Recent History
The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 made terrorism a major political and security issue. At the beginning of the new millennium, following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 made terrorism a major political and security issue, the United States foreign policy became highly concerned with the threat of terrorist attacks. In response, the United States government began a long series of military, police and legal operations termed the War on Terror. With the support of most of the international community, the armed forces invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban regime, which was considered to be a safe haven for terrorism activities in the Middle East. More controversially, President Bush continued the "War on Terror" by invading Iraq and overthrowing Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003. This second invasion proved relatively unpopular amongst the international community, even amongst long-time American allies such as France and Germany, which resulted in a wave of anti-American sentiment. Most recently, this discontent with the war has spread to the home front, as a purported majority of Americans are now dissatisfied with its prosecution.
As of 2006, the political climate remains polarized as debates continue over issues such as the increasing trade deficit, a rising health care cost, illegal immigration, the separation of the church and the state, abortion, free speech, gay rights, as well as the ongoing war in Iraq.
Longer Historical Perspective
Before European colonization in the late 1400s, the land of what is now the United States was inhabited by Native Americans, who arrived on the continent by crossing the Bering land bridge some time between 50,000 and 11,000 years ago. In 1607, the first successful English settlement was at Jamestown, Virginia. Within the next two decades, several Dutch settlements, including New Amsterdam (the predecessor to New York City), were established, which was followed by extensive British settlement of the east coast.
The Pilrims had a feast in 1621, after their first harvest. This feast has become known as "The First Thanksgiving.
From 1803 to 1848 the size of the new nation nearly tripled. In the mid-19th century, the nation was divided over the issue of states' rights, the role of the federal government, and the expansion of slavery, which led to the American Civil War when, following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, South Carolina became the first state to declare its secession from the Union. Six other Southern states followed, forming the Confederate States of America early in 1861. Landing at Ellis Island, 1902. Immigration helped spur the American economy.
After the war in 1918, the United States Senate did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles imposed by its Allies on the defeated Central Powers, which would have consequently pulled the U.S. into European affairs. Instead, the country chose to pursue unilateralism, if not isolationism.
An abandoned farmland in South Dakota during the Great Depression, 1936. The Depression ruined the lives of many people in the United States, and led to the abandonment of laissez-faire policies.
Meanwhile in the country, urbanization was completed and American society experienced a period of sustained economic expansion After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, the United States continued to involve itself in military action overseas as demonstrated by the Gulf War. Following Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential election, the country experienced the largest economic expansion in its history, which is primarily attributed to the digital revolution and new business opportunities created by the Internet.
