History of United States in Timeline

The United States of America is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in North America. Bordered by Canada and Mexico, it also includes Alaska, Hawaii, and several island territories. Home to 574 federally recognized tribes, the U.S. is an ecologically megadiverse country with the world's third-largest land area and a population exceeding 340 million.

1900: Acquisition of American Samoa

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

1904: Summer Olympics in St. Louis

In 1904, the Summer Olympics took place in St. Louis, Missouri, marking the first time the Olympic Games were 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.

1917: Immigration to the United States

From 1865 through 1917, the United States saw an unprecedented number of immigrants, including 24.4 million from Europe.

1917: Purchase of U.S. Virgin Islands

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

1917: U.S. enters World War I

In 1917, the United States entered World War I alongside the Allies.

1920: Women's Suffrage

In 1920, a constitutional amendment granted nationwide women's suffrage.

1929: Wall Street Crash

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

1929: Academy Awards

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

1933: National Defense Act Amendments

The National Defense Act Amendments of 1933 created the Guard and provides for the integration of Army National Guard units and personnel into the U.S. Army.

March 1941: U.S. supplies Allies of World War II

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

1941: Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor

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

January 1944: Golden Globe Awards

Since January 1944, the Golden Globe Awards have been held annually.

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, which led to the end of the war.

1945: End of World War II

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

July 4, 1946: Philippines Independence

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

1946: Culinary Institute of America Founded

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

1947: Integration with U.S. Air Force

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

1958: Establishment of NASA

In 1958, the United States established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1961: Start of the Apollo program

In 1961, NASA initiated the Apollo program.

1964: The Wilderness Act

The idea of wilderness has shaped the management of public lands since 1964, with the Wilderness Act.

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 U.S. federal government.

1967: Public Broadcasting Act

In February 1970, NPR was incorporated under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

1969: Apollo 11 Mission

In 1969, NASA's Apollo 11 mission achieved the first crewed Moon landing.

1969: First crewed Moon landing

In 1969, The U.S. prevailed in the Space Race, which culminated with the first crewed Moon landing.

February 1970: Incorporation of NPR

In February 1970, NPR was incorporated under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

1972: End of the Apollo program and start of the Voyager program

In 1972, NASA's Apollo program ended and the Voyager program started.

1973: End of conscription

In 1973, defiance of the military draft led 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: U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam

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

1981: Start of the Space Shuttle program

In 1981, NASA started the Space Shuttle program.

1983: U.S. GDP Growth

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

1985: Majority of American women employed

By 1985, the majority of American women aged 16 and older were employed.

1989: Fall of Communism

The fall of communism occurred from 1989 to 1991 marking the end of the Cold War.

1990: The Human Genome Project launched

In 1990, The Human Genome Project was formally launched.

1990: Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched by NASA.

1991: Collapse of the Soviet Union

From 1989 to 1991, the collapse of the Soviet Union marked the end of the Cold War and left the United States as the world's sole superpower.

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: End of the Cold War

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, marking the end of the Cold War and leaving the U.S. as the world's sole superpower.

1994: United States hosted 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 Disadvantage

Starting in 1998, life expectancy in the U.S. fell behind that of other wealthy industrialized countries, leading to an increasing 'health disadvantage' gap.

1999: United States hosted FIFA Women's World Cup

The United States hosted the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, and the final match was watched by 90,185 people, setting a world record for the most-attended women's sporting event at the time.

2001: Destiny Module to the ISS

In 2001, the Destiny module was added to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of U.S. contributions.

2001: September 11 attacks

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

2001: Transportation Security Administration

Since 2001, the Transportation Security Administration has provided security at most major airports in the U.S.

2007: Great Recession

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

2007: Harmony Module to the ISS

In 2007, the Harmony module was added to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of U.S. contributions.

2008: U.S. GDP Growth

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

2010: Student Loan Debt Increase

Between 2010 and 2020, student loan debt increased by 102%.

2010: German Speakers in the U.S.

In 2010, 1 million people spoke German at home. By 2020, the number of German speakers fell to 857,000.

2010: U.S. Homicide Rates

In 2010, an analysis of the World Health Organization Mortality Database indicated that U.S. homicide rates were seven times higher than in other high-income countries, primarily due to a gun homicide rate that was 25 times higher.

2010: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

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

2010: Tranquility Module to the ISS

In 2010, the Tranquility module was added to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of U.S. contributions.

2011: End of the Space Shuttle program

In 2011, NASA's Space Shuttle program ended.

2011: Wealth Distribution in the U.S.

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

July 2013: Professional sports market size

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

2013: American Airlines Merger

After its 2013 merger with US Airways, American Airlines became the global leader in total number of passengers carried.

2013: U.S. household income

In 2023, the U.S. had the fourth-highest median household income, an increase from sixth-highest in 2013.

2014: U.S. Ally of Ukraine

Since 2014, the U.S. has become a key ally of Ukraine.

2016: Charitable Giving

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

2016: Support for Free Expression

In 2016, a Pew Research Center poll found that Americans were the most supportive of free expression of any polity measured and of freedom of the press and the right to use the Internet without government censorship.

2016: U.S. Share of Aerospace Production

In 2016, the United States accounted for just over half of the world's aerospace production.

2016: Income Distribution in the U.S.

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

2017: Status of Foreign-Born Population

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

2019: 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: Global Competitiveness Report Ranking

In 2019, the United States ranked second in the Global Competitiveness Report, following Singapore.

2019: Top Countries of Origin for Immigrants

In 2019, the leading 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: Income Inequality in the U.S.

Income inequality in the U.S. reached a record high in 2019.

April 1, 2020: U.S. Census Bureau Report

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

2020: Language Statistics in the U.S.

According to the American Community Survey in 2020, approximately 245.4 million people in the U.S. age five and older spoke only English at home, while 41.2 million spoke Spanish. Other languages spoken at home by over a million people included Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Korean, and Russian.

2020: Student Loan Debt Increase

Between 2010 and 2020, student loan debt increased by 102%.

2020: Suicide Rate and Obesity

In 2020, The Commonwealth Fund reported that the U.S. had the highest suicide rate among high-income countries. Approximately one-third of the U.S. adult population was obese, and another third was overweight.

2020: Expenditure on Education

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

2020: Restaurant Industry Statistics

In 2020, the United States restaurant industry was projected at $899 billion in sales.

January 2021: Capitol attack

In January 2021, a mob of insurrectionists entered the U.S. Capitol and sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power in an attempted self-coup d'état.

2021: Expenditure on Education

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

2021: Broadcast Radio and Podcasts

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

2021: Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope

In 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope was launched.

2021: U.S. Manufacturing Sector

In 2021, the U.S. manufacturing sector was the second-largest globally, following China.

2021: U.S. Patent Applications

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

2021: Land Use in the United States

In 2021, the United States had 8% of global permanent meadows and pastures and 10% of cropland.

2022: American Life Expectancy

According to the CDC, in 2022, the average American life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years.

2022: U.S. Commuting Habits

In 2022, a study found that 76% of U.S. commuters drive alone, 14% ride a bicycle (including bike owners and bike-sharing users), and about 11% use some form of public transportation.

2022: Food Insecurity and Poverty in the U.S.

In 2022, approximately 6.4 million children in the U.S. experienced food insecurity, and about 37.9 million people, or 11.5% of the U.S. population, were living in poverty.

2022: Urban Population Statistics

In 2022, approximately 82% of Americans lived in urban areas, including suburbs. There were 333 incorporated municipalities with populations over 100,000. Nine cities had more than one million residents, and four cities—New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston—had populations exceeding two million.

2022: U.S. Airports Ownership

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

2022: Student Loan Debt

In 2022, student loan debt exceeded $1.7 trillion.

2022: Vehicle Ownership Per Capita

In 2022, the U.S. was among the top ten countries for highest vehicle ownership per capita, with 850 vehicles per 1000 people.

2022: Immigrant Population in the U.S.

In 2022, the United States had 87.7 million immigrants and U.S.-born children of immigrants, making up nearly 27% of the U.S. population.

2022: U.S. Scientific Publications

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

2022: Music Market Value

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

2022: U.S. Energy Consumption

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

2022: Median Age of the U.S. Population

In 2022, the median age of the United States population was 38.9 years.

2022: Video Game Market Size

In 2022, the video game market of the United States was the world's largest by revenue.

2023: American Life Expectancy

According to the CDC, in 2023, the average American life expectancy at birth was 78.4 years (75.8 for men and 81.1 for women), a gain of 0.9 year from 2022, mainly driven by decreases in mortality due to COVID-19, heart disease, unintentional injuries, cancer, and diabetes.

2023: U.S. in Global Company Rankings

In 2023, 136 of the world's 500 largest companies by revenue were headquartered in the U.S., the highest number of any country.

2023: Marriage and Fertility Rates in the U.S.

In 2023, 51% of Americans age 15 and over were married, and the total fertility rate for the U.S. stood at 1.6 children per woman.

2023: U.S. Energy Sources

In 2023, approximately 84% of the energy in the United States came from fossil fuels, with petroleum being the largest source at 38%, followed by natural gas at 36%. Renewable sources, coal, and nuclear power each contributed 9%.

2023: Personal Consumption Expenditures and Wealth Rankings

In 2023, the U.S. personal consumption expenditures exceeded $18.5 trillion, making it the world's largest consumer market. The U.S. also ranked first in the number of dollar billionaires and millionaires, with 735 billionaires and nearly 22 million millionaires.

2023: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2023, the United States ranked third in the Global Innovation Index, following Switzerland and Sweden.

2023: U.S. Military Spending

In 2023, the United States spent $916 billion on its military, which is by far the largest amount of any country.

February 2024: U.S. Federal Government Debt

In February 2024, the total U.S. federal government debt reached $34.4 trillion.

July 1, 2024: U.S. Population Estimate

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: Size of Diplomatic Corps

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

2024: Wealth and Income Inequality and Homelessness in the U.S.

By 2024, the U.S. had some of the highest wealth and income inequality among OECD countries, and there were approximately 771,480 homeless persons.

2024: U.S. Nuclear Power Plans

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

2024: American prison system overview

In 2024, the American prison system, which is highly heterogenous and operates at various levels, held over 1.9 million people across different types of facilities, including state prisons, federal prisons, local jails, juvenile correctional facilities, immigration detention centers, and others.

2024: U.S. Economic Output

In 2024, the U.S. accounted for over a quarter of nominal global economic output.

2024: Environmental Performance Index Ranking

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

2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2024, the United States ranked third in the Global Innovation Index, following Switzerland and Sweden.

2024: Refugee Resettlement

In fiscal year 2024, the United States resettled 100,034 refugees, solidifying its position as the top global resettlement destination.

2025: English Made Official Language by Executive Order

In 2025, English was designated the official language of the United States through Executive Order 14224.

2026: United States to co-host FIFA World Cup

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

2028: Los Angeles to host Summer Olympics

Los Angeles is scheduled to host the Summer Olympics in 2028, marking the ninth time the Olympic Games will be held in the U.S.

2050: U.S. Nuclear Power Plans

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

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