The United States of America

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation-state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.

The United States is known as a nation of immigrants, a pattern established when the English first founded their colonies among the indigenous peoples of the east coast of North America during the 17th century. By the time of the nation's independence from England in 1776, many other Europeans had arrived, and thousands of Africans had been brought against their will to build the new country. The 19th century witnessed tremendous growth as industry and agriculture expanded in this resource-rich setting. Europeans and African Americans worked their way westward, conquering Native Americans and the citizens of Mexican-held territory in the south and west. Asians immigrated to the west coast, working on the railroads that drew the nation together. In the 20th century, the United States became the richest and most powerful nation in the world, and its government has worked, with some success, to ensure that all citizens have equal opportunity to enjoy the advantages of such wealth and power. At the same time, the rich and varied backgrounds of the country's minorities have been shared more widely in popular festivals, music, television, and movies that enliven the mainstream culture and contribute to the national heritage.

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