United States of America

The **United States of America** (**USA** or **U.S.A.**), commonly referred to as the **United States** (**US** or **U.S.**), **America**, or simply **the States**, is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal district. The 48 contiguous states and the federal district of Washington, D.C. are in central North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is the northwestern part of North America, west of Canada and east of Russia which is across the Bering Strait in Asia, and the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-North Pacific. The country also has five populated and nine unpopulated territories in the Pacific and the Caribbean.

At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) in total and with around 315 million people, the United States is the fourth-largest in total area, the fifth largest in the contiguous area and third in population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The geography and climate of the U.S. is also extremely diverse, with deserts, plains, forests, and mountains that are home to a wide variety of wildlife.

Paleo-indians migrated from Asia to what is now the United States mainland around 12,000 years ago. European colonization began around 1600, mostly from England. The United States emerged from 13 British colonies located along the Atlantic seaboard. Disputes between Great Britain and the American colonies led to the American Revolution. On July 4, 1776, delegates from the 13 colonies unanimously issued the Declaration of Independence, which established the United States of America. The American Revolutionary War, which ended with the recognition of independence of the United States from the Kingdom of Great Britain, was the first successful war of independence against a European colonial empire. The current Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787; 27 Amendments have since been added to the Constitution. The first 10 amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and guarantee many fundamental civil rights and freedoms.

Driven by the doctrine of manifest destiny, the United States embarked on a vigorous expansion across North America throughout the 19th century. This involved displacing native tribes, acquiring new territories, and gradually admitting new states. The American Civil War ended legalized slavery in the United States. By the end of the 19th century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean, and its economy was the world's largest. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the country's status as a global military power. The United States emerged from World War II as a global superpower, the first country with nuclear weapons, and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union left the United States as the sole superpower.

The United States is a developed country and has the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2013 GDP of $16.2 trillion –22% of global GDP at purchasing-power parity, as of 2011. The per capita GDP of the U.S. was the world's sixth-highest as of 2010. The US has the fourth most unequal income distribution among OECD nations, behind Chile, Mexico and Turkey. The economy is fueled by an abundance of natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and high productivity; and while its economy is considered post-industrial it continues to be one of the world's largest manufacturers. The country accounts for 39% of global military spending, being the foremost economic and military power, a prominent political and cultural force in the world, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovation.

## Society

Americans have long been defined by a shared belief in a "American creed" that emphasizes liberty, equality under the law, democracy, social equality, property rights, and a desire for small government.Individualism, having a strong work ethic, competitiveness, and altruism are all mentioned values. According to a Charities Aid Foundation report from 2016, Americans donated 1.44% of total GDP to charity, the highest rate in the world by a wide margin. The United States is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, traditions, and values,[499][500] and has a significant cultural influence on a global scale, a phenomenon known as Americanization.[503] As a result, the United States is regarded as a cultural superpower.

## Civics and geography

The total area of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia is 3,119,885 square miles (8,080,470 km2). Contiguous land accounts for 2,959,064 square miles (7,663,940 km2) of this region, accounting for 83.65% of total US land area. Alaska, a state in northwestern North America, accounts for about 15% of the land area, with the remainder occupied by Hawaii, a state and archipelago in the central Pacific, and the five populated but unincorporated insular territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. Only by land area, the United States ranks third after Russia and China, and just ahead of Canada. The United States is the world's third-largest country by land area and total area, trailing only Russia and Canada.

The national flag of the United States, known as Old Glory, traditionally reflected the number of states that comprised the Union. With the introduction of the commonwealth system, however, the canton that would normally represent the states was amended to reflect the number of constituent commonwealths. The 50 star variant is also occasionally seen.

## Government

The United States is a federal republic consisting of 50 states, a federal district, five territories, and a number of uninhabited island possessions. It is the world's oldest surviving federation, as well as the world's oldest democracy, according to the World Economic Forum. It is a liberal representative democracy "in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by the law."The country is classified as a liberal democracy by major democracy indexes. According to the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index and the Global Corruption Barometer, the United States has low levels of both actual and perceived corruption and human rights rankings, the United States ranks high.

The federal government is divided into three branches, all of which are located in Washington, D.C. and are governed by the Constitution's system of checks and balances.

## Economy

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1. ↑ Patient log: Y-17.5
2. ↑ Survivalist's rifle inscription: *"Lone Branch Arsenal Ontario, USA Territory"*
3. ↑ This is also supported by the Red Glare, a weapon developed and prototype exclusively in Hopeville and Ashton – also bearing the 13 star circle.
4. ↑ U.S. Army recruitment posters, Stars and Stripes bandana