the Europeans, even if it happened after Columbus. Other terms for this era include precontact, precolonial, or prehistoric Americans are used, pre-Hispanic is also used for Latin America, which some parts of the United States are in. Many pre-Colombian civilizations had permanent settlements and agriculture. Many civilizations did not last to European colonization or African slaves arriving to the Americas. Most native civilizations were known from agriculture, or by writings from Europeans, while few, like the Mayans, had their own records. Many were burned, since European Christians saw it as pagan, even when they tried preserving records. Few records have survived in their original text, while many were translated to languages like Spanish and English. Traditional practices from several tribes still happen today, modernized to fit the modern era.

Map of Thirteen Colonies (Great Britain)

### A Growing Colony (1492 - 1765)

#### A New World!

Christopher Columbus Explored the Atlantic Ocean through Spain, as a faster way around the world to locations like India. Columbus found the Caribbean, which was assumed to be the East Indies and Japan. It was quickly learned that they were not in Asia, but rather in a new continent. British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, and later Russian colonies were created in the New World. After multiple conflicts between the Spanish Empire, Great Britain, and the French Empire, colonies were designed for the. Great Britain owned the Thirteen Colonies, the French Empire owned New France, and the Spanish Empire owned the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

#### French-Indian War

The French-Indian War (1754-1763) was a war between the French Empire (New France) and Great Britain (Thirteen Colonies), which would escalate into the Seven Years War (1756-1763), which involved the Kingdom of Prussia, the Portuguese Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Russian Empire.

The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1763, gave way to more territories in the New World for the British Empire, since they were on the winning side of the war. However, the British economy was broke after the costs of the French-Indian War, so all colonies, including America, were taxed.

### "Join, or Die" (1765 - 1783)

#### Taxes and Gunfire

Since the 1660s, America was taxed from Great Britain, but the taxes after the French-Indian War were specifically extreme. A new law was introduced that taxation of goods came from the British Parliament, but British America did not have any representation in the Parliament, which British Americans had said violated Rights of Englishmen. British had said that British America had representation, but that they "found little support on either side of the Atlantic".

#### Endless tax!

The Stamp Act Congress, a meeting held in New York, meet against the Stamp Act of 1765, A act of taxation on a printed documents, stamps, etc. The phrase "no taxation without representation" grew widespread across the Thirteen Colonies, who were starting to dislike the British people.

Protest came from the Thirteen Colonies when British army came to the colonies. Protests strengthened, with more people protesting against the British. In the middle of the protest, British army shot against the protesters, killing some people, and creating the Boston Massacre. This would be the start of American revolts.

#### Revolt, Revolution, Revolt!

United States Flag used during the Revolutionary War

Forces of King George, leader of Great Britain, were ordered into Lexington and Concord to destroy American supplies, this would start the Revolutionary War. American revolutionists started by kicking out the British from the Thirteen Colonies and British loyalists in America. The United States created a Continental Army, being lead by George Washington. The Thirteen Colonies were declared independent from Great Britain on July 2, 1776.

#### Join, or Die

The United States patriots attempted invasion through British owned in the winters of 1775-76 without success. By March 1776, the continental Army had moved the British out of Boston, Massachusetts, but they would capture New York City in summer of the same year. British Navy blockaded ports and captured more city for brief time, but did not destroy George Washington's army. In October 1777, the Continental Army captured British army at the Battle of Saratoga, and the French Empire joined the war as an ally to the United States, and Great Britain would focus on the French Empire as the real war enemy. The war would strengthen in the southern states, after the British invaded the southern states, and had gotten support from British loyalists in southern America. A final combined American and French force captured a second army in Yorktown in fall, 1781, ending the war.

#### Aftermath

The Treaty of Paris would be signed, with the new United States now owning almost all territory east of the Mississippi River, and Spain occupying Florida.

What the USA looked like after the Treaty of Paris

### We Need Government! (1783 - 1788)

#### A First Struggle

The United States, being a new country, had many struggles, most of which relate back to a lack of strong government and large differences in culture. The Articles of Confederation created loose unity between states and designed a weak government. Delegates would represent each state, and all come together in an assembly. This U.S. Congress had little authority, and would not accomplish anything without U.S. states. This U.S. Congress could not negotiate with world powers, and had no court system. The government shined on the challenge of reform, which many in the United States wished for.

#### Difficult, New Lands

The Treaty of Paris had expanded the territory of the United States, with a border traveling east of the Mississippi River. Settlement on the west of the Appalachian Mountains was difficult, mostly due to bordering powers and resisting Native Americans. Spain, being on the western side of the Mississippi River, hindered progress of civilizing for the United States, and Great Britain did not evacuate from American territories.

#### The First Big Steps

Congress would pass the Northwest Ordinance, (Orange in picture) this would be a large push forward in American history, as it would be the first American organized territory under government control. After Congress failed amending the Articles, national leader met together in Philadelphia in 1787 to design a new constitution. A new constitution was used in 1788, and the government started meetings in 1789.

This is argued to be a good or be the worst times of American history.

George Washington, the first president of the United States

### Federalist Ideals (1788 - 1801)

#### Proud America!

Federalist people, under support from president George Washington and future president John Adams, created a new, stronger United States government. Nationalism in the United States would strengthen, and central government was no longer seen as destructive.

#### Federalist Takeover

The new United States functioned under the Articles of Confederation, which caused a broken union between its states. During the Philadelphia Convention, state delegates created a new constitution, aiming for a stronger government. After this convention, the new constitution was sent to the U.S. states for ratification. Those who wished for ratification were called Federalists, and those who opposed were named anti-Federalists. The Federalists won for ratification for the new Constitution in all but two states. New elections were held for the Congress and for presidency. Federalists would always have the majority, and George Washington became the first president of the United States of America. Congress would form the federal judiciary with the Judiciary Act of 1789, and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton would form a stronger central government with new economic policies. However, the federal government had total power, so the United States Bill of Rights was designed to level the government with other sections of the government. Times of Federalist ideals saw strong fear of war against stronger powers like Great Britain or the Spanish Empire, which George Washington and John Adams were both against, but also wanted to maintain trade with said powers.

#### A New Challenger

New policies from Alexander Hamilton divided the United States, and political parties had appeared for the first time. Alexander Hamilton had mobilized urban elites who had favored his laws. Those against would go towards Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Debates would escalate further during the French Revolutionary Wars, as supporters of Jefferson supported the French. The Jay Treaty settled for more peaceful relations with Great Britain, which damaged opinions of France from supporters of Jefferson. Supporters of Alexander Hamilton created a Federalist Party, and supporters of Thomas Jefferson created a Democratic-Republican Party. Federalists and Democratic-Republicans competed against each other in the 1796 presidential election, which was a debate won by the Federalists. The Federalists had battled with France in the undeclared Quasi-War at sea. During tensions from foreign policies, Federalists created the Alien and Sedition Acts to being higher difficulties from entering the United States.

#### Death of Federalism

Federalists had kept their strengths in New England, while Democratic-Republicans dominated the southern states. Democratic-Republicans were successful in the 1800 elections, and took control of Congress. Federalists would die out in government, but laws and policies designed by them would continue to the United States in the modern world. The United States now had a strong government.

Thomas Jefferson, the Third president of the United States

### Thomas Jefferson: Strong Politics (1801 - 1817)

#### A New Government

Jeffersonian Democracy, named after Thomas Jefferson, was one of two political movements in the United States. Jeffersonian Democracy had existed from the 1790s into the 1820s. Jeffersonian Democracy had followed by American republicanism, argued power to the lower class and corruption, and insists on the morally good, with priorities for the "yeoman farmers," "planters," and "plain folk." They were against aristocratic elitism of merchants, workers, bankers, etc., and watched for those who supported the British government system.

#### Small to Large

Jeffersonian Democracy would be used to refer to the Democratic-Republican Party, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson to go against the Federalist Party, founded by Alexander Hamilton. Jeffersonian Democracy, or the Democratic-Republican Party, started with only two states had following it, but later, over half of the states followed it. States would them move on for allowing popular votes for presidential elections, modernizing voting. After over half of states voted, the Democratic-Republican Party would completely rule all presidential elections, being death to Federalism, Democratic-Republicans political rivals.

#### Old and New

Jeffersonian Democracy would continue on through the Democratic Party into the early 20th century, from the rise of Jacksonian Democracy. Themes of Jeffersonian Democracy would continue on to the modern day in Libertarian and Republican parties.

A depiction of a celebration for Independence day (July 4th, 1819)

### An Era of Good Feelings (1817 - 1825)

#### Cool-Down for America

The Era of Good Feelings marked a time in American history that brought a sense of national purpose and wanting to unify Americans after the War of 1812. This era had seen the Federalist Party collapse and disputes between the victorious Democratic-Republican Party. James Monroe, a United States president, had a goal of national unity and eliminating political parties completely.

#### The New Battle for Politics

During the 1824 presidential election, the Democratic-Republican parties divided between two different political parties, based on if they support Jacksonian Democracy or not, creating a new political Party system.

#### It's Ironic?

The Era of Good Feelings is historically seen as ironic, due to the fact that political divide was at a peak then.

Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States

### Andrew Jackson: Jeffersonian II (1825 - 1849)

#### The New Democracy

Jacksonian Democracy, named after Andrew Jackson, expanded voting rights to white males over the age of 21, and changing several federal institutions. Jacksonian Democracy would become a term in the 1830s, and would become the dominant political power of the United States for a generation.

#### Democrats and Republicans

Jacksonian Democracy would appear after the fragmentation of the Democratic-Republican Party during the 1824 presidential election. Andrew Jackson, alongside his supporters, would create the Democratic Party, while his rivals John Adams and Henry Clay would create the Republican Party, which would later combine with other anti-Jacksonian parties to form the Whig Party.

#### Thou Shall Join Government!

Jacksonian Democracy designed an era with spirit towards democratic people, and ending the era of what was called the "monopoly" or government from elites. Peoples who would become part of the Jacksonian Party had celebrated that voting was given to the majority of white males, and promoted the strength of presidency and the executive branch at the expense of Congress, and also wanted to further broaden participation in government from the people. Jacksonians demanded elected judges and would rewrite several constitutions to reflect on more severe, modern issues. They had favored geographical expansionism, justifying it in terms of the Manifest Destiny. There were talks from Jacksonians and Whigs that war from slavery should be avoided.

#### What About Slavery?

Issues from Jacksonians came from the topic of black rights. New voting laws were only allowed for white males, and little to no progress, if not, regression, occurred during black right.

A map of the American Civil War. Red-Orange = CSA - Yellow = States that did not secede from the US - Blue = USA - Gray = US territories not in war

### An American Climax (1850 - 1865)

#### The new, big threat

The American Civil War was a civil war between the United States of America (known as the Union) and the Confederate States of America (known as the Confederacy). The American Civil War was started from disputes between states who allowed black slaves (Confederacy) and states that did not allow black slaves (Union). The war had officially started after Abraham Lincoln had became the 16th president of the United States, from an attack from secessionists at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Loyalists to the Union were for the Constitution, while the Confederacy wanted to keep slavery.

#### Where Did it Come From?

Flag of the Confederate States of America

Seven of the thirty four states in the United States were southern slave holding states. The confederacy grew to own majority of territory in eleven states, and had claimed Missouri and Kentucky. All states had full representation in the Confederate Congress through the Civil War. Delaware and Maryland were offered to join the Confederacy, but nothing large had happened, since the Civil War had already begun, and Union army were in those states.

#### Impacts and Army

The Confederacy was never a joint entity to the Union, even by foreign powers. Both the Union and the Confederacy quickly starting raising volunteer and conscription armies that had fought mostly in southern states for four years. Immense combat led to the American Civil War killing 620,000 to 750,000 people in both the Union and the Confederacy. No war in American history has been as deadly as the American Civil War, including the Vietnam war and both World Wars. The United States had less deaths in all wars combined after the Civil War and before the Vietnam War than the Civil War had.

#### How Did it End?

The American Civil War had effectively ended on April 9th, 1865, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Appomattox Court House. Other Confederate generals across the Confederacy would also surrender, with the final surrender on June 23. Southern infrastructure was destroyed, the Confederacy collapsed, and slavery was abolished. Four million black slaves would be free and registered equal to white peoples The American Civil War is one of the most researched events in history.

A map of distribution of wealth in the United States in 1872

### Rebuilding a New America (1865 - 1877)

#### An Era of Strength

The Reconstruction Era was a significant advance in American civil rights. The Reconstruction Era was used to rebuild the United States, including fixing decisions years before the Civil War, as well as repairing the broken states of the past Confederacy, directed by Congress, and under Union support. Reconstruction of the United States removed remaining remnants of favor towards the Confederacy, and made three new constitutional amendments to give black people, including past slaves, civil rights. Three different thoughts coming from the Civil War came during reconstruction: the reconciliationist vision, which came from coping from the devastation of the American Civil War; the white supremacist vision, which was preservation of southern cultural standards; and the emancipationist vision, which aimed for full freedom, citizenship, and equality for African Americans.

#### Post-Lincoln

After president Abraham Lincoln, a republican, was assassinated, Andrew Johnson, his vice president and a democrat, became president. Andrew Johnson favored quickly returning the states of the Confederacy to the level of technology of the Union. Radical Republicans in Congress wished for stronger moves for citizenship in African Americans, including the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States.

#### Support for Blacks

A rail yard in Atlanta, ruined after the American Civil War

Policies from Andrew Johnson were weak, but would prevail until 1866 in the congressional elections. These elections had caused violence toward black people in the southern states, with riots and massacres against blacks happening often. The 1866 elections saw Republicans as the majority in Congress, which helped pass the Fourteenth Amendment, allowing equaled rights of freedmen. A Republican coalition came to power in almost all southern states, and was made to transform the country into a free labor economy, using the U.S. army and the Freedmen's bureau, which helped with equal rights, built schools, churches, and negotiated labor contracts. Northerners would come to the south for jobs.

#### American Since Birth

In early 1866, Congress passed the Freedmen's Bureau and Civil Rights Bills, sent to Andrew Johnson for signature. This extended the life of the bureau, and all citizens born in the United States were citizens of the United States with equality. This law was also the first major bill in United States history that became law after overriding a presidential veto. Radicals in the House of Representatives filed impeachment charges after Andrew Johnson vetoed the bill, which failed by one veto. In law requiring the right to vote for freedom, revolt in the south increased, and caused the foundation of the Ku Klux Klan, who killed representatives and outspoken freedmen.

#### Confederate General to People Supporter

Ulysses S. Grant, elected president in 1868, supported congressional Reconstruction and enforced protection of African Americans in southern states through Enforcement Acts in Congress. Ulysses S. Grant would use these acts against groups like the Ku Klux Klan, who were almost completely wiped out. However, Northern and Southern Republicans and their tensions could not be resolved.

#### Fade of Reconstruction

Public support for Reconstruction policies, requiring supervision of the South, slowly faded from the North after Liberal Republicans arisen in 1872 and also continued after democrats controlled more of government, who opposed this. Reconstruction ended after U.S. army withdrew from the final three southern states in 1877.

The first oil district, located in Los Angeles

### The Great Economy! (1877 - 1895)

#### The New Economical Power

The Glided Age refers to a rapid economic growth of the United States from the 1870s to about 1900. After wages in the United States grew larger than those in Europe, millions of Europeans came to the United States. A massive growth in industrialization lead to a real wage growth of 60% from 1860 to 1890, and grew larger with the expanding labor work force. The average wage for American workers grew from $380 in 1880 to $654 in 1890, a 48% increase. However, this also saw massive amounts of poverty and inequality, as millions of Europeans poured into the United States.

#### From Railroads to Mining

Railroads became a major portion of growth industry, alongside the factory system, mining, and finance increasing in terms of importance, Mass immigration from Europe and the eastern states

grew the economy of the west. The economical group was interrupted during the panics of 1873 and 1893. Southern states, no longer getting much northern support, stayed economically ruined, with most industry coming from cotton and tobacco at low prices.

#### The Troubles that Stay

Despite corruption, American elections were evenly divided between two different parties, most issues were cultural and economic. With rapid growth of cities, political machines started controlling urban politics. Unions went for a eight hour working day, and the complete annihilation of child working days, prohibition against liquor and beer, middle class reformers, and women allowed to vote. Several religions would gain membership and wealth, Catholicism being the most popular. Religious schools were made by Catholics, Lutherans, and Episcopalians.

Charlotte Gilman on a page about feminism. (December 10, 1916)

### True Progression! (1896 - 1916)

#### New, True Issues

The Progressive Era was a period of much social activism and political reforms across the United States in the 1890s to 1920s. Progressive movements addressed problems like industrialization, and immigration. They would try taking down corrupt politicians in office for a direct democracy, as well as regulation of monopolies and corporations through anti-trust laws.

#### No More!

Many progressives supported prohibition of alcoholic beverages. Many went against alcohol to lessen political power, while others did for religious reasons. Women being given right to vote was promoted as and said to improve the American government. Another was creating an Efficiency Movement, to identify old ways that need to be modernized. Many would join effort to reform local government, medicine, education, finance, etc. Leaders in several movements did not gain roots from presidential politics, like Jane Addams and Grace Abbott. Most support came from the middle class, and movements started smaller, until gaining recognition across the United States.

American soldiers running to safety during WWI

### War War I: The Fight of Empires (1917 - 1919)

#### Focus Against a Common Enemy

The United States stayed out of World War I for three years, and declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. A ceasefire and a Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918. Before involvement in war, the United States was neutral, but sent supplies to Allied Powers.

#### A Big Supplier

The United States had heavily contributed to the war with supplies and materials starting in 1917. American soldiers arrived to the battlefield, with 10,000 Americans on the Western front daily, including 45,00 Americans that died during the 1918 Spanish Influenza Outbreak, which was before they arrived in the fronts of the war. A massive increase in U.S. Armed Forces occurred during World War I, in an effort to be a strong during war as possible.

#### The Height of Progression

After a slow start for mobilizing the economy and labor force, by Spring 1918, the United States was fully into World War I. Under orders from president Woodrow Wilson, World War I represented the climax to the progressive era, and is seen to bring reform and democracy to the world.

The Chrysler Building in New York City, using a European design from the 1920s

### The Roarin' Twenties! (1920 - 1929)

#### True Modernization!

The Roaring Twenties refer to the 1920s, and changes in society in the West. This was a time of economical prosperity and strengthened cultures in the west. In France, the 1920s are called the "crazy years," because of social and cultural change during these years. Jazz music was created and Art Deco peaked. This period saw large-scale development in automobiles, telephones, movies, etc. New inventions led to prosperous economy, alongside increased demand from consumers and a new life style and culture. Mass-market advertising would be used by the Media, who focused on celebrities, specifically sports heroes and movie stars, as cities of people rooted for a team from where they live. In many democracies, women were given rights to vote.

#### Together Again!

The Roaring Twenties started, socially and culturally, with leading metropolitan centers, which were popular after World War I. The United States was the world leader of economy, surpassing the United Kingdom. This change in economy disallowed Germany to pay war reparations to Allied powers after World War I. The United States created the Dawes Plan, named after banker and later vice president Charles Dawes. Wall Street would invest in Germany, who could then pay its reparations to Allied powers, who would then pay war debt to the United States from supplies. By the middle of the decade, prosperity would be widespread, becoming known as, especially with Germany, the "Golden Twenties."

#### High Spirits!

Spirits of the Roaring Twenties marked a feeling of novelty associated with new modernization and a break of tradition. Everything seemed completely possible based on growing modern technology. New technologies, like automobiles, moving pictures, and radio, brought modern life to a large population. Formal decorative frills were made in favor of practicality in daily life and architecture. At this time, Jazz music and dancing rose to popularity after moods about World War I, this period would be referred to as the Jazz age, due to the large popularity of Jazz. The Roaring Twenties would end after the crash of the stock market.

Unemployment rates in the United States

### The Worst Depression (1929 - 1941)

#### Economic Meltdown

The Great Depression began from the Wall Street Crash of 1929 (October). The Great Depression started for multiple reasons, including costumer debt, overoptimistic loans by banks and investors, and lack of high-growth new industries. These reasons, alongside other reasons, caused a downward economical spiral of lessened spending, less production and a decline in confidence for economies. Construction, shipping, mining, logging, and agriculture were damaged the most, with manufacturing, including items like cars and appliances, being hit greatly. The depression was worst in Winter of 1937-38, with high levels of unemployment.

#### Political Depression

1932 United States Electoral College

The United States also experienced changes politically during the Great Depression that are linked towards it. Herbert Hoover was a United States president who was shamed publicly for how he attempted to handle the Great Depression, and would lose the next election to Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1932 election, three years into the Great Depression, by a hugely wide margin. Roosevelt created the New Deal, an economic recovery plan which massively changed American politics.

#### Lost Homes

The Great Depression increased emigration to the United States for the first time in American history. Some emigrants went back to their original countries, while others, even United States citizens, moved to countries like Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Emigration was massive across the Great Plains in states like Texas or Montana, in southern states including California, and larger populations in Northern Cities, especially during the Great Migration. Racial tensions also rose during this time, since most immigrants were colored. By 1940, immigration started to decline, and returned to normal.

Huts and Unemployed people in the 1920s

#### Leftover Scars

The effects of the Great Depression were remembered. and created new economic theories. This changed how government would deal with economic downturns. Understanding the Great Depression brought worries towards economies, including figuring out what originally started it, what caused it to become a dangerously bad depression, how downturns spread across multiple countries, and how economic recovery took so long.

#### Broken Business

Many banks failed during October of 1930, when farmers to meet the obligations for loans. Federal deposit insurance was legalized in 1933, so it did not exist when many backs failed, which was also seen as a normal thing to happen. Savings were withdrawing quickly from worried depositors, so bank money multiplication was reversed. Banks were forced to liquidate assets. This caused the Great Contraction, and shrank the money supply. Price deflation was huge, causing smaller and struggling businesses to experience issues, and potentially fail.

Imperial Japanese conquest in the Pacific

### World War II: Historical Repeat (1941 - 1945)

#### New Supporting Old

The United States was neutral during the first two years of the Second World War, made official during the Quarantine Speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937. The United States, during times of neutrality, supplied Allied forces like the United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and China from the Lend-Lease Act, signed into law on March 11th, 1941, alongside deploying American forces replacing British forces to occupy Iceland. The United States declared war on the Empire of Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, and declared war on Nazi Germany and the Kingdom of Italy after the "Greer incident" on September 11th, 1941, and declared naval war during the Battle of the Atlantic. In the Pacific, there was early United States unofficial combat activity.

#### Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

During World War Two, an estimated 16,000,000 Americans served in the United States Armed Forces, with 405,399 Americans killed and another 671,278 wounded. 130,201 Americans became prisoners of war, and 116,129 returned home after war.

United States flag flown on Iwo Jima

#### Will to Fight

Key civilian advisers to President Franklin D. Roosevelt include Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who moved American industry to supply American army, controlled by General George Marshall, and the Army Air Forces under General Hap Arnold. The Navy was led by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and Admiral Ernest King. Overall priorities were set by Roosevelt, alongside the Joint Chiefs of Staff. High priorities were set to defeating Nazi Germany early on into the war, but the focus quickly turned on the Empire of Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Chester W. Nimitz was in charge of the Pacific wars against the Empire of Japan, based in Hawaii.

#### Sinking and Kamikaze

Japanese navy had a starting advantage over the United States, taking the Philippines, which was occupied by the United States, alongside British and Dutch occupied territories, and creating a plan to invade Australia, which would be later scrapped. In June 1942 during the Battle of Midway, it's main carriers were sunk, and the United States could not occupy much compared to the Japanese navy. Wars in the Pacific were mostly dependent on island hopping, giving the ability to move air bases closer to the enemy. A campaign began in Australian occupied New Guinea to advance into the Philippines, with plans to invade Japanese home islands in late 1945, the year World War Two ended. Japan shortened in gasoline and oil after its merchant fleets were sunk by American ships, alongside occupying islands that were close enough to be in missile range of cities like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and even Tokyo. Strategic bombings started devastating major Japanese cities around the time of the occupation of Okinawa. Japan surrendered after the Soviet Union declared war on them hours before, alongside the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and a Japanese invasion looking inevitable.

Hitler declaring war against the United States

#### Thunder in the East

War in Europe was, for most of the war, supplying the United Kingdom, especially since they were the only opponent against Nazi Germany for several years. American forces were first threatened in Europe in North Africa, but started large attacks with British Forces moving into Italy from 1943 to 1945, with military rushing into Italy after surrendering and collapsing. Tremendous deaths and success occurred during the invasion of Vichy France, known as D-Day, starting in June 1944, with German transportation, oil plants, and cities being damaged by going through French territories and, what was, Vichy France. American forces, alongside British forces, also devastated German air superiority with the Luftwaffe. Battling from France, Italy, and the Soviet Union had brought a inevitable loss from Nazi Germany. German government surrendered to the Allies in May of 1945 after Berlin fell and Adolf Hitler committed suicide.

#### Comes with a Cost

Military efforts were massively supported by Americans at home, who also provided money for war debts. World War Two costed the United States ~341,000,000,000 (Billion) dollars (~4,500,000,000,000 (Trillion) dollars converted to modern money), which was 74% of the United States GDP at this time.

Map of Europe, with NATO in blue and Warsaw Pact in red

### Leftover Chills (1945 - 1964)

#### Two Global Superpowers

After World War Two, the United States supported (Western) Europe and Asia with an economy that was growing faster than ever, the Civil Rights Movement also happened during this time. Capitalist countries put in much effort to eliminate communism, starting the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the strongest communist country until China moved away from them. A race for power grew between the United States and the Soviet Union with atomic bombs, which later became hydrogen bombs, including the Tsar Bomba. Tensions grew massively after the Warsaw Pact was formed between Soviet controlled countries; Poland, East Germany, Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Albania, a former member state. The Warsaw Pact, being seen as a threat, caused the National Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, to form with democratic countries; Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with Greece and Turkey joining in 1952, West Germany in 1955, and Spain in 1982. The United States fought in ruthless wars in Korea and in Vietnam during this period. The Cuban Missile Crisis started when Cuba became communist under Fidel Castro. and had nuclear bombs sent from the Soviet Union after the United States had missiles in Turkey, becoming a dangerous time in the era.

#### Pushing Forward

In economic terms, the United States grew tremendously fast at this time, with widespread prosperity, increasing wages, and movement of remaining farmers to cities and towns. In politics, liberal democrats ruled the United States, who held the New Deal Coalition, with people like Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson, with republican Dwight Eisenhower, who was a moderate, not attempting to reverse New Deal programs, and expanding Social Security and building the interstate highway system. Community and the middle class grew during this time.

Buzz Aldrin on the moon after landing

### "Make Love, Not War!" (1964 - 1980)

#### Dead End?

This period includes the climax and end of the Civil Rights Movement, the ending years of the Vietnam War, protest about sexual freedoms and drug use, and the Cold War continuing, with a Space Race to put a man on the moon. This period was a time of prosperous and expanding economy before the recession of 1969-1970, than had new competition during the 1973 oil crisis. Popularity grew from Americans against involvement during the Vietnam War, with antiwar and antidraft protests, alongside the Watergate scandal, which showed corruption from the highest levels of government. By 1980, a national feeling of uneasiness went across the country, including with controversial actions with Iran.

Republican Rule

The Democratic Party split because of issues with the Vietnam War, alongside other issues, changing politics because of younger voters. Many Democrats became Republicans after the Neoconservative movement, including Ronald Reagan, from foreign policy. Republicans were mostly united with intense American Nationalism, opposing Communism, and strengthened support for Israeli people.

Ronald Reagan

### Reagan, Greatness to America (1981 - 1991)

#### Changed Course of History

This age was the presidency, and impact after presidency to American history, from Ronald Reagan. The Reagan Era, and its future impact, is described under the sixth party system by political scientists. The Reagan Era is universally defined as the 1980s, with other definitions including the 1970s, 1990s, and some extend it to modern date. In the book, *The Age of Reagan: A History, 1974–2008,* Sean Wilentz, a historian and journalist, argues that Reagan changed all of American history, similar to Franklin D. Roosevelt with his legacy with the New Deal four decades after the deal was made.

#### Ripple in Time

The Reagan Era included other people and events beyond Reagan, he is characterized as the leader of a conservative movement, which would dominate policy-making for things including taxation, defense, and the Cold War. Others who are known during the Reagan Era include Jerry Falwell, Phyllis Schlafly, and Newt Gingrich. The Reagan Era involves the presidency of Reagan, and includes future presidents like George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Liberals generally show sorrow to the Reagan Era, while conservatives usually praise this era. Liberals were also influenced by this era, creating the Third Way.

#### Act of Recovery

After taking office, the Reagan administration made economical policies structured on the theory of supply-side economics. Tax was reduced from the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, as well as reducing domestic and military spending. Money in government shortened after his presidency, so George H. W. Bush and Clinton increased taxes in office, but taxes would be cut again from the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. During the presidency of Bill Clinton, Republicans passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, a bill which placed limits to those receiving federal assistance.

9/11 Attacks on the Twin Towers

### A New Millennium (1991 - 2008)

#### Power Alone

This period starts with the collapse of the Soviet Union, ending the Cold War, and leaving the United States as a unchallenged superpower. The U.S. lead military involvement in the Middle East. Invasions into Iraq from the U.S. from Kuwait were expelled, who was also an ally to the United States, during the Persian Gulf War. In politics, the Democratic Party returned to the White House after the Bill Clinton election of 1992. During the 1994 midterm election, Republicans won over Congress for the first time in four decades. Republican Congress against Bill Clinton caused a federal government shutdown, resulting in a budget crisis, both Republican Congress and Bill Clinton would resolve this by passing welfare reform, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and a balanced budget. A political sex scandal was created for 49-year-old Bill Clinton with 22-year-old Monica Lewinsky by the House of Representatives, Clinton would be freed from these charges by Senate. High-technology boomed the U.S. economy starting in the 1990s, until the NASDAQ crashed as the dot-com bubble burst and the early 2000s recession marked the end of sustained economic growth.

#### New Millennium

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush became president in one of the closest and most controversial presidential election in United States history. Early in his presidency, he had approved education reform and a large tax cut aimed to simulate the economy. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the United States stated a Global War on Terrorism, starting with the 2001 war in Afghanistan. In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq, which started the controversial leadership of Saddam Hussein, as well as starting a conflict that would last through most of the decade. The Homeland Security Department was formed and the controversial Patriot Act was signed to battle terrorism. In 2006, criticism grew for dealing with Hurricane Katrina (in Gulf Coast, 2005), scandals, and unpopularity growing for the wars in Iraq, helping Democrats get into office. Saddam Hussein was later charged for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and was executed by being hanged. In 2007, George Bush ordered more troops into Iraq, which reduced casualties.

Net worth of the middle class (thousands)

### Throwing the Money (2008 - 2009)

#### Do wrongs make a right?

The Great Recession was a severe economic crisis of the United States, alongside a deep economic recession. This recession is dated for starting in December 2007 and ended into June 2009, with multiple more years required to recover the economy to the same as it was before the recession. Recovery was slow in part of household and financial institutions trying to pay off debt for years before the crisis. It followed with the bursting of the housing bubble, the housing market correction and subprime mortgage crisis.

#### Avoidable?

The United States Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission reported reasons to how the Great Recession happened in January 2011, and said that "the crisis was avoidable and was caused by: Widespread failures in financial regulation, including the Federal Reserve's failure to stem the tide of toxic mortgages; Dramatic breakdowns in corporate governance including too many financial firms acting recklessly and taking on too much risk; An explosive mix of excessive borrowing and risk by households and Wall Street that put the financial system on a collision course with crisis; Key policy makers ill prepared for the crisis, lacking a full understanding of the financial system they oversaw; and systemic breaches in accountability and ethics at all levels."

#### Statistically...

According to the Department of Labor, an estimated 8.7 million jobs, or about 7%, were lost from February 2008 to February 2010, and GDP was contracted by 4.2% between late 2007 to mid-2009, making the Great Recession the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. The lowest point of economy, or trough, happened during the second quarter of 2009 (which technically ended the recession). GDP did not recover to pre-crisis (late 2007) until late 2011. Unemployment rates rose from 4,7% in November 2007 to peak at 10% in October 2009, returning slowly back to 4,7% by May 2016, unemployment rates returned to pre-crisis levels in May 2014.

#### Slight Recovery

Households and non-profit organizations added approximately $8,000,000,000,000 in debt during the 2000-2008 period, then reduced their debt level from the peak in late-2008 until late-2012, the only period this debt declined since the late 1950s. However, the debt held by the public rose from 35% GDP to 77% GDP by 2016, as the government spent more wile the private sector reduced the debt burdens made before the recession. Barack Obama declared bailout measures started from the George Bush administration and continued during his own, and was completed and mostly profitable as of December 2014.

2016 Trump Republican campaign in Phoenix, Arizona

### Yesterday and Today (2010 -)

#### Changing People

In 2011, Barack Obama announced that Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, died from United States forces during a operation in Pakistan, and war in Iraq was official during that same year. Obama was re-elected for a second term as president. In June 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which resulted in recognition of legally performed same-sex marriage by the government. In 2015, the Court ruled that all states grant same-sex marriage, alongside recognizing others performing in different states in Obergefell v. Hodges.

#### Fight for Rights

A series of deadly mass shootings, especially in movie theaters and schools, started an intense debate over gun control and other causes of these events. After killings of many African Americans by police resulting in no persecution, the Black Lives Matter movement started discussions, protests, and riots against racial profiling, police brutality, and racism overall from white and black people. A 2016 Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub arose to new discussions of violence and discrimination against the LGBT community, as well as strengthening talks about terrorism.

#### A Controversial Election

In 2016, bushiness tycoon Donald Trump defeated Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, leading Republicans to gain control of all branches of government. His first months of presidency are largely characterized as a change of attitude from other presidencies. His anti-immigrant acts, including the "Muslim Ban," and the staffing of the EPA with opponents in environmentalism started controversy from liberals. His presidency faced many protest against Trump, notably Women's Marches that brought nearly five million marchers worldwide. In 2018, Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives, despite gerrymandering issues, sending its most diverse group of delegates, including a record number of women, Republicans also lightly added to the Senate.

Alt-right rally in Virginia

#### Willing to Destroy

During the 2010s, the country had seen issues with racial relations. The United States saw the rise of the alt-right movement. In August 2017, these groups attended a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, during which a neo-Nazi rammed their car, killing one protester doing so. Since the mid-2010s, the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation consider white supremacy and alt-right violence as fueling terrorism.

#### Dangerous Defense

Several left-wing organizations started mobilizing after the growing alt-right became popular in media, most notably Antifa. Donald Trump compared Antifa to the alt-right, specifically in regards to the Charlottesville, which became controversial. The FBI and the United States Department of Homeland Security labeled Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.

#### A Change in Media

This period is also known by a major shift away from support to media like CNN and NBC. The concept of fake news grew in popularity during the 2016 election, alongside its aftermath, resulting in less trust to media in the American public, and new sources arose. "Legacy media," another name for old media, began to drop in ratings and support, facing criticism with misinformation, censorship, and threats of doxing made against private people. A shift to independent news sources, on sites like YouTube, and independently owned sites became popular. Social media platforms became present during this period, and smartphone sales grew exponentially, contributing to greater usage of electronic devices.

#### Environmental Destruction

Climate change grew in popularity, being seen as the largest threat in the scientific community, while denial of climate change also grew to become much of the population. The planet is on track to surpassing the 2 degrees Celsius mark. In 2017, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement. Other concerns by environmentalists include mass extinction, microplastic pollution, and the destruction of the last remaining wilderness and natural beauties.

New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic

#### To Much Power?

On December 19, 2019, the House of Representatives, for the third time in American history, voted to pass articles of impeachment against Donald Trump for allegations of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. On February 5, 2020, Trump was freed from charges by a Republican-controlled Senate. Every Democrat voted to convict, while every Republican, excluding Mitt Romney, voted to acquit.

#### Difficult to Track

On January 15, 2020, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus was first seen in the United States at Everett, Washington from a infected person from Wuhan, China, where the virus started. Health officials confirm that this was the first case in the United States on January 20, 2020. SARS-CoV-2, also known as COVID-19, caused a disease that would infect 1.3 million Americans and killed 80,000 in three months. The United States, currently, has the most cases of COVID-19. The United States keeps struggling to react effectively and counter the spread of COVID-19, and has infected every state and territory of the United States excluding American Samoa.

## Demographics

The United States is currently the third most populous country on Earth, behind China and ahead of Indonesia. The United States population is estimated to be 329,227,746, recorded on January 28, 2020. The United States Census Bureau shows a population growth of 0.75% for a year long period ending in July 2012. Though the United States is heavily industrialized, the population growth is lower than the Worldwide average of 1.1%. The fertility rate in the United States was estimated in 2019 to be about 1.71 children per woman, which, like population growth, is below the world average of approximately 2.1.

The American population is estimated to have quadrupled since the 20th century, with about 76 million in 1900 to 281 million in 2000. Population is estimated to had surpassed 200 million in 1967, and about 300 million on October 17, 2006. Foreign immigration has caused a significant rise in population in recent United States history, with foreign-born population doubling from 20 million in 1990 to 45 million in 2015, about one third of population increase in the United States. Population growth is fastest with minority groups as a whole, with a 2012 Census Bureau estimating that roughly 50.4% of Americans that are less than a year old belong to racial and ethnic minorities.

White people are the majority of people in the United States, with 73%, or 234,370,202, people in 2017 being estimated to be white. Non-Hispanic Whites are estimated to be 60.7% of the United States population, though some Latin Americans considering themselves to be fully white in the census. Considering this, white Americans with no Latin American ancestry are 52.7% of the population. Non-Hispanic white population is estimated to fall below 50% by 2045, mostly due to low birth rates and immigration.

Hispanic and Latino Americans make up about 48% of the population growth of 2.9 million between July 1 2005 and July 1 2006. Immigrants and American-born peoples are expected to make up large portions of population in future decades.

The Census Bureau estimates that the United States population will be 417 million in 2060, a 38% increase from 2007. The United Nations estimates the United States population will be 402 million in 2050, a 32% increase from 2007. An official census reports 54.4% of births (2,150,926 out of 3,953,593) in 2010 were non-Hispanic whites, a 0.3% increase compared to the previous year, 54.1%.

## States and Territories

The United States is politically divided between fifty U.S. states, one federal district, five inhabited territories, and nine uninhabited territories. All U.S. states but two (Alaska and Hawaii) are in the "continental" United States, all are connected to each other.

This lists the U.S. states and territories. States will include their date of official statehood, and territories will include date of occupation. (Alphabetical order).

### States

1. Alabama (December 14, 1819)
2. Alaska (January 3, 1959)
3. Arizona (February 14, 1912)
4. Arkansas (June 15, 1836)
5. California (September 9, 1850)
6. Colorado (August 1, 1876)
7. Connecticut (January 9, 1788)
8. Delaware (December 7, 1787)
9. Florida (March 3, 1845)
10. Georgia (January 2, 1788)
11. Hawaii (August 21, 1959)
12. Idaho (July 3, 1890)
13. Illinois (December 3, 1818)
14. Indiana (December 11, 1816)
15. Iowa (December 28, 1846)
16. Kansas (January 29, 1861)
17. Kentucky (June 1, 1792)
18. Louisiana (April 30, 1812)
19. Maine (March 15, 1820)
20. Maryland (April 28, 1788)
21. Massachusetts (February 6, 1788)
22. Michigan (January 26, 1837)
23. Minnesota (May 11, 1858)
24. Mississippi (December 10, 1817)
25. Missouri (August 10, 1821)
26. Montana (November 8, 1889)
27. Nebraska (March 1, 1867)
28. Nevada (October 31, 1864)
29. New Hampshire (June 21, 1788)
30. New Jersey (December 18, 1787)
31. New Mexico (January 6, 1912)
32. New York (July 26, 1788)
33. North Carolina (November 21, 1789)
34. North Dakota (November 2, 1889)
35. Ohio (March 1, 1803)
36. Oklahoma (November 16, 1907)
37. Oregon (February 14, 1859)
38. Pennsylvania (December 12, 1787)
39. Rhode Island (May 29, 1790)
40. South Carolina (May 23, 1788)
41. South Dakota (November 2, 1889)
42. Tennessee (June 1, 1796)
43. Texas (December 29, 1845)
44. Utah (January 4, 1896)
45. Vermont (March 4, 1791)
46. Virginia (June 25, 1788)
47. Washington (November 11, 1889)
48. West Virginia (June 20, 1863)
49. Wisconsin (May 29, 1848)
50. Wyoming (July 10, 1890)

### Territories

#### Inhabited

1. American Samoa (1900)
2. Guam (1899)
3. Northern Mariana Islands (1986)
4. Puerto Rico (1899)
5. U.S. Virgin Islands (1917)

#### Uninhabited

1. Baker Island (1856)
2. Howland Island (1858)
3. Jarvis Island (1856)
4. Johnson Atoll (1859)
5. Kingman Reef (1860)
6. Midway Atoll (1867)
7. Navassa Island (1858)
8. Palmyra Atoll (1898)
9. Wake Island (1899)