2020 was an unprecedented year. The world faced a once in a century pandemic that created severe economic and societal disruption. Once unheard of behaviors, such as social distancing, mask-wearing and remote everything, became new norms. Industries were immediately thrown into a pool of unknowns, forcing rapid adaption or demise. Even more, this rare and far-reaching event took place during an American presidential election that garnered more votes than any in American history and implicated undeniable polarization.

The only year in the modern era approaching 2020 in discord was 1968—a year including the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, and disappointments in the Vietnam War that, in part, culminated in incumbent President Lyndon Johnson not seeking re-election and civil unrest across the country.