US Presidential Election 2024 PDF

The Prime Minister of India congratulated Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47 President of the United States. Reflecting on the positive momentum of the India-US partnership during President Trump's first term (2017-21), the PM of India recalled their memorable interaction...

The Prime Minister of India congratulated Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47 President of the United States. Reflecting on the positive momentum of the India-US partnership during President Trump's first term (2017-21), the PM of India recalled their memorable interactions, including the Howdy Modi event in Houston 2019 and the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad in 2020. Both leaders reiterated the importance of the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, and reaffirmed their commitment to working together to further strengthen bilateral ties across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors. About: The U.S. presidential election is held every four years to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. It follows an indirect voting process, where citizens vote for a slate of electors who then choose the President and Vice President. Constitutional requirements: The U.S. Constitution states that the president must: e Bea natural-born citizen of the United States e Beat least 35 years old e Have been a resident of the United States for 14 years Primary Elections and Caucuses: Primaries and caucuses are two ways that people help states and Do, political parties choose presidential nominees. e There are many people who want to be President, each with their own ideas about how Government should work. e People with similar ideas belong to the same political party; this is where Primaries and Caucuses come in. e Candidates from each political party campaign throughout the country to win the favor of their party members. e InaCaucus: Party members select the best candidate through a series of discussions and votes. e InaPrimary: Party members vote for the best candidate that will represent them in the general election. These take place in each state and run from early in the election year until the summer. During this stage, party members vote for their preferred candidates, and delegates are assigned to represent these choices at the national conventions. National Conventions: Following the primaries, each party holds a national convention where delegates officially nominate the party’s candidates for President and Vice President. The nominees then accept the party's nomination, and the general election campaign begins. The General Election: The general election occurs on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Voters in each state cast their ballots for President, effectively choosing electors who will represent their state in the Electoral College. Electoral College Voting and Inauguration: In December, the electors meet in their respective state capitals to cast their official votes. These votes are counted by Congress in early January, and the President-elect is formally declared. ye, The elected President is then inaugurated on January 20, marking the official start of their term in office. +fe Electoral College Mechanism in US: Electoral College System: Americans don't directly vote for the ye+, President; instead, they vote for electors who form the Electoral College. e There are 538 electors, and a candidate needs 270 to win the presidency. Allocation of Electors: Each state has a designated number of electors, roughly based on its population. +te By voting for a candidate, voters are actually choosing that candidate’s party-designated electors for their Dg+, state. e California has the most electoral votes of any states with 54, followed by Texas (40), Florida (30) and New York (28). e Alaska, Delaware, D.C., North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming are tied for the least electoral votes with three each. Winner-Takes-All Rule: Most states use a winner-takes-all system (except Maine and Nebraska), where the +fe candidate who wins the popular vote in a state receives all its electoral votes. ma - * Importance of Swing States: Due to this system, close races in a few "swing states" hold significant influence over the election, as the overall outcome depends on who reaches the 270 electoral vote threshold first. “+ Duties and voting by electors: Electors meet in December to formally vote for the President and Vice President. * While electors traditionally vote in line with their party's candidate, there is no federal law binding them to do so. *» However, many states have laws enforcing elector loyalty, and faithless electors are rare, as seen in the 2016 election. * Role of Swing States: Some states, known as “swing states” or “battleground states,” have historically close races and can vote either Democratic or Republican. “* Swing states in this year’s election: Seven key swing states—Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada—are critical in the current U.S. presidential election. “22nd Amendment to the US Constitution: The 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office. co It states that no person can be elected to the presidency more than twice. o It also bars anyone who has served more than two years of another president’s term from being elected more than once. “» Though Trump is returning for a second term in 2025, the 22nd Amendment prohibits him from running again in 2028. o Technically, the amendment can be repealed or modified: A proposed amendment must pass both the U.S. House and Senate with two-thirds majorities. o It must then be ratified by three-fourths (38) of the 50 states. Donald Trumps Victory “* Donald Trump won 312 electoral more than the required 270 Electoral College votes to become the U.S.’s 47th President. * The 2024 election marks his second successful presidential run after first securing the presidency in 2016 and serving as 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. «> He defeated Kamala Harris along with her running mate Tim Walz (governor of Minnesota). “+ Trump, at 78 years old, will make history as only the second US president to serve non-consecutive terms, 132 years after Grover Cleveland defeating Banjamin Harrison, who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. *» This was also the first election since 1892 in which the incumbent White House party was defeated in three consecutive elections. “+ Trump won the national popular vote (around 50%), making him the first Republican to do so since George W. Bush in 2004. “* Trump, aged 78, is also the oldest person ever to be elected U.S. president. “+ Trumps running mate for the post Vice-President was James David Vance, the junior U.S. senator from Ohio. Vance, aged 40, is the first millennial to be elected vice president. «» Trump is the first president in American history to be impeached twice, and the first to run again after impeachment. Trump was first impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in December 2019 for "abuse of power and obstruction of Congress" due to his attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, by withholding military aid. “+ Trump's second impeachment by the House occurred on January 13, 2021, for "incitement of insurrection" owing to his role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack. As Trump was acquitted by the Senate in both cases, Trump was not barred from seeking reelection to the presidency in 2024. e On January 6, 2021, a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The attack disrupted the certification of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election by Congress. The attack was incited by unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, propagated by Trump and his allies. “» Trump was injured in an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, when a bullet grazed his ear.48! This was the first time a president or major party presidential candidate was injured in an assassination attempt since Ronald Reagan in 1981. ma - e The last U.S. President to be assassinated was John F. Kennedy (JFK), the 35th President of the United States. He was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, while riding in an open-top motorcade. Lee Harvey Oswald was accused of being the lone gunman, list of top billionaires backing Trump, as reported by Bloomberg: Elon Musk, Stephen Schwarzman. Do, Thomas Peterffy, Miriam Adelson, Jeff Hildebrand, Jan Koum, Harold Hamm, Diane Hendricks, Tilman Fertitta, Andy Beal. President-elect Donald Trump has announced several key appointments for his upcoming administration. ye*, Position Nominee Secretary of State Marco Rubio Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Attorney General Matt Gaetz Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum Secretary of Energy Chris Wright Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Elise Stefanik U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Mehmet 0z White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles National Security Advisor Michael Waltz White House Communications Director Steven Cheung White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Co-Commissioners of the Department of Government Efficiency | Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Cases against Trump The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump: Do+, e Charges: 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. e Verdict: On May 30, 2024, Trump was convicted on all counts, marking the first time a former U.S. president was found guilty of a crime. e Current Status: Sentencing has been delayed, with discussions about postponing it until after Trump's presidential term ends in 2029. » E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump: ate e Charges: Civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse and defamation. e Verdict: In May 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding E. Jean Carroll $5 million in damages. e Current Status: The judgment is under appeal. United States of America v. Donald J. Trump: ye, e Charges: Federal indictment related to attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack. e Current Status: Awaiting trial. * The State of Georgia v. Donald J. Trump, et al.: te e Charges: State indictment concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. e Current Status: Awaiting trial. » United States of America v. Donald J. Trump, Waltine Nauta, and Carlos De Oliveira: ate e Charges: Federal indictment related to the mishandling of classified documents and obstruction of justice. ma - e Current Status: Awaiting trial. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) «+ The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a proposed advisory commission announced by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in November 2024. Despite its name, DOGE is not an official federal executive department but aims to streamline government operations and reduce inefficiencies. “+ Leadership: e Elon Musk: CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk is known for his innovative approaches and efficiency in business operations. e Vivek Ramaswamy: An entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, Ramaswamy has a background in biotechnology and finance. “+ Objectives: Streamlining Operations: Identifying and eliminating redundant processes within federal agencies. e Reducing Wasteful Expenditures: Targeting unnecessary spending to improve fiscal responsibility. e Restructuring Agencies: Proposing reorganizations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. “+ Timeline: The commission is expected to present its recommendations by July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Trumps First Term During his first term, Trump imposed stricter regulations on the H-1B and L1 visa programmes under his Do, executive order , titled “Buy American and Hire American”. Denial rates for both H-1B and L-1 visas saw a significant rise. +te The H-1B denial rates increased from 4% to 17%, and L-1 denials rose from 12% to 28%. aM This had an impact on India’s IT service companies, which were especially reliant on these visas at the yeon time. e H-1B Visa: Allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in “specialty occupations” that require specialised knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. e L-1 visa: This visa is meant for intra-company transfers, allowing multinational companies to transfer employees from their foreign offices to U.S. offices. “+ Withdrawal from International Agreements and Reduced Fundings: Paris Climate Agreement: Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, arguing it was unfair to the U.S. economy. “Iran Nuclear Deal: The U.S. pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, re-imposing sanctions, which escalated tensions in the Middle East. *» Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): Trump withdrew from the TPP, a trade pact with countries in the Asia- Pacific region, which he argued was disadvantageous to the U.S. o He axed funding for several UN agencies and pulled out of the World Health Organisation. “+ Economic Protectionism and Trade Wars: Trump pursued an “America First” trade policy agenda focused on strengthening American industries and jobs. o The US imposed tariffs on countries like China, the European Union, and others. o The goal was to reduce the U.S. trade deficit and protect American jobs, though it led to tensions and trade wars. “+ Tax Cuts: One of Trump’s significant achievements was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which slashed corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% and provided tax cuts for individuals. o During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump proposed an additional reduction in the corporate tax rate for U.S.-based manufacturing, aiming to lower it from 21% to 15%. “+ Immigration: His administration also took a tough stance on illegal immigration, including o Separating families at the border, o Ending programs like DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which protected undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, o Pushed to build a wall in the U.S.-Mexico border * Geopolitical Stance: West East: Pro Israeli Policies defined his West Asia Policy during his first term of Office. e Hemoved America’s embassy to Jerusalem. e He had also recognised Israel's Illegal annexation of Syria’s Golan heights. e He unveiled a ‘Peace Plan’ for Israel-Palestine in 2020, but it was outrightly rejected for being heavily in favour of Israel. ma - * China: He took a confrontational stance towards China. e Example: US banned Huawei's 5G mobile devices in 2018. * North Korea: He made headlines for engaging with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in unprecedented summits, aiming for denuclearization, though these efforts did not yield lasting results. “+ Trump Administration Accomplishments From The First Term: Abraham Accords: Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, leading to normalisation of relations between Israel and several Arab nations (UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco). “+ Launched Operation Warp Seed: It was a public-private partnership initiated by the United States government to facilitate and accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. “+ United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): Ended the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and replaced it with the brand new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). o The USMCA contains strong protections for American manufacturers, auto-makers, farmers, dairy producers, and workers. * Stabilising Oil Prices: Resolved the OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil crisis during COVID-19 by getting OPEC, Russia, and others to cut nearly 10 million barrels of production a day, stabilising world oil prices. H-1B Visa “* The US H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ graduate level workers in specialty occupations. Speciality occupations requires *» Theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields such as in IT, finance, accounting, architecture, engineering, mathematics, science, medicine, etc. “+ Any professional level job that usually requires you to have a bachelor’s degree or higher can come under the H-1B visa for specialty occupations. “> If the H-1B holders starts working elsewhere and the transfer is denied, the person could be ‘out of status’ with a bar on entry into the US for three to ten years, unless the old employer is willing to take back the worker. “+ The US H1-B visa is designed to be used for staff in specialty occupations. The job must meet one of the following criteria to qualify as a specialty occupation: «» Have a minimum entry requirement of a Bachelor's or higher degree or its equivalent. “+ The degree requirement for the job is common to the industry or the job is so complex or unique that it can be performed only by an individual with a degree. “» The employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position. “+ The nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that the knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree. “+ H-1B visa holders can bring their spouse and children under 21 years of age to the US under the H-4 Visa category as dependents. An H4 Visa holder is allowed to remain in the US as long as the H-1B visa holder remains in legal status. e While, an H-4 visa holder is not eligible to work in the US, they may attend school, obtain a driver's license and open a bank account while in the US. Capping on Visa USCIS sets a limit on how many H1B visas are issued each year. yeCaeye These numbers can change as per regulations of the US government. Historically, the cap is placed at 65,000. An additional 20, 000 H1B visas are issued for qualified people who have completed a Masters degree Do+, from USA. This quota is independent and additional to general 65,000 quota. It is done through lottery process. +< Employer prefer H1B visa because applying for a non-immigrant visa is generally quicker than applying for a Do, US Green Card, therefore the H-1B visa is popular for companies wishing to bring in staff for long-term assignment in the US. However, because of the lack of available visas employers frequently have to look at applying for other visa ye, categories such as: e L-1B for specialized workers e L-1A for managers and executives e E-2 Treaty Investor visa ma - e E-1 Treaty Trader visa e E-3 for Australians etc. Indians lead in H-1B visas: Indians constitute the largest group of H-1B visa holders, as data from the US ye+, Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirms. In financial year 2023, Indians received 72.3% (279,000) of the total 386,000 H-1B visas, while Chinese nationals accounted for 11.7%. The programme predominantly covers computer-related roles, which accounted for 65% of H-1B visas in 2023. Other fields include architecture and engineering at 9.5%, and education at 6%. Median salaries for H-1B holders in 2023 stood at $118,000. Federal Election Commission (FEC) “+ The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency established in 1975 to enforce federal campaign finance laws in the United States. Its role includes overseeing the disclosure of campaign finance information, enforcing contribution limits, and monitoring public funding for presidential campaigns. Commissioners: The FEC is led by six commissioners, appointed by the President and confirmed by the ue+, Senate. No more than three commissioners can belong to the same political party, ensuring bipartisan representation. Chairperson: The chair rotates annually among the commissioners. Do+, e Current Chairman: Sean J. Cooksey (Republican) e Vice Chair: Ellen Weintraub “* Objectives: Regulating Campaign Finance: Ensuring compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and subsequent amendments. * Transparency: Enforcing public disclosure of contributions and expenditures to promote accountability. * Oversight: Monitoring election campaigns for violations, including excessive contributions and prohibited foreign donations. * Public Funding: Administering public funds for presidential campaigns under the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act. “+ Key Federal Laws Governing Elections in the U.S.: e Voting Rights Act of 1965: Prohibits racial discrimination in voting. Ensures equal access to the voting process, particularly for minority groups. e Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) 1971: Regulates campaign finance, including contribution limits and disclosures. Established the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in 1974. e National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) 1993 (Motor Voter Act): Facilitates voter registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and other public agencies. e Help America Vote Act (HAVA) 2002: Introduced after the 2000 election controversies. Mandates modernization of voting equipment. e Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) 1986: Ensures voting rights for U.S. citizens living abroad and members of the military. e Electoral Count Act 1887 (Revised 2022): Governs the procedures for counting electoral votes during the certification of the presidential election. e Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) 2002 (McCain-Feingold Act): Regulates political advertising and "soft money" contributions to political parties. Role of the Constitution in Elections: Article I, Section 4: Grants states the power to regulate the time, ye, place, and manner of elections, with Congress having the authority to make or alter such regulations. Article Il, Section 1: Establishes the Electoral College system for presidential elections. 15th Amendment: Prohibits racial discrimination in voting. 19th Amendment: Grants women the right to vote. 24th Amendment: Abolishes poll taxes. 26th Amendment: Lowers the voting age to 18. About President of United States “On April 30, 1789, George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. e Washington is the only U.S. president who did not belong to a political party. *» Youngest President: Roosevelt became president at age 42 after William McKinley was assassinated. ma - “+ Longet Serving: The only president in American history to serve more than two four-year terms was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He actually served three full terms as well as the first three months of a fourth term until his death on April 12, 1945. “+ Facts about President of US: Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865): Lincoln is the only U.S. president to hold a patent—for a device to lift boats over shoals and obstructions. * John F. Kennedy (1961-1963): Pulitzer Prize Winner: Kennedy won a Pulitzer Prize for his book Profiles in Courage. * Richard Nixon (1969-1974): Space Connection: He called the Apollo 11 astronauts while they were on the Moon. “+ Donald Trump (2017-2021): Hollywood Star: Trump is the only president with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded for his work in television. “* Wrestling Hall of Fame: Trump is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, inducted in 2013. * Presidents who won Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt (1906): For mediating the end of the Russo- Japanese War and his role in resolving conflicts such as the Algeciras Conference. e Woodrow Wilson (1919): For founding the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at ensuring world peace after World War I. e Jimmy Carter (2002): For his decades of efforts to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, advance democracy and human rights, and promote economic and social development. Carter received the prize after his presidency, largely for his work with the Carter Center. e Barack Obama (2009): For his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples, and his vision for nuclear disarmament. “+ Presidents who were assassinated: Abraham Lincoln (16th President): April 14, 1865, Lincoln was shot during a performance just days after the Civil War ended, as Booth opposed Lincoln's efforts to abolish slavery. *» James A. Garfield (20th President): July 2, 1881 (died on September 19, 1881), Garfield was shot shortly after taking office. He succumbed to infection and poor medical treatment over two months later. «> William McKinley (25th President): September 6, 1901 (died on September 14, 1901), McKinley was shot while greeting visitors at the exposition. His death led to Theodore Roosevelt becoming president. * John F. Kennedy (35th President): November 22, 1963, Kennedy was shot while riding in a motorcade. His death shocked the nation and led to Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency. “> The Fourth of July is a date on which three presidents died - John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (both in 1826) and James Monroe (1831). It is also the birthday of one president: Calvin Coolidge in 1872. India-USA Relations “+ The U.S.-India strategic partnership is founded on shared values including a commitment to democracy and upholding the rules-based international system. “* Economic Relations: The U.S. has emerged as India's biggest trading partner in 2022-23 on account of increasing economic ties between the two countries. “* The bilateral trade between India and the U.S. has increased by 7.65% to USD 128.55 in 2022-23 as against USD 119.5 billion in 2021-22. “* Exports to the U.S. rose by 2.81% to USD 78.31 billion in 2022-23 as against USD 76.18 billion in 2021-22, while imports grew by about 16% to USD 50.24 billion. “+ International Cooperations: India and the United States cooperate closely at multilateral organizations, including the United Nations, G-20, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. “+ The United States welcomed India joining the UN Security Council in 2021 for a two-year term and supports a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member. “+ India is also one of twelve countries partnering with the United States on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). “+ India is a member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), at which the United States is a dialogue partner. “+ In 2021, the United States joined the International Solar Alliance headquartered in India, and in 2022 the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Defence Cooperation: India has now signed all four foundational agreements with the US. ye, e The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, e The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018, ma - e The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA) in 2020. e While the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was signed a long time ago, an extension to it, the Industrial Security Annex (ISA), was signed in 2019 “+ India, which could not access US weapons during the Cold War, has bought USD 20 billion worth of arms over the last two decades. However, the incentive for the US is helping India reduce its historical dependence on Russia for its military supplies. *» The armed forces of India and the US engage in extensive bilateral military exercises (Yuddha Abyas, Vajra Prahar) and minilateral ones with the four partners in the Quad Forum (Malabar). “+ Another grouping in the Middle East - 12U2 involving India, Israel, UAE and the US is being termed as the new Quad. *» Space and Science and Technology: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are developing a microwave remote sensing satellite for Earth observation, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR). «In June 2023 ISRO signed with NASA the Artemis Accords to participate in peaceful and sustainable civil exploration of outer space. * iCET is a joint initiative by the National Security Advisors of the US and India to foster cooperation and innovation in key technology domains such as Al, quantum, telecom, space, biotech, semiconductors, and defence. It was launched in January 2023. About USA “+ Independence: Declared on July 4, 1776, from Britain; the American Revolution (1775-1783) was a significant milestone in world history. * Civil War (1861-1865): A conflict over slavery and states’ rights, culminating in the abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment. * Constitution: Adopted in 1787; it is the oldest written constitution still in use. The Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments) ensures individual freedoms. *» Federal Republic: The USA has a presidential system, with a separation of powers among the executive (President), legislature (Congress), and judiciary (Supreme Court). e Includes 50 states and a federal district (Washington, D.C.). Alaska and Hawaii are geographically separated from the mainland. « Largest Economy: The USA has the highest nominal GDP globally (approx. $25 trillion as of 2023), driven by technology, finance, and services. “+ Reserve Currency: The U.S. Dollar is the world’s dominant reserve currency. * Location: Covers 9.8 million sq. km; bordered by Canada (North) and Mexico (South). “+ Third-largest country in the world by both area and population. * Physiography: Rocky Mountains: West, Great Plains: Central lowlands, a hub for agriculture, Mississippi River: Longest river; important for transport and trade. Great Lakes: World's largest group of freshwater lakes by area. * World's Largest Defense Budget: Over $800 billion annually, with significant investments in advanced weaponry and nuclear arms. * Gun Laws: A contentious issue due to the Second Amendment. American Civil War “+ The US Civil War was driven by tensions over slavery, economic differences, and states' rights, with the Republican Party opposing slavery and the Democratic Party initially supporting it. “> Origins & Early Development: Slavery emerged around thousands of years ago with agricultural settlements when victorious tribes enslaved defeated populations instead of killing them. * Ancient civilisations including Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome developed complex slave-based economic systems. “+ Various forms of slavery emerged, including debt bondage, the enslavement of conquered peoples, child labour and generational bondage. “> Global Expansion & Trade: Arab slave trade dominated the Indian Ocean routes from 7th-19th centuries, connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. * The trans-Saharan slave trade transported millions from Sub-Saharan Africa to North Africa and the Middle East. “> The transatlantic slave trade (16th-19th centuries) forcibly moved approximately 12 million Africans to various parts of the world. ma - “+ European colonial powers established systematic slave trading networks across continents. e Slavery in India: Early Sanskrit texts like Arthashastra and Manusmriti recognised and regulated slavery. e Buddhist and Jain texts also mention slavery while advocating compassionate treatment. e lslamic rulers introduced military slavery and domestic servitude systems. The Mughal period saw extensive slave trading networks across South Asia. e The Girmitiya system was a form of indentured labour introduced in British colonies to address labour shortages on sugar plantations after the abolition of slavery in 1833. e Indian Slavery Act of 1843 technically abolished slavery under British rule. e Post-independence India banned bonded labour through Article 23 of the Constitution and subsequently through the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976. “> Causes of the US Civil War: Slavery and Sectional Divides: The US Civil War was primarily driven by the conflict over slavery. “» The northern United States (US) had a diversified economy with both industry and farming, relying on free labour. “+ In contrast, the southern United States depended heavily on slave labour for its agricultural economy, particularly cotton. “» This economic difference led to deep disagreements on the issue of slavery, with many Northerners seeking to prohibit slavery in new western states, while Southerners wanted laws that would protect it. “+ As the US expanded westward, the issue of slavery became a major point of contention, especially for northern states. “» They feared that allowing slavery in new territories would give the South greater political power in Congress. “* This growing divide over slavery contributed to political tensions, eventually leading southern states to seek secession from the Union. “+ The debate also centred on states’ rights versus federal authority, with Southern politicians arguing that states had the right to leave the Union, while most Northerners believed the Union was permanent under the Constitution. “+ Ideological Divide Between North vs. South: The ideological differences between the North and the South were stark, with the North advocating for a diversified economy and free labour, while the South's economy was built on slave labour. *» The conflict was not only about slavery but also about the nature of democracy, as both sides sought to shape the future of the nation according to their values and way of life. “+ Course of the Civil War: Anti-Slavery Protest: The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide on the legality of slavery in their territories through popular sovereignty, intensifying sectional tensions in the US. “+ In response to the passage of the Nebraska Bill, anti-slavery activists organised and came together to create a new political party, which was named the Republican Party. “> In February 1856, anti-slavery activists gathered in Pittsburgh to formalise the Republican Party, with Abraham Lincoln among those present. *» Secession and Outbreak of War: The conflict reached a climax in 1860 when Lincoln was elected president. His opposition to the spread of slavery led to the secession of Southern states, which formed the Confederate States of America. * In April 1861, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, marking the start of the war. Lincoln ordered the army to bring the rebel states back into the Union. “+ Though the South had superior military leadership, the North's larger population, industrial capacity, and infrastructure eventually in April 1865 South surrendered. “* Emancipation Proclamation: In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in the Confederate states were free. This move also had international significance, discouraging European nations from supporting the Do, Confederacy. However, Lincoln declared that the war was being fought to preserve the Union, not to abolish slavery. +fe Thirteenth Amendment and Abolition of Slavery: In the aftermath of the war, the 13th Amendment to the ye, US Constitution was passed in 1865, abolishing slavery. ma - “+ Impacts: Reconstruction and Post-War Challenges in the US: Reconstruction and Southern Resistance: The Reconstruction era (1865-1877) sought to reintegrate the Southern states and enforce civil rights for African Americans. * The 14" and 15" Amendments granted citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, altering the social and political landscape of the US. “* Economic Changes and Industrialisation: The war accelerated industrialisation in the US. By 1914, the US became a leading industrial power, partly due to the need for mass production during the war. * Immigration played a significant role in fueling industrial growth, with nearly 20 million immigrants arriving between 1870 and 1914. “+ The development of the railroad system, particularly the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, helped facilitate trade and industrial growth, linking the eastern US with the West and promoting the movement of goods. “+ Global Impact on the Cotton Trade and its Influence on India: Disruption of Cotton Exports: The Civil War caused a major disruption in the global cotton trade as the South, a primary supplier of cotton to Britain, could no longer export it. “> British textile manufacturers turned to India as an alternative source, leading to a significant increase in cotton demand from Indian growers. “+ The Cotton Boom in India: As a result, India became a key supplier of cotton to British industries during the war.