CHICAGO - 2050

State of the American Union - over 300 years

by Sanjeev Maddila

I have marveled at the American Union for almost all my life and have observed it closely for the past three decades or so. There are many aspects of this Union that I appreciate based on some of the historical accounts I have read.  It has evolved despite many jarring events over the past three centuries.  But the recent events made me think what future holds in the 21st century and beyond.

State of the Union - 18th Century

18th Century-Founding the Union
1776: Declaration of Independence
Whites, blacks, reds, browns, yellows... co-exist

1789: adopted US Constitution that outlines division of Governmental into three branches: executive (President), legislative (Congress); and judicial (Supreme Court).  It is regarded as the oldest written and codified national constitution in force. First ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offers specific protections of individual liberty and justice restrictions on the powers of government. Seventeen later amendments expand individual civil rights protections


19th Century-Expanding the Union
Expansion of the American Union:

State of the Union - 19th Century

Whites, blacks, reds, browns, yellows... co-exist

American Civil War: adopted US Constitution that outlines division of Governmental into three branches: executive (President), legislative (Congress); and judicial (Supreme Court).  It is regarded as the oldest written and codified national constitution in force. First ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offers specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of government. Majority of the seventeen later amendments expand individual civil rights protections

State of the Union - 20th Century

20th Century-Strengthening Union
World 1 & 2: American participation
Whites, blacks, reds, browns, yellows... co-exist

Civil Rights: adopted US Constitution that outlines division of Governmental into three branches: executive (President), legislative (Congress); and judicial (Supreme Court).  It is regarded as the oldest written and codified national constitution in force. First ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offers specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of government. Majority of the seventeen later amendments expand individual civil rights 

State of the Union - 21st Century

21st Century-Sorting the Union
2001:  9/11 attacks

Elections of Obama and Trump: Declaration of Independence
Whites, blacks, reds, browns, yellows... co-exist

Two Americas (Red vs. Blue)