Some parts of today's Serbia had been under the occupation of the Ottoman Empire (from 1459 until 1804) while other parts were occupied by Habsburg monarchy (1526–1804), Austrian Empire (1804–1867), and Austria-Hungary (1867–1918).

Upon regaining its independence (partial in 1804 and full in 1878), the Serbian state strengthened and expanded and was in 1918 the driving force behind the creation of Yugoslavia (the land of South Slavs, a multi-ethnic state that over the following seven decades experienced various models of governance).

In 1992 Yugoslavia disintegrated, although two of its constituent units - Serbia and Montenegro - continued in the same federal state under the same name Yugoslavia until 2003, when they re-organized into Serbia and Montenegro.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Serbia on November 10, 1882 when Eugene Schuyler was appointed resident U.S.

The United States Embassy in Serbia is located in Belgrade.