United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- For other uses see United States (disambiguation)
The United States of America (U.S.A.), also referred to as the United States (U.S.), America¹, or the States, is a federal republic in North America and the Pacific Ocean (the islands of Hawaii, and the Aleutians). It extends from the Atlantic coast in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in the north and Mexico in the south, shares a marine border with Russia in the west, and has a collection of districts, territories, and possessions around the world including Puerto Rico, Midway Atoll, and Guam. The country has fifty states, which have a level of local autonomy according to the system of federalism. A United States citizen is usually identified as an American¹.
The United States traces its national origin to the declaration by 13 British colonies in 1776 that they were free and independent states. Before the British, and in terms of territory, the Dutch, Spanish and French had a stronger foothold on the New Continent where Native Americans (formerly called American Indians or Indians) had lived for thousands of years. Since the mid-20th century it has surpassed all other nations in terms of economic, political, military and cultural influence.
The country was founded under a tradition of having the rule come from the people under the representative democracy model. This model of government (presidential-congressional) has since been adopted by many other countries, mostly in Central America and South America.
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| National mottos (1776 - ): E Pluribus Unum (Latin: "Out of many, one") (1956 - ): In God We Trust |
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| Official language | None at federal level, some states specify English; de facto Spanish widely spoken in some areas (+/-10% total) |
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| Capital | Washington, DC | ||||
| Largest city | New York City | ||||
| President | George W. Bush | ||||
| Area - Total - % water |
Ranked 3rd 9,629,091 km² 2.198% |
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| Population - Total (2000) - Density |
Ranked 3rd 290,342,554 30.1/km² |
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| Independence - Declared - France Recognized - Britain Recognized |
Revolutionary War July 4, 1776 February 6, 1778 September 3, 1783 |
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| GDP (base PPP) - Total (2002) - GDP/head |
Ranked 1st(countries) Ranked 2nd(economies) 10.40 trillion $ 37,600 $ |
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| Currency | US dollar ($) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC -5 to UTC -11 | ||||
| National anthem | "The Star-Spangled Banner" | ||||
| Internet TLD | .US .UM .EDU .GOV .MIL | ||||
| Calling code | 1 | ||||
| Table of contents |
History
Main articles: History of the United States, Military history of the United States, Timeline of United States history
Following the European colonization of the Americas, the United States became one of the world's first modern representative democracies after its break with Great Britain, with a Declaration of Independence in 1776. The original political structure was a confederation in 1777, ratified in 1781 as the Articles of Confederation. After long debate, this was supplanted by the Constitution of a more centralized federal government in 1789. During the 19th century, many new states were added to the original thirteen as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. Two major traumatic experiences for the nation were the Civil War (1861-1865) and the Great Depression (1929-1939). Following the end of World War II and then the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States has become the world's most powerful country.
Politics
Main article: Politics of the United States
The United States of America consists of 50 states with limited autonomy in which federal law takes precedence over state law. In general, matters that lie entirely within state borders are the exclusive concern of state governments. These include internal communications; regulations relating to property, industry, business, and public utilities; the state criminal code; and working conditions within the state.
The various state constitutions differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government. On such matters as the operation of businesses, banks, public utilities and charitable institutions, state constitutions are often more detailed and explicit than the federal Constitution. In recent years, the federal government has assumed broader responsibility in such matters as health, education, welfare, transportation, housing and urban development.
The federal government itself consists of three branches: the executive branch (headed by the President), the legislative branch (the Congress), and the judicial branch (headed by the Supreme Court). The President is elected to a four-year term by the Electoral College. The various legislators are in turn chosen primarily by the popular votes in the 50 states. Members of Congress are elected for terms of two years in the House of Representatives and six years in the Senate. This tripartite system is duplicated, with variations, (such as elected governors instead of a president) at the state level. (See classic definition of republic.)
The federal and state government is dominated by two political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats. The dominant political culture in the United States is, as a whole, somewhat to the right of the dominant political culture in European democracies. Given their complex support bases it is difficult to specifically categorize the two major parties' appeal. Within the United States political culture, the Republican Party is described as center-right and the Democratic Party is described as center-left. Minor party and independent candidates are very occasionally elected, usually to local or state office, but the United States political system has historically supported "catch all parties" rather than coalition governments. The ideology and policies of the sitting President of the United States commonly play a large role in determining the direction of his political party, as well as the platform of the opposition.
Political parties in the United States do not have formal "leaders" unlike many other countries, although there are complex hierarchies within the political parties that form various executive committees. Party ideology remains very individually-driven, with a diverse spectrum of moderates, centrists, and radicals within each party.
The two parties exist on both the state and federal level, although the parties' organization, platform, and ideologies are not necessarily uniform across all levels of government.
Both major parties draw some support from all the diverse socio-economic classes which compose the mature multi-ethnic capitalist society which makes up the United States. Business interests provide support to both parties. Funding and support to the Republican Party comes from morality and Christian groups, while labor unions and minority ethnic groups provide support to the Democrats. However the major source of funding to both parties comes from the business community. Because elections in the United States are among the most expensive in the world access to funds is vital in the political system due to the financial costs of mounting political campaigns. Thus, through lobbying, corporations, unions, and other organized groups that provide funds and political support to parties and politicians play the largest role in determining political agendas and government decision-making.
The immense cultural, economic, and military influence of the United States has made foreign relations an especially important topic in its politics, with considerable concern about the image of the United States throughout the world.
Political divisions
Main articles: Political divisions of the United States, States of the United States
At the time of the Declaration of Independence, the United States consisted of 13 states. In the following years, this number has grown steadily due to expansion to the west, conquest and purchase of lands by the U.S. government, and division of existing states to the current number of 50.
The states are divided into smaller administrative regions: counties, cities and townships.
The United States also holds several other territories, districts and possessions, notably the federal district of the District of Columbia, which is the nation's capital, and several overseas insular areas, the most significant of which are Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam and the United States Virgin Islands. The United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or United States abandonment of the area can terminate the lease.
The United States has made no territorial claim in Antarctica but has reserved the right to do so.
American armed forces are presently currently occupying Iraq; the responsibility of this occupation is shared with the United Kingdom and a nominal delegation of other nations. Under the laws of war, a nation is not an occupying power until the war is declared to be over—thus, the United States is not technically an occupying power in Iraq, although it currently has control over that nation's people, politics and economy. Civil government functions are to be officially turned over to the Iraqi Governing Council on June 30, 2004.
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Geography
Main article: Geography of the United States
As the world's third largest nation (total area), the United States landscape varies greatly: temperate forestland on the East coast, mangrove forests in Florida, the Great Plains in the center of the country, the Mississippi-Missouri river system, the Rocky Mountains west of the plains, deserts and temperate coastal zones west of the Rocky Mountains and temperate rainforests in the Pacific Northwest. The arctic regions of Alaska and the volcanic islands of Hawaii only increase the geographic and climatic diversity.
The climate varies along with the landscape, from sub-tropical in Florida to tundra in Alaska. Large parts of the country have a continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Some parts of the United States, particularly parts of California, have a Mediterranean climate.
There are also points that extend far in one direction in the United States, just like any other country. Each point extends farther than any other area of land in the United States in a certain direction. (See Extreme Points of the United States for more information).
Economy
Main article: Economy of the United States
Economists describe the economy of the United States as a "mixed economy". It is organized primarily on a capitalist model (entrepreneurship is encouraged, and most enterprises are privately owned), although it also incorporates some aspects of the socialist system, including food inspection, product safety regulation, and social security. It is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, a large trade deficit, and rapid advances in technology; its economy can be regarded as the most important in the world. Several countries have coupled their currency with the dollar, or even use it as a currency, and the U.S. stock markets are globally seen as an indicator of world economy.
The country has rich mineral resources, with extensive gold, oil, coal and uranium deposits. Agriculture brings the country among the top producers of, among others, corn, wheat, sugar and tobacco. U.S. industry produces cars, airplanes and electronics. The biggest sector is however service industries; about three-quarters of U.S. residents are employed in that sector.
The largest trading partner of the United States is its northern neighbor, Canada. Other major partners are Mexico, the European Union and the industrialized nations in Asia, such as Japan, India and South Korea. Trade with China is also significant.
- See also: List of U.S. companies
Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of the United States, Immigration to the United States
Most of the 290 million people currently living in the United States descend from European immigrants that have arrived since the establishment of the first colonies. Major components of the European segment of the United States population are descended from immigrants from Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland and Italy with many immigrants also from Scandinavian countries and the Slavs and other populations of eastern and southern Europe and French Canada; few immigrants came directly from France. Likewise, while there were few immigrants directly from Spain, Hispanics from Mexico and South and Central America are considered the largest minority group in the country, comprising 13.4% of the population (38.6 million people) in 2002. This has brought increasing use of the Spanish language in the United States (see Languages in the United States). About 12.9% (2000 census) of the people are African Americans who largely descend from the African slaves that were brought to America. A third significant minority is the Asian American population (3.6%), who are most concentrated on the West Coast. The native population of Native Americans, such as American Indians and Inuit make up less than 1% of the population.
The United States is noteworthy for its high level of Christian religious devotion for a developed country. However, the percentage of Americans called themselves Christian has declined somewhat in recent years, from 86.2% in 1990 to 76.5% doing so in 2001. (ARIS 2001 (http://www.gc.cuny.edu/studies/key_findings.htm)). The religious affiliations in 2001 were Protestant 52%, Catholic 24.5%, none 13.2%, Jewish 1.3% and 0.5-0.3% for Muslim, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist, Hindu and Unitarian Universalist. There is a significant difference between those who declare themselves to be of a religion and those who are members of a church of that religion. Census Bureau figures (http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/statab/sec01.pdf) (PDF file) show that church membership in 2001 was 53% Christian, 2.3% Jewish and 0.1% Muslim, others lower.
The social structure of the
United States is highly stratified, with a large proportion of the wealth of the country controlled by a small fraction of
the population which exerts disproportionate cultural and political influence. (Its Gini coefficient of 40.8 % is the highest of all developed nations.) However, in terms of relative wealth,
most U.S. residents enjoy a standard of personal economic wealth that is far greater than that known in the majority of the
world. For example, 51% of all households have access to a computer and 41% had
access to the Internet in 2000, a figure
which had grown to 75% in
2004. Furthermore, 67.9% of United States households owned their dwellings in 2002.
Culture
Main articles: Culture of the United States, Arts and entertainment in the United States, Education in the United States
U.S. culture has a large influence on the rest of the world, especially the Western world. U.S. music is heard all over the world, and U.S. movies and television shows can be seen almost anywhere. This is in stark contrast to the early days of the republic, when the country was viewed by Europeans as an agricultural backwater with little to offer the culturally "advanced" world centers of Asia and Europe. Nearing the end of its third century, nearly every major city in the U.S. offers classical and popular music; historical, scientific and art research centers and museums; dance performances, musicals and plays; outdoor art projects and internationally significant architecture. This development is a result of both contributions by private philanthropists and government funding.
The United States is also a great center of higher education, boasting more than 1,500 universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher learning, the top tier of which may be considered to be among the most prestigious and advanced in the world.
Legal holidays
Main article: Holidays of the United States
| Date | Name | Remarks |
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| January 1 | New Year's Day | beginning of year, marks "traditional" end of "holiday season" |
| January, third Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | honors late Dr. King, Civil Rights leader |
| February, third Monday | Presidents' Day | honors former U.S. Presidents, especially Washington and Lincoln |
| May, last Monday | Memorial Day | honors service men and women who died in service, marks traditional beginning of summer |
| July 4 | Independence Day | celebrates Declaration of Independence, usually called the Fourth of July |
| September, first Monday | Labor Day | celebrate achievements of workers, marks traditional end of summer |
| October, second Monday | Columbus Day | honors Christopher Columbus, traditional discoverer of the Americas |
| November 11 | Veterans Day | traditional observation of a moment of silence at 11 AM remembering those who fought for peace |
| November, fourth Thursday | Thanksgiving | give thanks for autumn harvest, marks traditional beginning of "holiday season" |
| December 25 | Christmas | celebrates the nativity of Jesus Christ, also celebrated as secular winter holiday |
Related topics
Main article: List of United States-related topics
HistoryPoliticsGovernmentGeographyEconomyDemographicsArts& CultureOther
Notes
¹ The use of the words "America" to mean the United States of America and "American" to mean a United States citizen are regarded by many people in the rest of The Americas as inaccurate and even offensive. Among English speakers both in and outside the US, the term "American" for United States citizen is standard. "America" for the US, though understood, is less common than "the United States," "the US," "the USA," or "the States."
External links
United States government
- Official website of the United States government (http://www.firstgov.gov) - Gateway to governmental sites
- White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov) - Official site of the US President
- Senate.gov (http://www.senate.gov) - Official site of the United States Senate
- House.gov (http://www.house.gov) - Official site of the United States House of Representatives
- SCOTUS (http://www.supremecourtus.gov) - Official site of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Portrait of the USA (http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/factover/homepage.htm) - Published by the United States Information Agency, September 1997.
- US Census Housing and Economic Statistics (http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/) Updated regularly by US Bureau of the Census.
Other
- National Motto: History and Constitutionality (http://www.religioustolerance.org/nat_mott.htm)
- Historical Documents (http://www.nationalcenter.org/HistoricalDocuments.html)
- Reference: US specific web resources sorted by state (http://www.travel-directory.org/Destinations/North_America/United_States/index.html)
- Worldwide Press Freedom Index (http://www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=8247) - Rank 31 out of 166 countries (2-way tie) (2002 - 17 out of 139 countries)
| Countries in North America |
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| Antigua and Barbuda | Bahamas | Barbados | Belize | Canada | Costa Rica | Cuba | Dominica | Dominican Republic | El Salvador | Grenada | Guatemala | Haiti | Honduras | Jamaica | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Trinidad and Tobago | United States |
| Dependencies: Anguilla | Aruba | Bermuda | Cayman Islands | Greenland | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Montserrat | Netherlands Antilles | Puerto Rico | Saint-Pierre and Miquelon | Turks and Caicos Islands | U.S. Virgin Islands | British Virgin Islands |
