2016 In America In 21 Remarkable Photos

The anti-government militia headed by Ammon Bundy took over federal property in Oregon by force in what they saw as an act of civil disobedience. Police saw it differently, and the leaders were arrested (although eventually acquitted). This truck's signs pretty much shows what this group of people think of the government.

Singing her hit, "Formation," which had already been connected to Hurricane Katrina and Black Lives Matters through her music video, Beyoncé paid tribute to the Blank Panthers with her and her dancers' outfits.

The powerful image of Scalia's empty chair at the Supreme Court of the United States would soon turn into a political battle about how to replace him that was ultimately used as a wedge issue in the election.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders stayed in the race for the Democratic nomination far longer than anyone expected, buoyed by huge support from younger and more progressive voters.

This is an issue that will remain prominent long after Flint's water problems are fixed. The contaminated water — you can see it in the bottles — has been found in communities across the country.

After a young boy fell into the gorilla's enclosure, zoo security officers shot and killed Harambe. The animal's death caused a huge stir on social media and became a meme that just won't go away.

Forty-nine people were killed when a gunman with a semi-automatic assault rifle entered one of Orlando's most popular LGBT nightclubs. People are still gathering at the site to mourn.

The shooting at Pulse sparked more protests against the NRA, which went on to have a fundraiser in Orlando in July — angering many.

After nearly every shooting of unarmed black men by police in 2016, there were peaceful protests including where this picture was taken in Charlotte, North Carolina. This protest was a response to Keith Lamont Scott being killed by police who were searching for another suspect. Police said he had a handgun while his family insists he was reading a book.

There were some violent reactions to the police violence too. A military veteran targeted white police officers at an otherwise non-violent protest against police brutality in Dallas. Police said the shooter was angry about the continued shootings of unarmed black men and wanted revenge. He was eventually cornered by officers and killed, but only after he had shot and killed five Dallas police.

The former reality TV star, now the president-elect, won enough delegates to win the GOP nomination in May, and was officially selected at the Republican National Convention in July. There he gave a very dark speech about the state in which he sees the country.

Here you see the U.S. women's gymnastics team back from Rio and celebrating in New York City. The extremely diverse team won the gymnastics team gold. It's hard to pick which superstar is most impressive.

The U.S. did not escape unscathed this year by hurricanes — and the related flooding and winds. This one, Hurricane Matthew, threatened much of the eastern seaboard and reached North Carolina.

Hillary Clinton came out ahead at all three of the debates, effectively painting Trump as off the hinges. He had this nasty habit of hovering behind her as she spoke to the audience.

Clinton's debate performance, however, didn't much matter because Trump went on to win the Electoral College thanks to his wins in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The rural-urban divide is now larger than ever and may have won Trump the election.

The pictures from the Javits Center on election night were just devastating. Mixtures of shock, grief, and disappointment were captured by photographers throughout the evening.

Speaking at the Children's Defense Fund, Clinton made her first public appearance since her concession speech. "I will admit, coming here tonight wasn’t the easiest thing for me," she told the crowd. But she showed up anyway singing the praises of the organization where she first got her start out of law school.

Go figure. Kanye West met with the president-elect. The photos from the Trump Tower lobby garnered huge headlines and seemed to come from left field. According to Trump, he and Kanye are friends and have been for a long time.

For now — at least until Trump becomes president — the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline has been stopped while the Army Corps of Engineers find a new route to cross the Missouri River. The many Native American protestors, who were joined by activists from across the country, got the world to listen and celebrated the victory.

Protests began immediately after Trump's win from coast to coast. Now organizers are planning even bigger protests on Inauguration Day and Jan. 21 when the Women's March On Washington will take place.

One upside to the divisive election was the huge wave of new applicants for citizenship. The number of applications was up over the summer from 2012 numbers as people tried to vote in the election. Thanks to these new American citizens, our country is more diverse than ever.

These photos are a reminder that the vast majority of 2016 was hard to watch. And there's no guarantee that next year will be better. But you can make a difference. Make a resolution to make change in your community and country, and who knows what 2017 will bring.