History of United States in Timeline

The United States of America is a federal republic of 50 states and a capital district, primarily located in North America. It borders Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. It also includes Alaska, Hawaii, and several island territories. It's a megadiverse nation, ranking as the third-largest country by land area and population, with over 341 million residents.

1900: Establishment as a great power

By 1900, the United States had established itself as a great power.

1900: Acquisition of American Samoa

In 1900, the United States acquired American Samoa after the Second Samoan Civil War.

1904: 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis

The 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri, were the first-ever Olympic Games held outside of Europe.

1913: Armory Show in New York City

In 1913, the Armory Show in New York City, an exhibition of European modernist art, shocked the public and transformed the U.S. art scene.

1916: Danish voters approved the sale of the U.S. Virgin Islands

In 1916, Danish voters approved the sale of the U.S. Virgin Islands in a referendum.

1917: Immigration stream to the United States

From 1865 through 1917, an unprecedented stream of immigrants arrived in the United States, including 24.4 million from Europe.

1917: Purchase of the U.S. Virgin Islands

In 1917, the U.S. purchased the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark.

1917: Entry into World War I

In 1917, the United States entered World War I alongside the Allies, helping to turn the tide against the Central Powers.

1920: Women's Suffrage

In 1920, a constitutional amendment granted nationwide women's suffrage in the United States.

1929: Wall Street Crash

In 1929, the Wall Street Crash triggered the Great Depression.

1929: First Academy Awards Ceremony

The Academy Awards, also known as "the Oscars", have been held annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1929.

1933: National Defense Act Amendments

The National Defense Act Amendments of 1933 legislation created the Guard and provides for the integration of Army National Guard and Air National Guard units and personnel into the U.S. Army and (since 1947) the U.S. Air Force.

March 1941: Start of War Materiel Supply

In March 1941, the U.S. began supplying war materiel to the Allies of World War II.

1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor

In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, which led to the U.S. entering World War II on the side of the Allies.

January 1944: Beginning of the Golden Globe Awards

The Golden Globe Awards have been held annually since January 1944.

May 1945: Defeat of Italy and Germany

In May 1945, the U.S. focused its wartime efforts on Japan's allies Italy and Germany until their final defeat.

August 1945: Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

In August 1945, the U.S. used nuclear weapons against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war.

1945: End of World War II and emergence as superpower

The end of World War II in 1945 left the U.S. and the Soviet Union as superpowers, leading to the Cold War.

July 4, 1946: Independence of the Philippines

On July 4, 1946, the Philippines was granted full independence from the U.S. following World War II.

1946: Founding of the Culinary Institute of America

In 1946, the Culinary Institute of America was founded by Katharine Angell and Frances Roth.

1947: Integration of Air National Guard

The National Defense Act Amendments of 1933 provides for the integration of Army National Guard and Air National Guard units and personnel into the U.S. Army and (since 1947) the U.S. Air Force.

1950: Start of frequent military interventions

The United States has engaged in over 400 military interventions since its founding in 1776, with over half of these occurring between 1950 and 2019.

1958: Establishment of NASA

In 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established, marking the beginning of the U.S. space program.

1964: Wilderness Act

The idea of wilderness has shaped the management of public lands since the passing of the Wilderness Act in 1964.

1965: Establishment of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities

In 1965, the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities was established as an agency of the United States federal government to develop and promote a broadly conceived national policy of support for the humanities and the arts in the United States.

1967: Public Broadcasting Act of 1967

National Public Radio (NPR) was incorporated in February 1970 under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

1969: First Crewed Moon Landing

In 1969 the United States prevailed in the Space Race, which culminated with the first crewed Moon landing.

1969: Apollo 11 achieved the first crewed Moon landing

In 1969, NASA's Apollo 11 mission achieved the first crewed Moon landing, a significant milestone for the agency.

February 1970: Incorporation of National Public Radio (NPR)

In February 1970, National Public Radio (NPR) was incorporated under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

1973: End of conscription

In 1973, defiance of the military draft lead to the end of conscription in the U.S.

1973: Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides a way to protect threatened and endangered species and their habitats.

1975: Withdrawal from Vietnam

In 1975, the U.S. totally withdrew from Vietnam due to wide opposition to U.S. intervention.

1983: U.S. Real GDP growth

From 1983 to 2008, U.S. real compounded annual GDP growth was 3.3%, compared to a 2.3% weighted average for the rest of the G7.

1985: Majority of women employed

By 1985, the majority of American women aged 16 and older were employed, due to a societal shift in the roles of women.

1989: Fall of Communism

The Fall of Communism marked the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989.

1990: Launch of the Human Genome Project

The Human Genome Project was formally launched in 1990.

1991: Gulf War

In 1991, an American-led international coalition of states expelled an Iraqi invasion force that had occupied neighboring Kuwait during the Gulf War.

1991: Collapse of the Soviet Union

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, leaving the U.S. as the world's sole superpower.

1994: 1994 FIFA World Cup

In 1994, the United States hosted the FIFA World Cup.

1998: Nasdaq trades online

In 1998, Nasdaq became the first stock market in the United States to trade online.

1998: Life Expectancy Lagging Behind Other Countries

Starting in 1998, life expectancy in the U.S. fell behind that of other wealthy industrialized countries, and the "health disadvantage" gap has been increasing ever since.

1999: 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup

In 1999, the United States hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup. The final match had an attendance of 90,185 people, setting a world record for the largest crowd at a women's sporting event at the time.

2001: U.S. contributions to the ISS include several modules, including Destiny

Destiny module added to ISS in 2001.

2001: September 11 attacks

The September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001 by al-Qaeda led to the war on terror and subsequent military interventions in Afghanistan and in Iraq.

2001: TSA Provided Security at Most Major Airports

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has provided security at most major airports since 2001.

2007: U.S. contributions to the ISS include several modules, including Harmony

Harmony module added to ISS in 2007.

2007: Great Recession

The U.S. housing bubble culminated in 2007 with the Great Recession, the largest economic contraction since the Great Depression.

2008: U.S. Real GDP growth

From 1983 to 2008, U.S. real compounded annual GDP growth was 3.3%, compared to a 2.3% weighted average for the rest of the G7.

2010: Student loan debt increased since 2010

Between 2010 and 2020, student loan debt increased by 102% in the United States.

2010: German Spoken at Home in the U.S.

In 2010, German was spoken by 1 million people at home in the US. In 2020, German was spoken by 881,000 people at home.

2010: U.S. homicide rates were 7 times higher than in other high-income countries

In 2010, an analysis of the World Health Organization Mortality Database showed that U.S. homicide rates "were 7 times higher than in other high-income countries, driven by a gun homicide rate that was 25 times higher".

2010: Obama Passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

In 2010, then-President Obama passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

2010: U.S. contributions to the ISS include several modules, including Tranquility

Tranquility module added to ISS in 2010.

2011: Wealth in the United States is highly concentrated

In 2011, the richest 10% of the adult population owned 72% of the country's household wealth, while the bottom 50% owned just 2%.

July 2013: Market for Professional Sports in the United States

In July 2013, the market for professional sports in the United States was approximately $69 billion, roughly 50% larger than that of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa combined.

2013: American Airlines became the global leader

American Airlines became the global leader after its 2013 merger with US Airways.

2013: Increase in Median Household Income

In 2023, Americans had the fourth-highest median household income among OECD member states, up from sixth-highest in 2013.

2014: Ally of Ukraine

Beginning in 2014, the U.S. had become a key ally of Ukraine.

2015: U.S. Video Game Industry Statistics

In 2015, the U.S. video game industry consisted of 2,457 companies, employed around 220,000 people, and generated $30.4 billion in revenue.

2015: Defense spending

In 2015, the total amount that the U.S. spent on defense was approximately ten times that of Russia and greater than the combined total defense expenditure of Russia, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia and India.

2016: Americans Supportive of Free Expression

A 2016 Pew Research Center poll found that Americans were the most supportive of free expression of any polity measured. They also highly support freedom of the press and the right to use the Internet without government censorship.

2016: Charitable Donations in America

According to a 2016 study by the Charities Aid Foundation, Americans donated 1.44% of total GDP to charity—the highest rate in the world by a large margin.

2016: Top fifth of earners took home more than half of all income

In 2016, the top fifth of earners took home more than half of all income, giving the U.S. one of the widest income distributions among OECD countries.

2017: U.S. Foreign-Born Population Statistics

In 2017, of the U.S. foreign-born population, approximately 45% were naturalized citizens, 27% were lawful permanent residents, 6% were temporary lawful residents, and 23% were unauthorized immigrants.

2019: Income Inequality Reached Record High

In 2019, income inequality in the U.S. reached a record high.

2019: Rate of children living in single-parent households

In 2019, the U.S. had the world's highest rate of children living in single-parent households at 23%.

2019: Top Countries of Origin for Immigrants

In 2019, the top countries of origin for immigrants in the U.S. were Mexico (24%), India (6%), China (5%), the Philippines (4.5%), and El Salvador (3%).

2019: End of frequent military interventions

The United States has engaged in over 400 military interventions since its founding in 1776, with over half of these occurring between 1950 and 2019 and 25% occurring in the post–Cold War era.

April 1, 2020: U.S. Census Bureau reported 331,449,281 residents

On April 1, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported 331,449,281 residents in the United States.

2020: Languages Spoken at Home in the U.S.

According to the American Community Survey (2020), some 245.4 million people in the U.S. age five and older spoke only English at home, while about 41.2 million spoke Spanish at home.

2020: Student loan debt increased since 2010

Between 2010 and 2020, student loan debt increased by 102% in the United States.

2020: Report on Suicide Rate and Healthcare Spending

In 2020, The Commonwealth Fund reported that the U.S. had the highest suicide rate among high-income countries. Also, the U.S. healthcare system far outspends that of any other country but attains worse healthcare outcomes.

2020: Education Statistics Among Americans Age 25 and Older

In 2020, among Americans age 25 and older, 92.2% graduated from high school, 62.7% attended some college, 37.7% earned a bachelor's degree, and 14.2% earned a graduate degree.

2020: U.S. Restaurant Industry Sales

In 2020, the United States restaurant industry was projected at $899 billion in sales and employed more than 15 million people.

January 2021: Capitol attack

In January 2021, the country's polarization was violently reflected in the Capitol attack, when a mob of insurrectionists entered the U.S. Capitol.

2021: Hubble and James Webb space telescopes

Hubble space telescope launched in 1990. James Webb space telescopes launched in 2021.

2021: Spending on Education Per Student

In 2020–2021, the U.S. spent an average of $18,614 per year per public elementary and secondary school student.

2021: Americans Listening to Broadcast Radio and Podcasts

In 2021, about 83% of Americans over age 12 listened to broadcast radio, while about 40% listened to podcasts.

2021: U.S. ranked second by number of patent applications

In 2021, the U.S. ranked second by the number of patent applications, after China.

2021: Land Usage in the United States

In 2021, the United States had 8% of the Earth's permanent meadows and pastures and 10% of its cropland.

2022: 6.4 million children experienced food insecurity

In 2022, 6.4 million children experienced food insecurity, and about 37.9 million people were living in poverty.

2022: Most of the 19,969 U.S. airports were owned and operated by local government authorities

In 2022, most of the 19,969 U.S. airports were owned and operated by local government authorities, and there are also some private airports.

2022: Student Loan Debt Exceeded $1.7 Trillion

In 2022, student loan debt in the U.S. exceeded $1.7 trillion.

2022: Vehicle Ownership in the U.S.

In 2022, the U.S. was among the top ten countries with the highest vehicle ownership per capita, with 850 vehicles per 1,000 people.

2022: United States Constituted 4% of World's Population, Consumed 16% of World's Energy

In 2022, the United States constituted about 4% of the world's population, but consumed around 16% of the world's energy.

2022: Immigrant Population Statistics

In 2022, the United States had 87.7 million immigrants and U.S.-born children of immigrants, which accounted for nearly 27% of the overall U.S. population. Also, in fiscal year 2022, over one million immigrants were granted legal residence.

2022: U.S. Music Market Value

In 2022, the United States had the world's largest music market, with a total retail value of $15.9 billion.

2022: United States was the country with the second-highest number of published scientific papers

In 2022, the United States was the country with the second-highest number of published scientific papers, after China.

2023: Life Expectancy Increased Compared To Previous Year

Compared to 2023, the life expectancy in the US increased 0.6 years to 79.0 years in 2024.

2023: American Marital Status

In 2023, 51% of Americans age 15 and over were married, 6% were widowed, 10% were divorced, and 34% had never been married.

2023: Americans Have Highest Average Household Income Among OECD

In 2023, Americans had the highest average household and employee income among OECD member states, and the fourth-highest median household income.

2023: U.S. energy sources in 2023

In 2023, approximately 84% of the United States' energy came from fossil fuels, with petroleum being the largest source at 38%.

2023: World Food and Agriculture – Statistical Yearbook 2023

In 2023, the 'World Food and Agriculture – Statistical Yearbook 2023' was published by FAO.

2023: The United States was ranked the second most technologically advanced country in the world

In 2023, the United States was ranked the second most technologically advanced country in the world (after South Korea) by Global Finance magazine.

2023: Undocumented Immigrant Population Record High

In 2023, the undocumented immigrant population in the U.S. reached a record high of 14 million.

July 1, 2024: U.S. Population

According to the Bureau's U.S. Population Clock, on July 1, 2024, the U.S. population had a net gain of one person every 16 seconds, or about 5400 people per day.

2024: Second Largest Diplomatic Corps

As of 2024, the United States has the world's second-largest diplomatic corps.

2024: U.S. Plans to Triple Nuclear Power Capacity

From 2024, the U.S. plans to triple its nuclear power capacity by 2050.

2024: Population distribution

In 2024, 346 incorporated U.S. municipalities had populations over 100,000, 11 cities had more than one million residents, and four cities—New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston—had populations exceeding two million.

2024: New York metro area gained the most new residents

In 2024, The New York metro area, which gained the most new residents, fell to 13th in 2025, due to a fall in immigrants.

2024: U.S. Gross Domestic Product exceeded $29 trillion

In 2024, the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeded $29 trillion, constituting over 25% of nominal global economic output, or 15% at purchasing power parity (PPP).

2024: U.S. manufacturing sector

In 2024, the U.S. manufacturing sector was the world's second-largest by value output after China's.

2024: Environmental Performance Index Ranking

In 2024, the U.S. ranked 35th among 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index.

2024: U.S. Life Expectancy Reaches Highest Recorded Level

In 2024, the average U.S. life expectancy at birth reached 79.0 years, its highest recorded level, according to the CDC. This was an increase of 0.6 years over 2023, attributed to a fall in fatal drug overdoses. For men, life expectancy rose to 76.5 years, and for women, it was 81.4 years.

2024: Country had some of the highest wealth and income inequality levels among OECD countries

In 2024, the country had some of the highest wealth and income inequality levels among OECD countries. There were about 771,480 homeless persons in the U.S.

2024: Median Age of the United States Population

In 2024, the median age of the United States population was 39.1 years.

2024: NFL Revenue

In the year 2024, the NFL generated over $23 billion, making them the most valued professional sports league in the United States and the world.

2024: Military Spending

The U.S. spent $997 billion on its military in 2024, which is by far the largest amount of any country, making up 37% of global military spending and accounting for 3.4% of the country's GDP.

2025: United States ranked third in the Global Innovation Index

In 2025 the United States ranked third (after Switzerland and Sweden) in the Global Innovation Index.

2025: 138 of the world's 500 largest companies were headquartered in the U.S.

In 2025, 138 of the world's 500 largest companies by revenue were headquartered in the U.S., the highest number of any country.

2025: Executive Order 14224 declared English official

In 2025, Executive Order 14224 declared English official language of the United States.

2025: U.S. Second-Largest Video Game Market

In 2025, the U.S. was the world's second-largest video game market by revenue (after China). Also in 2025, the U.S. is the top location for video game development, with 58% of the world's game developers based there.

2025: Population Growth in Southern Metros

In 2025, the fastest-growing metropolitan areas were in the South, while southern metros along the Mexican border and Gulf Coast metros susceptible to hurricanes declined the most.

2025: 2025 population estimate

The Census Bureau's official 2025 population estimate was 341,784,857, an increase of 3.1% since the 2020 census.

2026: Nearly 2 million people held in correctional facilities

In 2026, nearly 2 million people were held in 1,566 state prisons, 98 federal prisons, 3,116 local jails, and various other facilities across the United States, costing at least $445 billion annually.

2026: 2026 FIFA World Cup

In 2026, the United States will co-host the FIFA World Cup along with Canada and Mexico.

2028: Los Angeles to Host the 2028 Summer Olympics

The Olympic Games will be held in the U.S. for a ninth time when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics.

2050: U.S. Plans to Triple Nuclear Power Capacity