‘evan01a Unted Sater peda WrripepiA. United States Condes: 4° 00-0 ‘The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country comprising 50 states, a federal distit, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions!) At 8 million square miles (.8 milion km), the United States isthe world's thd ot fourth largest country by total area! and is slightly smaller then the entire continent of Europe's {39 milion square miles (20.1 millon km). With a population of over 327 millon people, the U.S. is the thin most populous county. The capitals Washington, D.C. and the most populous citys New York City. Forty-eight states and the capital's federal distriet are contiguous in North America between Canada and _Mexieo, The Sat of Alaska sin the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east and cross the Bering Strait from Russia to the west. The State of Hawati isan archipelago inthe mid-Paifc (Ocean, The US. testoies are settered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stretching across ‘ine official time zones. The extremely diverse goography, climate, end wildlife ofthe United States make it ‘one ofthe worla’s 7 megadiverse countries) Paleo-Indians migrated from Siberia to the North American mainland at least 12,000 years agol?2) European colonization began in the x6th century. The United States emerged from the thiteen British colonies established along the East Coast. Following the Prench and Indian War, numerous disputes Detween Great Britain and the colonies Ted to the Amecican Revolution, which Began in 1775, and the subsequent Dedaraton of Independence in 1776. The war ended in 1789 withthe United States becoming ‘the frst country to gain independence from a European power 5) The current constitution was adopted in 2788, with the frst tex amendments, collectively named the Bll f Rights, being rated in 1791 to guarantoe ‘many fundamental cil lbertie. The United States embarked on a vigorous expansion seross North Ameria taroughout the ith century, acquiring new terszorias 4 displacing Native American tribes, and sradually admitting new states until it spanned the continent by 1848.24) Doring the second half ofthe soth century, the Civil War led to the abolition of slavery 512%) By the end of ‘the century, the United States had extended into the Pacific Ocean!” and its economy, driven i large part by the Indutral Revolution, began to soar! The Spanish-American War and World War I confirmed the county status as a global military power. The United States emerged from World War If asa global superpower, the frst country to develop nuclesr wespons, the only country tose them in warfare, and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Sweeping civil rights legislation, notably the hssennicpdiacepwnite Siar of Americ: Corea Seal Motto: “tn God We Trust Other tational mottos Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner” March: "The Stars and Sirpes Forever2I3) Great Seal (reverse):siswaota Unted Sater peda Cul Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, outlawed iscrimination based on race or color. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union ‘competed inthe Space Rac, culminsting with the 1969 U.S. Moon landing. The end ofthe Cold War and the collapse of the Soviot Uaion in 1992 lft the United States as the word's soe superpower) the United States isthe work's oldest surviving feration, Its «federal republic and a representative democracy. The United States is a founding member of the United Nations, World Bank, International ‘Monetary Fund, Organization of American States (OAS), and other international organizations, The United ‘States is «highly developed country, with the world’ largest esonamy by nominal GDP and second-largest economy by PPP, accounting for approximately a quarter of global GDP.°) The US. economy is largely post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge-based activities, lthough the ‘manufacturing sector remains the second-largest inthe world! The United States is the worlds largest importer and the second largest exporter of goods, by value!221331 although its population is only 4.3% of the world total) the U.S. holds 318 ofthe total wealth in the word, the largest share of global wealth concentrated in single county Despite income and wealth disparities, the United States continues to rank very igh in measures of sociveconomie performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP, and worker productivity 1071 The United States isthe foremost military power inthe world, making up a third of lobal military spending) andi leading politica, cultural, and scientific free internationally.) Contents Etymology History Insigenous peoples and pre-Columbian history ets on and interaction wit native populations European settlements Independence and expansion (1776-1865) {Givi War ana Reconstruction era urher immigration, expansion, and industazation ‘World War Great Depression, and Woré War I (Cold War an civ rights era Contemporary history Geography, climate, and environment ‘wee ‘The United States, including is tenors Capital Washington, 0.C. aesan rot Largest city Now York City Official languages None at fedora ove National language English Ethnic groups By race: (20rayet 76.8% White 19.4% Black 5.8% Asian 217% Otherimutiracial 113% Native American 0.2% Paci Islander etme 18.1% Hispanic or LatinaDemographics Population Language Region Family structure Health Education Higher education Government and polities Pealical divisions Paries and Foran rolaons Government france itary Law enforcement and crime Economy ‘Scence and technology Income, poverty and wealth Infrastructure “Transportation Enersy Water supply and sanitation culture Food Literature, philosophy, ana visual art Muse Cinema Sports| Mass mesa Seeaiso Notes References Further reading External links Unted espe Rotigion (2017) Domonym(s) Government + President * Vice Presiden! + House Spoakor + Chie! Juste Legistature * Upper house + Lower house 151.9% non-Hispanic or Latina 73.0% Christian 21.3% Unafliated 2.1% Jewish 0.8% Muslim 29% Other American Federal presidental constitutional republic Donald Trump (R) Mike Pence (R) Nancy Polos (0) John Roberts Congress Senate House of Representatives Independence from Groat Brtain * Declaration * Confederation + Treaty of Pais * Constitution + Last polity ‘acmitied ‘Area + Total area + Water (%) + Total land area Population + 20%8 estimate +2010 census = Density uly 4, 1778 March 4.1781 September 3, 1783, June 23, 1788 Mareh 24, 1976 3,796,742 sq mi (9,893,520 key (erarath) 6s7 3,581,808 sq mi (9,147,590 km?) (4327,167,434099 (ar) 308,745,538061 (3a) .516q mi (92.8)