2010s in the United States

2010s in the United States
DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos · Public domain · source
Name	2010s
Location	United States
Years	2010–2019
President start	Barack Obama
President end	Donald Trump
Notable events	Affordable Care Act, Great Recession recovery, Black Lives Matter, Rise of social media, 2016 United States presidential election

2010s in the United States was a decade defined by profound political realignment, rapid technological change, and intense social conflict. The period encompassed the second term of the nation's first African-American president, Barack Obama, and the unexpected election of political outsider Donald Trump. It was marked by a sustained economic recovery from the Great Recession, the transformative influence of Silicon Valley companies, and the rise of influential social movements that reshaped the national conversation on race, gender, and equality.

Presidency of Barack Obama

The second term of the Barack Obama administration was characterized by significant legislative achievements and partisan confrontation. A major focus was the implementation and defense of the Affordable Care Act (often called "Obamacare") following its passage in 2010, which faced repeated legal challenges and opposition from the Republican Party. Other key actions included executive orders on immigration like DACA, the negotiation of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Agreement, and the appointment of Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Merrick Garland, whose nomination was blocked by the United States Senate. The administration also grappled with crises such as the Benghazi attack and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Presidency of Donald Trump

The presidency of Donald Trump, beginning in 2017, represented a dramatic shift in style and policy. His election, following a campaign that emphasized "America First" policies, defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election. Major domestic initiatives included the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the appointment of conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States, and a focus on immigration enforcement and construction of a wall on the Mexico–United States border. His tenure was dominated by the investigation led by Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and his subsequent impeachment by the United States House of Representatives.

Economic trends and developments

The 2010s saw a long, steady recovery from the Great Recession, leading to record-long economic expansion, low unemployment, and significant gains in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500. This period was marked by the growth of the "gig economy" fueled by companies like Uber and Lyft, and increasing economic inequality highlighted by movements like Occupy Wall Street. Major corporate developments included the rise of FAANG stocks, the bankruptcy of Sears and Toys "R" Us, and the expansion of Amazon and Walmart. The Federal Reserve, under chairs Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen, maintained historically low interest rates for much of the decade.

Social movements and cultural shifts

American society was reshaped by powerful grassroots movements. Black Lives Matter, founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, emerged following the shooting of Trayvon Martin and deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, mobilizing protests against police brutality. The Me Too movement, ignited by allegations against Harvey Weinstein, catalyzed a national reckoning on sexual harassment. Other significant shifts included the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage via the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision, the March for Our Lives led by survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, and increasing public acceptance of cannabis legalization.

Technological advancements and impact

The decade was defined by the ubiquity of the smartphone and the dominance of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, which transformed communication, commerce, and politics. Silicon Valley giants such as Apple, Google, and Netflix became central to daily life. Breakthroughs included the proliferation of streaming media, the advancement of electric vehicles by Tesla, the rise of artificial intelligence and virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa, and the beginning of 5G network deployment. These technologies also fueled controversies over data privacy, misinformation, and the market power of Big Tech.

Foreign policy and international relations

U.S. foreign policy evolved from the multilateralism of the Obama administration to the more unilateral "America First" approach under Donald Trump. Key events included the drawdown in Iraq and the ongoing war in Afghanistan, the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, and military interventions against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria and Iraq. The U.S. pursued a strategic "pivot to Asia" while navigating a complex relationship with a rising China, and engaged in high-stakes diplomacy with North Korea under Kim Jong-un. The decade ended with the U.S. initiating a China–United States trade war and moving to withdraw from international agreements like the Paris Agreement and the Iran nuclear deal.

Domestic politics and polarization

The political landscape became increasingly polarized, characterized by gerrymandering, the influence of Super PACs following the Citizens United v. FEC decision, and intense partisan media ecosystems exemplified by Fox News and MSNBC. Control of the United States Congress oscillated between the Democratic and Republican parties, leading to legislative gridlock and federal government shutdowns in 2013 and 2018–19. The Tea Party movement and later the Freedom Caucus exerted significant pressure on the Republican leadership, while the Democratic Party saw a rising progressive wing represented by figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Category:2010s in the United States Category:21st century in the United States