Indigenous people had complex political systems long before colonization, such as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which influenced modern democracies. Colonization disrupted their governance, but today, they continue to assert sovereignty, self-governance, and fight for political rights and recognition.

Indigenous peoples had complex political systems long before colonization, such as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which influenced modern democracies. Colonization disrupted their governance, but today, they continue to assert sovereignty, self-governance, and fight for political rights and recognition.

The American War of Independence (1775–1783) was a revolutionary conflict in which the thirteen American colonies fought to gain independence from British rule. Driven by taxation disputes and demands for self-governance, the war led to the formation of the United States, officially recognized with the Treaty of Paris (1783).

In the 19th century, Ellis Island became the main entry point for European immigrants to the U.S., opening in 1892. Millions arrived seeking opportunity or fleeing hardship, undergoing inspections before entry. Despite challenges, they contributed to industrialization and urban growth.