US

US
Vector file created by Dbenbenn, Zscout370, Jacobolus, Indolences, and Technion. · Public domain · source
Name	United States of America
Native name	United States
Capital	Washington, D.C.
Largest city	New York City
Official languages	English (de facto)
Government	Federal republic
President	Joe Biden
Area km2	9833517
Population	331,449,281 (2020 census)
Currency	United States dollar
Calling code	+1
Timezone	Multiple

US is a federal republic located in North America with a diverse population and a complex constitutional framework. It emerged from a colonial confederation into a continental power, projecting influence through diplomatic, military, economic, and cultural networks. Major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston serve as hubs for finance, entertainment, manufacturing, and transportation.

Etymology and Terminology

The name "United States" derives from the political union formed by the Thirteen Colonies after the American Revolutionary War and the Treaty of Paris (1783), following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Terms like "America" trace to Amerigo Vespucci and the use of Carta Marina and early cartography. Constitutional language in the United States Constitution and the Articles of Confederation established official nomenclature, while political usage evolved in correspondence among figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.

History

Colonial settlements by Jamestown and Plymouth Colony initiated European presence competing with Indigenous polities including the Iroquois Confederacy and Cherokee Nation. Tensions between colonists and the British Empire culminated in the American Revolutionary War and the 1781 victory at the Siege of Yorktown boosted by alliances with Kingdom of France and figures like Marquis de Lafayette. The Constitutional Convention (1787) produced the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights; early factional disputes involved the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party.

Territorial expansion through the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican–American War, and the doctrine articulated by James K. Polk increased continental reach, provoking conflicts over slavery that erupted into the American Civil War and battles like Gettysburg and Antietam. Reconstruction-era legislation and amendments followed, influenced by leaders including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. The industrial age saw rapid growth with entrepreneurs such as John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and innovations tied to Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.

Twentieth-century participation in World War I and leadership in World War II after events including the Attack on Pearl Harbor transformed global standing alongside allies such as the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. The Cold War era encompassed crises like the Cuban Missile Crisis, institutions including North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and conflicts such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Civil rights movements led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and legislative milestones like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 reshaped society. Contemporary history involves the September 11 attacks, engagements in Iraq War and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and debates over immigration, technology, and climate policy.

Geography and Environment

Spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and including states such as Alaska and Hawaii, the country encompasses varied biomes: the Great Plains, the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and coastal systems like the Gulf of Mexico. Major river systems include the Mississippi River and the Missouri River; significant lakes include the Great Lakes. Environmental challenges involve phenomena observed in Hurricane Katrina, wildfires in California, droughts affecting the Ogallala Aquifer, and policy responses tied to agreements like the Paris Agreement.

Government and Politics

The constitutional system established separation of powers among institutions including the United States Congress, the President of the United States, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Major political parties such as the Democratic Party and the Republican Party dominate national elections, which feature processes governed by amendments including the Seventeenth Amendment and the Twenty-Sixth Amendment. Landmark judicial decisions from cases like Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade have shaped legal frameworks, with later reversals and debates involving the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. Federal statutes including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have influenced political rights and administration.

Economy

The nation has a large mixed-market economy driven by sectors represented by corporations such as Apple Inc., Walmart, ExxonMobil, and Amazon (company). Financial centers in New York City host institutions like the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve System. Historical economic shifts include the Great Depression and recovery under programs associated with Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, postwar expansion during the Bretton Woods Conference, and late twentieth-century globalization linked to trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement. Contemporary issues include debates over fiscal policy, taxation laws such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, labor trends influenced by unions like the AFL–CIO, and regulation by agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Demographics and Society

Population centers range from Los Angeles and Chicago to regional hubs like Atlanta and Dallas–Fort Worth. Immigration waves from nations including Mexico, China, India, and Germany have produced linguistic and cultural diversity, with census categories and policies administered by the United States Census Bureau. Social movements—labor organizing tied to the Pullman Strike, suffrage campaigns culminating in the Nineteenth Amendment, and advocacy by organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People—have reshaped civil life. Public institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and universities including Harvard University and Stanford University contribute to research and education.

Culture and International Relations

Cultural exports—Hollywood productions from Warner Bros., music from movements linked to Louis Armstrong and Madonna (entertainer), and literary works by Mark Twain and Toni Morrison—have global reach. Soft power operates alongside hard power in alliances with NATO partners and partnerships with countries such as Japan and Germany. International organizations including the United Nations and bilateral agreements shape diplomacy and trade; military presence is structured through bases and compounds engaged during operations like Operation Desert Storm. Cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and awards including the Pulitzer Prize underscore influence in arts and letters.

Category:Countries in North America