This document summarizes the history of advertising in the United States from the late 19th century to the present. It describes how advertising evolved from simple announcements in colonial newspapers to the widespread national advertising of branded goods in the 1880s. The rise of mass media like magazines, radio, and television in the 1920s provided new platforms for reaching large audiences. More recently, advertising has focused on market segmentation and targeting distinct demographic groups. Throughout its history, advertising has typically depicted an idealized version of society rather than reflecting social realities.