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- Composition: 50 states and the federal capital district of Washington, D.C.
- Population: Over 341 million (per Wikipedia contributors)
- Continental neighbours: Canada (north) and Mexico (south) across the 48 contiguous states
- Form of government: Federal republic under the United States Constitution
- Founding documents on display: Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights in the National Archives Rotunda (per U.S. National Archives)
- Declaration of Independence adopted: July 4, 1776
- Lee Resolution declaring independence: July 2, 1776 (per Wikipedia contributors)
- Geography and population
- The United States is a country in North America, consisting of 50 states and the federal capital district of Washington, D.C.
- Canada lies to the north of the 48 contiguous states, with Mexico to the south.
- Among its territories, the country encompasses the semi-exclave of Alaska in the northwestern part of North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific.
- In addition, the United States claims sovereignty over five primary island territories and a number of small, uninhabited islands across Oceania and the Caribbean.
- Intro Opening segment of a Geography Now! episode on the United States, in which the host introduces the country.
- Overview A short overview chapter of the Geography Now! episode on the United States.
- Geography A chapter of the Geography Now! episode describing physical and political geography of the United States.
- Fun Fact A chapter of the Geography Now! episode presenting brief facts about the country.
- History
- According to Wikipedia contributors, British colonisation established the Thirteen Colonies, beginning with the 1607 settlement of Virginia.
- According to Wikipedia contributors, the Lee Resolution formally declared independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776.
- The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776.
- Victory in the Revolutionary War of 1775 to 1783 brought international recognition of United States sovereignty.
- Eleven Southern states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America over sectional division concerning slavery.
- The Union's victory in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865 led to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
- Following the Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States joined the Allies in World War II.
- With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States emerged as the world's only remaining superpower.
- According to the U.S. National Archives, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are identified collectively as the Charters of Freedom.
- According to the National Archives, the Declaration of Independence set out the founding principles of the nation and explained why it broke away from Great Britain.
- According to the National Archives, the Constitution defined the framework of the federal government.
- The National Archives indicates that the Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution and outlines the rights of citizens and states vis-à-vis the federal government.
- According to U.S. National Archives, the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are permanently housed in the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, D.C.
- Crash Course states that the new United States government operated under the Articles of Confederation during and after the American Revolutionary War.
- According to Crash Course, the framers created the United States Constitution after deciding to build a system for running the country.
- Crash Course states that the Constitutional Convention used compromises to secure passage of the Constitution.
- History A long chapter of the Geography Now! episode summarising United States history.
- Skyscape Closing chapter of the Geography Now! episode showing a view of the United States from the air.
- Introduction to Crash Course US History Opening of a Crash Course US History episode that frames the early history of peoples in the Americas.
- Native North Americans A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode introducing the indigenous peoples of North America.
- Were Native North Americans 'Primitive?' A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode discussing common misconceptions about pre-Columbian societies.
- Native North American Populations A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode describing the size and distribution of indigenous populations.
- Life in Pre-Columbian America A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode describing daily life in the Americas before European contact.
- Government
- Under the United States Constitution, the federal government is set up as a republic, with a president holding executive power.
- The Constitution establishes legislative, executive, and judicial branches with separated powers.
- Congress is a bicameral national legislature comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- Under the federal system, each of the 50 states retains considerable self-governance.
- USA.gov describes itself as the official guide to United States government information and services.
- According to USA.gov, USA.gov presents sections on the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government.
- Introduction Opening of a Crash Course US History episode introducing the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
- The Articles of Confederation A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode explaining the Articles of Confederation.
- What did the Articles of Confederation Accomplish? A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode assessing the achievements of the Articles of Confederation.
- Shay's Rebellion A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode describing Shays' Rebellion and its political consequences.
- The United States Constitution A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode describing the drafting of the United States Constitution.
- International position
- Wikipedia reports that the United States performs strongly in measures of economic competitiveness, innovation, and tertiary education.
- Wikipedia notes that the U.S. economy contributes more than a quarter of the world's nominal GDP and has held the top position since roughly 1890.
- Wikipedia describes the United States as the richest nation in the world, ranking first among OECD countries in per-capita disposable household income.
- Wikipedia indicates that the United States is responsible for close to one-third of worldwide military expenditure and is generally regarded as possessing the strongest armed forces on the planet.
- Wikipedia states that the United States belongs to many international bodies and exerts a leading influence in world politics, culture, the economy, and the military.
- Timeline
- 1607 — British colonisation of North America begins with the settlement of Virginia.
- 1776-07-02 — The Lee Resolution formally declares independence from Great Britain.
- 1776-07-04 — The Declaration of Independence is adopted.
- 1783 — The Revolutionary War ends with international recognition of United States sovereignty.
- 1861 — Eleven Southern states secede and form the Confederate States of America.
- 1865 — Union victory in the Civil War leads to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
- 1941 — The United States enters the Second World War on the Allied side after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- 1991 — The Soviet Union collapses, leaving the United States as the world's sole superpower.