United States (United States)

United States (United States)
Conventional long name	United States of America
Common name	United States
Capital	Washington, D.C.
Largest city	New York City
Official languages	English language
Area km2	9833517
Population estimate	331449281
Population estimate year	2020
Currency	United States dollar
Government type	Federal presidential constitutional republic
President	Joe Biden

United States (United States) The United States is a federal republic located in North America with continental territories spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It was founded by leaders such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton during the late 18th century and has played central roles in events like the American Revolutionary War, the American Civil War, and both World War I and World War II. Major cities include Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Philadelphia, while institutions such as the United States Congress, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Federal Reserve System shape national policy.

Etymology and Names

The name "United States" appears in foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Early usages were influenced by political theorists and diplomats connected to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, and the term gained legal force with the U.S. Constitution. Variants such as "United States of America" became standardized in correspondence among figures like James Madison and in proclamations by presidents including Abraham Lincoln.

History

Colonization began with expeditions from Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands leading to settlements such as Jamestown, Virginia and Plymouth Colony. Conflict with indigenous nations including the Powhatan Confederacy and the Iroquois Confederacy accompanied expansion and treaties like the Treaty of Paris (1783). The Revolutionary generation involving Paul Revere and John Hancock produced the Constitution of the United States and a federal structure debated by the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party. The 19th century featured territorial growth via events such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican–American War, while sectional tensions culminated in the Battle of Gettysburg and leadership by Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War. Reconstruction, industrialization led by entrepreneurs like Cornelius Vanderbilt and Andrew Carnegie, and social movements including abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and suffragists like Susan B. Anthony reshaped society. The 20th century saw involvement in the Spanish–American War, leadership in the League of Nations debates, New Deal programs under Franklin D. Roosevelt, and global engagement during the Cold War against the Soviet Union with crises including the Cuban Missile Crisis and conflicts like the Vietnam War. The post-Cold War era featured policies under presidents such as Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama addressing events including the September 11 attacks and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Geography and Environment

The continental United States spans diverse regions from the Great Plains to the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains, with climatic variation from Alaska's arctic zones to Hawaii's tropical islands. Major river systems such as the Mississippi River and the Colorado River shape agriculture and urbanization in metropolitan areas like New Orleans and Phoenix. Environmental policy debates involve agencies and agreements including the Environmental Protection Agency and international accords such as the Paris Agreement, alongside conservation efforts in parks like Yellowstone National Park and Grand Canyon National Park.

Government and Politics

The federal system divides authority among branches: the United States Congress (composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives), the executive led by the President of the United States, and the judiciary anchored by the Supreme Court of the United States. Political parties such as the Democratic Party and the Republican Party dominate elections administered by state officials and influenced by rulings like Bush v. Gore and legislation including the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Foreign policy is conducted through institutions like the Department of State and alliances such as NATO, while landmark legal developments reference cases like Brown v. Board of Education and statutes such as the Affordable Care Act.

Economy

The national economy is characterized by sectors including finance centered in Wall Street, manufacturing hubs in cities like Detroit, and technology clusters in Silicon Valley. Monetary policy is managed by the Federal Reserve System, fiscal policy by the United States Department of the Treasury, and trade governed through agreements and disputes involving organizations like the World Trade Organization and treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. Major corporations and institutions—examples include Apple Inc., Microsoft, ExxonMobil, and Goldman Sachs—influence markets alongside commodity exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange.

Demographics and Society

Population distribution reflects immigration waves from regions linked to Ellis Island and ports like San Francisco with communities tracing heritage to Mexico, China, India, Germany, and Ireland. Urbanization centers include Boston, Miami, and Seattle, while social movements—led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Gloria Steinem—have advanced civil rights and labor reforms associated with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. Educational institutions such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University are prominent, and public health efforts involve agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Culture and National Identity

American culture blends influences from indigenous nations such as the Cherokee Nation and immigrant traditions including those from Italy, Nigeria, and Vietnam, producing artistic movements in literature by Mark Twain and Toni Morrison, music traditions from Louis Armstrong to Beyoncé Knowles, and cinematic industries centered in Hollywood. National symbols include the Statue of Liberty, the Bald eagle (United States) and observances like Independence Day (United States). Cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Library of Congress, and awards like the Pulitzer Prize and the Academy Awards reflect the nation's creative and intellectual life.

Category:Countries of North America