United States. Department of State

Created in 1789, the U.S. Department of State began as the Department of Foreign Affairs before being renamed later that year. Early on, it handled both foreign and some domestic duties, but over time it evolved into the federal government’s main foreign affairs agency.

The department is led by the Secretary of State, a cabinet official who carries out the President’s foreign policy, oversees relations with other countries, and helps manage America’s diplomatic presence around the world. Its long history includes support for treaties, embassies, consular work, and the protection of U.S. citizens abroad.

Today, the department describes its mission in practical terms: leading American foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance, with a focus on the interests, safety, and economic prosperity of the American people. In that sense, its story is really the story of how the United States presents itself, negotiates, and responds to events beyond its borders.