What changed

United States

Comparing version 4 (21 October 2026, 10:55 UTC, imported from the content file) with version 4 (21 October 2026, 10:55 UTC, imported from the content file).

The text is identical between these two versions; the change was to the references or the provenance, not to what the page says.

1. Composition: 50 states and the federal capital district of Washington, D.C.
2. Population: Over 341 million (per Wikipedia contributors)
3. Continental neighbors: Canada (north) and Mexico (south) across the 48 contiguous states
4. Form of government: Federal republic under the United States Constitution
5. President: Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president
6. Founding documents on display: Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights in the National Archives Rotunda (per U.S. National Archives)
7. Declaration of Independence adopted: July 4, 1776
8. Lee Resolution declaring independence: July 2, 1776 (per Wikipedia contributors)
9. Geography and population
10. The United States is a country in North America, consisting of 50 states and the federal capital district of Washington, D.C.
11. Canada lies to the north of the 48 contiguous states, with Mexico to the south.
12. 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.
13. In addition, the United States claims sovereignty over five primary island territories and a number of small, uninhabited islands across Oceania and the Caribbean.
14. Overview A short overview chapter of the Geography Now! episode on the United States.
15. Geography A chapter of the Geography Now! episode describing physical and political geography of the United States.
16. Fun Fact A chapter of the Geography Now! episode presenting brief facts about the country.
17. History
18. According to Wikipedia contributors, British colonisation established the Thirteen Colonies, beginning with the 1607 settlement of Virginia.
19. According to Wikipedia contributors, the Lee Resolution formally declared independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776.
20. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776.
21. Victory in the Revolutionary War of 1775 to 1783 brought international recognition of United States sovereignty.
22. Eleven Southern states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America over sectional division concerning slavery.
23. The Union's victory in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865 led to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
24. Following the Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States joined the Allies in World War II.
25. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States emerged as the world's only remaining superpower.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. According to the National Archives, the Constitution defined the framework of the federal government.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. Crash Course states that the new United States government operated under the Articles of Confederation during and after the American Revolutionary War.
32. According to Crash Course, the framers created the United States Constitution after deciding to build a system for running the country.
33. Crash Course states that the Constitutional Convention used compromises to secure passage of the Constitution.
34. History A long chapter of the Geography Now! episode summarizing United States history.
35. Skyscape Closing chapter of the Geography Now! episode showing a view of the United States from the air.
36. Native North Americans A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode introducing the indigenous peoples of North America.
37. Were Native North Americans 'Primitive?' A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode discussing common misconceptions about pre-Columbian societies.
38. Native North American Populations A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode describing the size and distribution of indigenous populations.
39. Life in Pre-Columbian America A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode describing daily life in the Americas before European contact.
40. Government
41. Under the United States Constitution, the federal government is set up as a republic, with a president holding executive power.
42. The Constitution establishes legislative, executive, and judicial branches with separated powers.
43. Congress is a bicameral national legislature comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate.
44. The current president is Donald Trump, who the White House lists as both the 45th and the 47th President of the United States.
45. Under the federal system, each of the 50 states retains considerable self-governance.
46. USA.gov describes itself as the official guide to United States government information and services.
47. The Articles of Confederation A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode explaining the Articles of Confederation.
48. What did the Articles of Confederation Accomplish? A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode assessing the achievements of the Articles of Confederation.
49. Shay's Rebellion A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode describing Shays' Rebellion and its political consequences.
50. The United States Constitution A chapter of a Crash Course US History episode describing the drafting of the United States Constitution.
51. International position
52. Wikipedia reports that the United States performs strongly in measures of economic competitiveness, innovation, and tertiary education.
53. 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.
54. Wikipedia describes the United States as the richest nation in the world, ranking first among OECD countries in per-capita disposable household income.
55. 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.
56. 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.
57. Timeline
58. 1607: British colonisation of North America begins with the settlement of Virginia.
59. 1776-07-02: The Lee Resolution formally declares independence from Great Britain.
60. 1776-07-04: The Declaration of Independence is adopted.
61. 1783: The Revolutionary War ends with international recognition of United States sovereignty.
62. 1861: Eleven Southern states secede and form the Confederate States of America.
63. 1865: Union victory in the Civil War leads to the abolition of slavery in the United States.
64. 1941: The United States enters the Second World War on the Allied side after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
65. 1991: The Soviet Union collapses, leaving the United States as the world's sole superpower.

Back to the page · Suggest a change