Since our founding on July 26, 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has been defined by continuous evolution. Established by the Second Continental Congress to create a dependable and secure mail system, USPS has stayed true to its mission of informing and uniting the nation. For more than 250 years, we have embraced innovation and adopted new technologies to serve an ever-changing America. Today that tradition continues as USPS transforms again to deliver a reliable, affordable and financially self-sustaining postal system that connects every corner of America.
Our history is a window to the principles that drive the Postal Service. We were established to be an independent, trustworthy and secure postal system that would bind a fledgling nation. Benjamin Franklin’s appointment as the first Postmaster General was a groundbreaking decision and with his help, the country would prevail over British control while ultimately laying the foundation for the Postal Service we have today.
As the new nation took shape, the nascent postal system seamlessly transitioned from a wartime communication lifeline to a civic institution central to everyday life. It connected towns and villages, bringing the citizens of a newly minted country together in an era defined by rapid expansion and boundless optimism. We championed cutting-edge technologies of the time, such as the steamboat, railroads and telegraph, showing early on that we would embrace change to build national unity and power economic growth, all in the name of public service.
Transformation has been continuous at USPS. The mid-1800s brought significant change, with the Post Office Act of 1845 and the challenges of the Civil War molding our organization — then known as the U.S. Post Office Department — into something close to the modern Postal Service.
Soon, every American, regardless of background or geography, would be granted equal access to affordable mail service, and the antiquated systems created in our colonial era would be replaced with innovations that we now consider standard. These included uniform domestic rates based on weight, and postage stamps, which shifted the payment responsibility from the recipient to the sender and made the postal system more accessible to many more Americans.
Our commitment to innovation and transformation continued into the 20th century. In 1918, our early adoption of airmail drastically improved speed and reliability and provided the critical support this new technology needed to survive and blossom into the airline industry we have today. In the boom years that followed World War II, Americans witnessed the motorization of our delivery system, making mail trucks a ubiquitous part of our communities.
The economic prosperity of postwar America, along with a rapid increase in the U.S. population and the rising popularity of suburban living, would stress the aging, underfunded and politically influenced postal system to breaking point. Efforts like the ZIP Code in the early 1960s would show how a streamlined processing system could work, but wholesale reform of the Post Office Department was necessary for the institution to survive.
After years of debate, in 1970, the Postal Reorganization Act brought profound transformation, molding us into the independent, self-financing U.S. Postal Service, driven by a mission to deliver universal service with a business-oriented approach.
The first 30 or so years of this new USPS brought growth, with demand for mail rising exponentially to a 2006 peak of more than 213 billion pieces. But with a new century came the challenges of the digital revolution, dramatic shifts in consumer habits, and the consequences of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, all compounded by the Great Recession.
We would struggle, but true to our history of reinvention, the Postal Service would again embrace transformation to survive and grow. We are modernizing USPS by investing in our people, deploying new technologies, streamlining transportation and processing, and adapting to the growing needs of an e-commerce economy with new, affordable products and services. USPS is redefining its role in the contemporary world — all while maintaining its steadfast commitment to service excellence, financial sustainability and universal service.
The enduring story of USPS is one of resilience, ingenuity and forward-thinking. By blending historical achievement with modern innovation, the Postal Service remains a powerful symbol of connection and unity for our nation, all framed by our legacy of delivering for America since 1775.
Jeffery Adams
Vice President, Corporate Communications
