Do you think the United States of America will last 1,000 years?

Question

Do you think they can make it that long, in some form or another? Keep in mind that they have already made it about 250 years, and also that many consider them to be a reflection of the ancient Roman Empire, which lasted well over 1,000 years (just as a point of reference). If not, how long do you give them?

florafall: Just FYI - The Roman Empire in its originality lasted about 500 years, yes, but Julius Caesar was never emperor. That title goes to Augustus Octavian Caesar, who became emperor in roughly 27 BCE I believe? However, the Byzantines considered themselves a direct continuation of the Roman Empire, and they lasted until the 15th century CE. If you agree with them or not is the great debate!

Answer 1

Honestly I could not even begin to imagine what the world will be like even in 300 years, let alone 1000. The world has a tendancy to change an aweful lot.

To be honest, I believe the U.N. is useless. It's a great concept but when we have leaders of countries undermine the descions of the U.N., it's useless. It needs its own military to carry out its goals. NATO is a little better at least. That really has nothing to do with the question though other than the fact I do not believe it will be the U.N. or NATO that will "save us" should the day come... and lets hope it never does.

The next several years will be the most important years in perhapse all of American history. We stand at a cross roads where we can either "mend the fences" so to speak or make more enemies. Who knows which way it will go. China is an up and coming superpower, will we go to war with them? will we have another "cold war?" or will we cooperate?

The optimist in me says that eventually we will learn to start thinking about those tiny third world countries in which terrorism seems to find a home. We'll intervene with all of our allies in places like Darfur where there is no clear economic or security advantage for us to do so. If we could just give up just a little bit so that other countries could be better off, maybe there would be no point to have war at all eventually because we will have nothing to fight for... we'll all be good.

The pesimist in me says that things aren't going so good now, and there is a lot out there that we have to worry about. Global Warming for example. That will cause serious issues. It's not a theory anymore, it is a fact. Not only will it cause food and water shortages all over the world, we could possibly see some of the most massive food shortages and resulting genocides and other attrocities ever seen by man. Once again, I bring up China. We are both Nuclear Powers. Some folks say we'll be going to war with them eventually. Somehow I doubt it, but I guess anything is possible. Lets not even touch religious extremism which causes terrorism - that's gotten pretty cliche. But lets say Al Queada gets a nuke somehow and lights up New York. God knows there would be a pretty serious wave of reprecussions throughout the Middle East, which could certainly set more countries against us.

I think the more important question to ask here is "Will the U.S. still be here in say, 150 or 100 years?" The way the world interacts in the next 100 years will determine what comes next - and what new, unimaginable problems may come up then. Alien space invaders? Zombies? Pandemic? The dreaded return of Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears? Who knows. Good question though. Good things to think about.

Answer 2

The Roman Empire DIDN"T last 1000 yrs...it barely lasted 500 as an empire. The first Roman Emperor was Julius Caesar, in about 72 BC. The offical "fall of the empire" was in the 5th centuary AD.

To actually answer your question: I don't think it will survive much more than another 200 years as a democracy. Just look at how divided our government is already becoming. On Capitol Hill, it's more about fighting the other side than it is about working together to find what's best for the people. Bush has been responsible for a lot of that, because he's always tried to force his issues and have the government do what he wanted.

I also think the idea of "spreading democracy" by taking over governments will in some way prove to be a major turning point in the history of the US.

If we actually have a president within this century who will: Unite the government, find peaceful resolutions to most conflicts, work to truly understand the divisiveness in the middle east, and who will truly take climate change seriously, the US may be able to survive for quite a while longer. If not--we're doomed.

Answer 3

The US will most likely last more than 1,000 years. Modern times are completely different than back in Roman days, we have the UN and NATO which are basically the most powerful countries in the world watching each others backs. The US's world influence definitely won't stay as prominent. But I think the US will survive for 1,000 years, that is if the human race lasts that long. I guess you can never really foresee the future though. Plus we have tons of nukes, so in the event of the US falling we could kill the whole world. Unlike the romans which couldnt. Although the world in 1000 years will be something completely different than today. But honestly we shouldnt be worrying about 1000 years into the future we should be worrying about tomorrow.

Answer 4

Well the US didn't manage a hundred years before the first Civil War 1860's. Then a hundred years later there was almost another (1960's Civil Rights). So its not a bad guess to say in the 2060's there'll be another challenge, crisis etc.

I think it wouldn't much for a state politician to start agitating for secession.

On other questions people have suggested sooner or later there will be wars over race, religion, water and/or oil.

Answer 5

no I don't think so 1000 years is a really long time the united states as you know it would probably be very different. many civilizations simply fade away to make room for a new superpower. And on the other hand (god forbid) there happens to be another world war the united states will be a target because right now they are a superpower.

Answer 6

The U.S. has under no circumstances rather been, and was once under no circumstances supposed to be, a democracy. It's a misnomer. The U.S. was once hooked up as a consultant republic. Your factor is taken that, really, no longer simply any individual will also be president. Theoretically viable, however no longer useful. You went off the beam, nevertheless, with the Illuminati conspiracy. Our govt (and the individuals in it) isn't close vibrant ample to tug off any conspiracy of any variety, allow by myself one so grand.

Answer 7

Perhaps not a 1,000 years but I am sure the U.S. has a ways to go. The economy is strong, government (for the most part) centralized, controlled and efficent and there is a sense of unity however split it appears in recent years.

Answer 8

Left to its own devices, yes, I think it could. We've already overcome enough extremely difficult threats and challenges to prove ourselves hearty and healthy enough to survive a very long time. However, in the age of globalism, I think America will morph into something quite unrecognizable by this generation.

Answer 9

No. And Rome hardly lasted 1000 years, unless you consider it in ALL of its various incarnations, from simple tribal pastoralists, to republic to Imperial Rome to Byzantium. If you allow for the possibility of the U.S. to be "re-incarnated" in various political forms, then sure, it could last 1000 years, unless we keep doing stupid things to try and wipe out our own civilization.

Answer 10

If Bush keeps putting the burden of paying for unnecessary and financially unprofitable wars on the American taxpayer, it will only take a few years to bankrupt the US.