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The
United States of America, also known as the United States, the
U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is a country in North America
that shares land borders with Canada and Mexico, and a sea
border with Russia. Extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Pacific Ocean, the United States is a federal republic, with its
capital in Washington, D.C.
The present-day continental United States has been inhabited for
at least 15,000 years by indigenous tribes.[1] After European
exploration and settlement in the 16th century, the English
established their own colonies—and gained control of others that
had been begun by other European nations—in the eastern portion
of the continent in the 17th and early 18th centuries. On 4 July
1776, at war with Britain over fair governance, thirteen of
these colonies declared their independence. In 1783, the war
ended in British acceptance of the new nation. Since then, the
country has more than quadrupled in size: it now consists of 50
states and one federal district; it also has numerous overseas
territories.
At over 3.7 million square miles (over 9.5 million km˛), the
U.S. is the third or fourth largest country by total area,
depending on whether the disputed areas of China are included.
It is the world's third most populous nation, with nearly 300
million people.
The United States has maintained a liberal democratic political
system since it adopted its Articles of Confederation on 1 March
1781 and the Constitution, the Articles' replacement, on 17
September 1787. American military, economic, cultural, and
political influence increased throughout the 20th century; with
the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War, the
nation emerged as the world's sole remaining superpower. Today,
it plays a major role in world affairs. |
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