The United States looks to approach its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. The country that was founded in 1776 has since then changed so much. What began as thirteen colonies along the east coast has grown into one of the world’s great powers. Over the past 250 years, the United States has experienced major changes in government, technology and civil rights.
One of the most significant changes has been the growth of democracy. When the nation was first founded, voting rights were limited to a small portion of the population, the white property owners. However, over time, through changes in the constitutions and social movements of different races and genders, voting rights have expanded to include all kinds of people.
Specifically, measures such as the 15th amendment, and the 19th amendment have helped to expand voting rights. As a result, today, all United States citizens who meet the voting requirements are allowed to participate.
The United States also has gone through significant changes to its technology. In 1776, travel was done through horses and wooden ships. Communication took weeks or even months.
However, today, Americans can travel across the country that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific in hours and communicate instantly through the internet. American innovators and companies played a major role in these advances. Wright brothers developed innovations such as the airplane and corporations such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Intel innovated the tech industry. These technological achievements have turned the nation into a global technological superpower.
Another major area of change has been civil rights. Throughout American History, many groups fought for equal treatment. African Americans, women, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and people with disabilities have fought for equal treatment, opportunities, and overall rights. While challenges remain, the nation has made significant progress to expand rights to protect all of its citizens despite the differences.
As the United States looks to become 250 years old, its birthday serves as an opportunity to reflect on its past and plan out its future. The history of America for the past 250 years has been that of change, and one can expect more of it.
By. Daniel Song
Works Cited
https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States/Impact-of-the-motor-vehicle https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments https://companiesmarketcap.com/tech/largest-tech-companies-by-market-cap/