In Depth
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United States

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 North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i] ... 

. A federal republic Federal republic

A federal republic is a federation [i] of states [i] with a republican [i] form of govern ... 

, the United States shares land borders with Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 and Mexico Mexico

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country [i] located in North America [i] ... 

, and extends from the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 to the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

.The United States is also in extremely close proximity to Russia via the state of Alaska Alaska

Alaska is a U.S. state [i], located on the northwest tier [i] of North America [i] ... 

; separated only by the Bering Strait Bering Strait

The Bering Strait is a sea strait [i] between Cape Dezhnev [i], Russia [i], the easternmost point of th ... 

. Its capital List of capitals in the United States

This is a list of current and former national and subnational capital cities [i] in the United Stat ... 

 is Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the capital [i] city [i] of the United States of America [i]. ... 

The present-day continental United States has been inhabited for at least 15,000 years by indigenous tribes Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

.

Discussions

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Timeline

1513   Juan Ponce de Leon Juan Ponce de León

Juan Ponce de Len was a Spanish [i] conquistador [i]. ... 

 becomes the first European definitely known to sight what is now the territory of the United States (specifically Florida Florida

Florida is a U.S. state [i] located in the southeastern [i] United States [i] ... 

) mistaking it for another island.

1565   St. Augustine, Florida (named after St. Augustine), established. It is the oldest remaining Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

an settlement in the United States.

1607   English England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 colonists make landfall at Cape Henry Cape Henry

Cape Henry is a cape [i] on the Atlantic [i] shore of Virginia [i]. ... 

, Virginia Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is one of the original thirteen colonies [i] of the United States [i] ... 

, later moving up the James River James River (Virginia)

The James River in the U.S. state [i] of Virginia [i] is 547.160 km long and drains a watershed [i] ... 

 to found Jamestown Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement is a name sometimes used to describe the first permanent English [i] settle ... 

, the first permanent English England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 settlement in the United States.

1688   The Nine Years War begins in Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

 and America United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

.

1758   James Abercrombie replaces the Earl of Loudoun as supreme commander in the American United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 colonies. He is replaced himself after failing to take the fort at Ticonderoga.

1763   The Treaty of Paris signed by Great Britain Great Britain

Great Britain is an island lying off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe [i] and to the east of Ireland [i] ... 

, France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 and Spain Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i]. ... 

 brings an end to the Seven Years' War Seven Years' War

The Seven Years' War, some of the theatres [i] of which are called the Pomeranian War and ... 

 (also called the French and Indian War French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was the nine-year North American chapter of the Seven Years' War [i]. ... 

 in the United States and the War of the Conquest French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was the nine-year North American chapter of the Seven Years' War [i]. ... 

 in Quebec Quebec

Quebec, or Qubec in French [i], In 1898, the Canadian Parliament passed the first ... 

)

1775   American Revolutionary War: Battle of Montreal - Patriot United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 revolutionary forces under Col. Ethan Allen Ethan Allen

Ethan Allen was an early American revolutionary and guerrilla [i] leader during the e ... 

 capture Montreal Montreal

Montreal, or Montral in French [i], is the second largest city [i] ... 

 from British Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain ... 

 General Guy Carleton Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester

Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB [i], often known as Sir Guy Carleton, was a British [i] ... 

.

1776   American Revolutionary War: Battle of Trois-Rivières: American United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 invaders are driven back at Trois-Rivières, Quebec Trois-Rivières, Quebec

Trois-Rivires is a city [i] in the Mauricie [i] region of Quebec [i], Canada [i], located along the dens ... 

.

1776   American Revolutionary War: United States Declaration of Independence United States Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the Thirteen Colonies [i] in North America [i] ... 

. United States declares independence from the British Empire British Empire

The British Empire was the most extensive empire [i] in world history and for a ... 

.

1776   American Revolutionary War: Battle of Valcour Island Battle of Valcour Island

The naval Battle of Valcour Island, also known as the Battle of Valcour Bay, took place on 11 October [i] ... 

: On Lake Champlain Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain is a large lake [i] in North America [i], mostly within the borders of the United States [i] ... 

 near Valcour Island, a British Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain ... 

 fleet led by Sir Guy Carleton Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester

Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB [i], often known as Sir Guy Carleton, was a British [i] ... 

 defeats 15 American United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 gunboats commanded by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold was a general [i] in the Continental Army [i] during the American Revolutionary War [i]. ... 

. Although nearly all of Arnold's ships are destroyed, the two day-long battle will give Patriot forces enough time to prepare defenses of New York City New York City

[i] in the [[United States]... 

.

   More Events >>


Quotations

America, the country where the vast majority of the pathetically stupid, embarrassingly white, and disgustingly rich men live.

Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood -- the virtues that made America.

I believe the United States is a truly monstrous force in the world.

I put to you that the United States is without doubt the greatest show on the road. Brutal, indifferent, scornful and ruthless.

I see growing on the horizon the greater peril than Germany or Japan ever were...our terrible enemy, America...

If you take advantage of everything America has to offer, theres nothing you cant accomplish.

       More Quotes >>


Encyclopedia

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 North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i]... 

. A federal republic Federal republic

A federal republic is a federation [i] of states [i] with a republican [i] form of govern ... 

, the United States shares land borders with Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 and Mexico Mexico

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country [i] located in North America [i] ... 

, and extends from the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean [i], covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth [i]'s ... 

 to the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water [i]. ... 

.The United States is also in extremely close proximity to Russia via the state of Alaska Alaska

Alaska is a U.S. state [i], located on the northwest tier [i] of North America [i] ... 

; separated only by the Bering Strait Bering Strait

The Bering Strait is a sea strait [i] between Cape Dezhnev [i], Russia [i], the easternmost point of th ... 

. Its capital List of capitals in the United States

This is a list of current and former national and subnational capital cities [i] in the United Stat ... 

 is Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the capital [i] city [i] of the United States of America [i]. ... 



The present-day continental United States has been inhabited for at least 15,000 years by indigenous tribes Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

. After European exploration and settlement European colonization of the Americas

A massive European colonization of the Americas started in 1492 [i] when Columbus [i] ... 

 in the 16th century 16th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 16th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

, the English Kingdom of England

The Kingdom of England was a state [i] located in western Europe [i], in the southern part of the islan ... 

 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 American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between... 

 with Britain Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain
... 

 over fair governance, thirteen of these colonies Thirteen Colonies

The Thirteen Colonies were thirteen British [i] colonies [i] in North America [i], ... 

 declared United States Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the Thirteen Colonies [i] in North America [i] ... 

 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 U.S. state

A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to as a state [i] ... 

 and one federal district Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the capital [i] city [i] of the United States of America [i]. ... 

, and has a number of .

At over 3.7 million square miles , the U.S. is the third or fourth largest country List of countries and outlying territories by total area

This is a list of the countries [i] of the world sorted by total area. ... 

 by total area, depending on whether or not the disputed areas of China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 are included. It is also the world's third most populous nation, with nearly 300 million people.

The United States has maintained a liberal democratic Liberal democracy

Liberal democracy is a form of government [i].... 

 political system since it adopted its Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, commonly known as the Articles of Confederation... 

 on 1 March 1781 and the Constitution United States Constitution

The United States Constitution is the supreme law [i] of the United States of America [i]. ... 

, 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 History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)

... 

 at the end of the Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i]... 

, the nation emerged as the world's sole remaining superpower Superpower

A superpower is a state [i] with the first rank in the international system [i] ... 

. Today it plays a major role in world affairs.

Name

See also: List of meanings of countries' names

The earliest known use of the name America Americas

he Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere [i] or New World [i] consisting o ... 

is from 1507, when a globe and a large map created by the German Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was a mainly Central Europe [i]an conglomeration of lands [i] in the Middle Ages [i] ... 

 cartographer Martin Waldseemüller Martin Waldseemüller

Martin Waldseemller was a German [i] cartographer [i]. ... 

 in Saint-Die-des-Vosges Saint-Dié-des-Vosges

... 

 described the combined continents of North and South America. Although the origin of the name is uncertain, the most widely held belief is that expressed in an accompanying book, Cosmographiae Introductio Cosmographiae Introductio

Cosmographiae Introductio was a book published in 1507 to accompany Martin Waldseemller [i]'s map of ... 

, which explains it as a feminized version of the Latin Latin

Latin is an ancient Indo-European language [i] originally spoken in Latium [i], ... 

 name of Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci Amerigo Vespucci

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian [i] merchant, explorer and cartographer [i]. ... 

 ; in Latin, the other continents' names were all feminine. Vespucci theorized, correctly, that Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus Italian [i] Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish [i]: ... 

, on reaching islands in the Caribbean Sea Caribbean Sea

[image:IMG_2908.JPG|thumb|250px|right|A Caribbean beach in Isla Margarita [i], Venezuela [i].]] [i]
... 

 in 1492, had come not to India India

India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia [i]. ... 

 but to a "New World New World

The New World is one of the names used for the Americas [i].... 

".

The Americas Americas

he Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere [i] or New World [i] consisting o ... 

 were also known as Columbia Historical Columbia

Columbia is a poetic [i] and the first popular [i] name for the United States of America [i]... 

, after Columbus, prompting the name District of Columbia for the land set aside as the U.S. capital. Columbia remained a popular name for the United States until the early twentieth century 20th century

The 20th century started on 1 January [i] 1901 [i] and ended on 31 December [i] 2000 [i], according to t... 

, when it fell into relative disuse; but it is still used poetically and appears in various names and titles. A female personification Personification

Personification is a figure of speech that gives animals and objects human traits and qualities.... 

 of the country is also called Columbia; she is similar to Britannia Britannia

Britannia was originally the Latin [i] name that the Roman Empire [i] gave to the island of Great Britain [i] ... 

. Columbus Day, a holiday in the U.S. and other countries in the Americas, commemorates Columbus's October 1492 landing.

The term "united States of America" was first used officially in the Declaration of Independence United States Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the Thirteen Colonies [i] in North America [i] ... 

, adopted on 4 July 1776. On 15 November 1777, the Second Continental Congress Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress was a body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of several British North American colonies [i] ... 

 adopted the Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, commonly known as the Articles of Confederation... 

, the first of which stated "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'"

The adjectival and demonymic forms for the United States are American, a point of controversy Use of the word American

Use of the word American in the English language [i] differs between historical, geographical and po ... 

 among some.

History


Before the European colonization of the Americas European colonization of the Americas

A massive European colonization of the Americas started in 1492 [i] when Columbus [i] ... 

, a process that began at the end of the 15th century, the present-day continental U.S. was inhabited exclusively by various indigenous tribes Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

, including Alaskan natives, who migrated to the continent North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i]... 

 over a period that may have begun 35,000 years ago and may have ended as recently as 11,000 years ago. The first confirmed European landing in the present-day United States was by a Spaniard, Juan Ponce de Leon Juan Ponce de León

Juan Ponce de Len was a Spanish [i] conquistador [i].... 

, who landed in 1513 in Florida Florida

Florida is a U.S. state [i] located in the southeastern [i] United States [i] ... 

, and as part of his claim, the first European Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

 settlement was established by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles Pedro Menéndez de Avilés

Pedro Menndez de Avils, was the first Spanish governor of Florida [i]. ... 

 on the site of a Timucuan Timucua

The Timucua were a American Indian [i] people who lived in Northeast [i] ... 

 Indian village in 1565 at St. Augustine, Florida. The French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 colonized Colony

In politics [i] and in history [i], a colony is a territory [i] under the immediate political control of ... 

 some of the northeastern Northeastern United States

[i] defined by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]... 

 portions, and the Spanish Spanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the first truly global empire [i].... 

 colonized most of the southern Southern United States

The Southern United States or the South constitutes a distinctive region [i] covering a large port ... 

 and western Western United States

The Western United States, also referred to as the American West or simply The West, traditi... 

 United States History of the United States

The United States [i] is a country [i] occupying part of the North America [i]n continent ranging from the Pacific [i] ... 

. The first successful English Kingdom of England

The Kingdom of England was a state [i] located in western Europe [i], in the southern part of the islan ... 

 settlement was at Jamestown Colony and Dominion of Virginia

The Colony of Virginia was the English [i] colony in North America [i] that existed briefly duri ... 

, Virginia Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is one of the original thirteen colonies [i] of the United States [i] ... 

, in 1607, followed in 1620 by the Pilgrims Pilgrims

Pilgrims or Pilgrim Fathers is the name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony [i] ... 

' landing at Plymouth Plymouth

Plymouth is a city [i] in the southwest [i] of England [i] ... 

, Massachusetts Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state [i] in the New England [i] region of the northeastern [i] ... 

, and then the arrival of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, started by the Puritans. In 1609 and 1617, respectively, the Dutch Netherlands

The Netherlands is the Europe [i]an part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands [i] , which is formed ... 

 settled New Amsterdam

New Amsterdam was the name of the 17th century [i] town which grew outside of Fort Amsterdam on Manhatt ... 

 in part of what became New York New York

New York is a state [i] in the northeastern [i] United States [i]. ... 

 and New Jersey New Jersey

New Jersey is a state [i] in the Mid-Atlantic [i] and Northeastern [i]... 

. In 1638, the Swedes Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is a Nordic country [i] in Scandinavia [i]. ... 

 founded New Sweden New Sweden

New Sweden, or Nya Sverige, was a small Swedish [i] settlement along the Delaware River [i] o ... 

, in part of what became Delaware Delaware

Delaware is one of five Middle Atlantic States [i] in the United States of America [i].og ... 

, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a state [i] in the northeastern [i] ... 

 after passing through Dutch hands. Throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries, England established new colonies, took over Dutch colonies, and split others. With the division of the Carolinas, in 1729, and the colonization of Georgia Georgia

Georgia may mean:
  • Georgia [i], a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia: **Formerly ... 

    , in 1732, the British colonies in North America, excluding present-day Canada, numbered thirteen. These thirteen colonies Thirteen Colonies

    The Thirteen Colonies were thirteen British [i] colonies [i] in North America [i], ... 

     would be drawn closer together over the coming decades.


Tensions between American colonials and the British during the revolutionary period American Revolution

The American Revolution was a political movement that ended British [i] control ... 

 of the 1760s and 1770s led to open military conflict in 1775. It should be noted that the British Colonies of East East Florida

East Florida was originally a part of Spanish Florida [i]. ... 

 and West Florida West Florida

West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico [i], which underwent several boundary ... 

, and Quebec added by Treaty in 1763 did not join in the rebellion against Great Britain Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain
... 

. George Washington George Washington

George Washington commanded the American colonies' [i] Continental Army [i] during th ... 

 commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War as the Second Continental Congress Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress was a body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of several British North American colonies [i] ... 

 adopted the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776. The Second Continental Congress had been formed to confront British actions, and did create the Continental Army Continental Army

The Continental Army was the unified command structure of the thirteen colonies [i] fi ... 

, but did not have the authority to levy tax Tax

A tax is a financial charge or other levy [i] imposed on an individual or a legal entity [i] by a state [i] ... 

es or make federal laws. In 1777, the Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, commonly known as the Articles of Confederation... 

, uniting the states under a weak federal government, which operated from 1781 until 1788, when enough states had ratified the United States Constitution United States Constitution

The United States Constitution is the supreme law [i] of the United States of America [i]. ... 

. The Constitution, which strengthened the union and the federal government, has since remained the supreme law of the land.


From 1803 to 1848, the size of the new nation nearly tripled as settlers pushed beyond national boundaries even before the Louisiana Purchase Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States [i] of more than 530,000,000 acres of ... 

. The expansion was tempered somewhat by the stalemate in the War of 1812 War of 1812

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America [i] and Britain [i] ... 

, but was subsequently reinvigorated by victory in the Mexican–American War Mexican–American War

The MexicanAmerican War was a military conflict fought between the United States [i] and ... 

 in 1848.


As new territories were being incorporated, the nation was divided over the issue of states' rights, the role of the federal government, and, by the 1820s, the expansion of slavery History of slavery in the United States

*Frederick Douglass [i] - Nation's most powerful anti-slavery speaker, a former slave. ... 

, which had been legal in all thirteen of the colonies but was rarer in the north, where it was abolished by 1804. The Northern states were opposed to the expansion of slavery whereas the Southern states Southern United States

The Southern United States or the South constitutes a distinctive region [i] covering a large port ... 

 saw the opposition as an attack on their way of life, since their economy was dependent on slave labor. The failure to permanently resolve these issues led to the Civil War American Civil War

The American Civil War was a sectional conflict in the United States of America [i] between the federal ... 

, following the secession of many slave states in the South to form the Confederate States of America Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America was the government formed by eleven southern states of the USA [i]... 

 after the 1860 election United States presidential election, 1860

The U.S. presidential election of 1860 set the stage for the American Civil War [i] as the political sys ... 

 of Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln , sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitte... 

. The 1865 Union victory in the Civil War effectively ended slavery and settled the question of whether a state had the right to secede. The event was a major turning point in American history, with an increase in federal power.

After the Civil War, an unprecedented influx of immigrants Immigration to the United States

Immigration to the United States of America is the movement of non-residents to the United States [i], a ... 

, who helped to provide labor for American industry and create diverse communities in undeveloped areas American Old West

The American Old West was the myths, legends and stories--many of them true--that collected around the Western United States [i] ... 

, together with high tariff protections, national infrastructure building, and national banking regulations, hastened the country's rise to international power. The growing power of the United States enabled it to acquire new territories, including the annexation of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , also Porto Rico and more commonly Puerto Rico, is a United States [i] ... 

 after victory in the Spanish–American War Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War took place in 1898 and resulted in the United States [i] gaining control over t ... 

, which marked the debut of the United States as a major world power Great power

A great power is a term used to refer to a nation [i] or state [i] that, through its great economic [i], ... 

.


At the start of the First World War World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

, in 1914, the United States remained neutral. In 1917, however, the United States joined the Allied Powers Triple Entente

The Triple Entente was the alliance formed in 1907 [i] among the United Kingdom [i], France [i] and Russia [i]... 

, helping to turn the tide against the Central Powers Central Powers

The Central Powers were the nations of Germany [i], Austria-Hungary [i], the Ottoman Empire [i] ... 

. For historical reasons, American sympathies were very much in favor of the British and French, even though a sizable number of citizens, mostly Irish and German, were opposed to intervention. After the war, the Senate did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty [i] which officially ended World War I [i] between the Allied and Associated Powers [i] ... 

, because of a fear that it would pull the United States into European affairs. Instead, the country pursued a policy of unilateralism that bordered at times on isolationism.


During most of the 1920s Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties refers to the North America [i]n period of the 1920s [i], which has been described ... 

, the United States enjoyed a period of unbalanced prosperity as farm prices fell and industrial profits grew. A rise in debt and an inflated stock market Stock market

A stock market is a market [i] for the trading [i] of company [i] stock [i] ... 

 culminated in a crash Stock market crash

A stock market crash is a sudden dramatic decline of stock [i] prices across a significant cross-section ... 

 in 1929, triggering the Great Depression Great Depression

The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn [i] which started in 1929 and lasting ... 

. After his election as President in 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt instituted his plan for a New Deal New Deal

The New Deal is the name given to the series of programs implemented between 1933-37 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt [i] ... 

, which increased government intervention in the economy in response to the Great Depression.

The nation did not fully recover until 1941, when the United States was driven to join the Allies Allies of World War II

The Allies [i] of World War II [i] were the countries officially opposed to the Axis Powers [i] during t ... 

 against the Axis Powers Axis Powers

The Axis Powers were those nations opposed to the Allies [i] during the Second World War [i] ... 

 after a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor Attack on Pearl Harbor

The Imperial Japanese Navy [i] made its attack on Pearl Harbor on the morning of Sunday, December 7 [i], ... 

 by Japan Japan

is an island country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

. World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

 was the costliest war in American history, but helped to pull the economy out of depression as the required production of military materiel Materiel

Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment [i] and supplies [i] in military [i] ... 

 provided much-needed jobs, and women entered the workforce in large numbers for the first time. During this war, scientists Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project refers to the effort to develop the first nuclear weapon [i]s during World War II [i] ... 

 working for the United States federal government succeeded in producing nuclear weapons Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

, making the United States the world's first nuclear power Nuclear power

Nuclear power is the controlled use of nuclear reactions [i] to release energy for work including propulsion [i] ... 

. Toward the end of World War II, after the end of World War II in Europe End of World War II in Europe

The final battles of the European Theatre [i] of World War II [i] and the Ger ... 

, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

On the Sunday morning of August 6 [i], 1945 [i] at 8:15AM [i] the United States Army Air Forces [i] dropped th ... 

, Japan. Japan surrendered Surrender of Japan

The surrender of Japan in August 1945 brought World War II [i] to a close. ... 

 soon after, on September 2, 1945, which ended World War II.

After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 became superpowers in an era of ideological rivalry dubbed the Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i]... 

. The United States promoted liberal democracy Liberal democracy

Liberal democracy is a form of government [i].... 

 and capitalism Capitalism


Capitalism is an economic system [i] in which the means of production [i] are owned mostly privately, ... 

, while the Soviet Union communism Communism

Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a future classless [i], stateless [i] ... 

 and a centrally planned economy. The result was a series of proxy wars, including the Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

, the Vietnam War Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict in which the Democratic Republic of Vietnam [i] and its al ... 

, the tense nuclear showdown of the Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation during the Cold War [i] between the Soviet Union [i] and th ... 

, and the Soviet war in Afghanistan Soviet war in Afghanistan

The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year war [i] between the Soviet [i] forces and the ... 

.


The perception that the United States was losing the space race Space Race

The Space Race was an informal competition [i] between the United States [i] and the Soviet Union [i] t ... 

 spurred government efforts to raise proficiency in mathematics and science in schools and led to President Kennedy John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also referred to as John F.... 

's call for the United States to land "a man on the moon Moon

The Moon is Earth [i]'s only natural satellite [i]. ... 

" by the end of the 1960s, which was realized in 1969.

Meanwhile, American society experienced a period of sustained economic expansion. At the same time, discrimination across the United States, especially in the South, was increasingly challenged by a growing civil-rights movement headed by prominent African Americans such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American [i] political activist, the most famous leader of ... 

, which led to the abolition of the Jim Crow laws Jim Crow laws

Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enacted in the Southern and border states of the United States [i] ... 

 in the South.

After the fall of the Soviet Union History of the Soviet Union

The History [i] of the Soviet Union [i] begins with the Russian Revolution of 1917 [i].... 

 in 1991, the United States continued to intervene militarily overseas, for example in the Gulf War Gulf War

The Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq [i] and a coalition [i] force of approximately 20 nations led b... 

.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, U.S. foreign policy focused on the threat of terrorist Terrorism

Terrorism is the systematic use, or threatened use, of violence [i] to intimidate a population or govern ... 

 attacks. In response, the government under George W. Bush George W. Bush

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... 

 began a series of military and legal operations termed the War on Terror War on Terrorism

The War on Terrorism or War on Terror is the name used by the United States [i], enlisting the sup ... 

, beginning with the overthrow of Afghanistan's Taliban Taliban Movement

The Taliban Movement or just Taliban or Taleban , , is a Sunni [i] Islamist [i] ... 

 government in October 2001. Soon after, the United States launched the controversial 2003 invasion of Iraq 2003 invasion of Iraq

The 2003 invasion of Iraq, termed "Operation Iraqi Freedom" by the US [i] administration, ... 

, with support from 30 governments, which George W. Bush referred to as the 'Coalition of the Willing Multinational force in Iraq

The Multinational force in Iraq, also known as the Coalition, refers to the nations whose governme... 

'. Although the Bush administration justified its invasion with a charge that Iraq had stockpiled weapons of mass destruction, no such stockpile was found and the Bush administration later admitted having acted on flawed intelli