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The United States of America also referred to as the United States is the world’s largest military and economic power. Initially a colony of the British till the late eighteenth century, the country went on to gain independence and become a world-leading power in matters of science and technology. The country is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and is the leader of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation(NATO). The inhabitants of the US are commonly referred to as Americans. The country is known for its political freedom and also exercises a major influence on the Hollywood entertainment industry. Some of the major tourist attractions include the Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, the beaches of Miami and the Washington Monument. The average literacy rate of the USA is 88%. The per capita income of the US was 66060 PPP dollars in 2019, according to the World Bank. The US GDP is around $20.89 trillion and it has a defence budget valuing around $766.58 billion.
Location
The United States of America is situated in the central part of the North American continent. The coordinates of this country are:37.0902° N, 95.7129° W. The capital of the USA is Washington DC which is the seat of power of the United States Government. The country consists of 50 states. The USA is also commonly known as US or the United States. The country is bordered by the Atlantic ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The neighbouring countries of the US are Canada and Mexico.
The geography of the United States is quite varying with features like mountains in the north, central plains and low altitude mountains in the south. The system of governance is the presidential form of democracy. The government follows a federal structure and the parliament(legislative branch) is called the Congress. It has two parts-the Senate and the House of Representatives. The two continents of North and South America are joined by the Isthmus of Panama, which is the only land connection between the two.
History
The history of what is the modern USA dates around 500 years back. After the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, there were several attempts to colonise the Americas. A Spanish voyager by the name, Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón was the first to attempt the colonisation of Carolina. The attempt failed after many Spaniards died of disease and those who survived, abandoned the colony. The first permanent European settlement in St. Augustine, Florida (modern-day USA), was established by Pedro Menendez de Aviles.
In 1578, Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Humphrey Gilbert permission to establish a colony in North America. However, Gilbert abandoned the mission and was lost on his way back home. His half-brother, Walter Reigh made another attempt to colonise. In 1584, he sent ships to America’s coast for exploration. In 1575, the places identified suitable for colonisation were named, “The Virgin Islands”, after Queen Elizabeth. However, not all went smoothly and the Virgin Islands were abandoned by the colonists in 1586. Another failed attempt in 1587, was led by a man called John White.
Later, as more colonists arrived, the Virginia Company was founded in 1606. In 1614, the first Virginian tobacco was sold in England, which soon became the mainstay of the Virginian economy. In 1619, the first slaves arrived and in the same year, the first representative government in North America was formed. In 1624, the Virginia Company was dissolved and the Crown took over administration. New colonies were being formed as the years progressed. New England, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Carolina and Georgia are among a few of them. As the colonies grew, so did the tension with the British. The British believed that the colonies existed solely for the benefit of the mother country. This led to conflicts. Laws like the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act made the situation worse. Boston became the main centre of resistance to the English. In September 1774, a Continental Congress met and demanded the reprieve of the Coercive Acts. It also demanded the right to autonomy in the matters of local administration and criticised the British interference. It also demanded that rights be given to colonial assemblies, which would decide the affairs of taxation. The compromise plan initiated by Joseph Galloway was rejected by the Congress
In 1775, the British troops were given free hand to deal with Americans, as it was declared that Massachusetts was in a state of rebellion. However, the Americans had formed their own militia and the revolution had begun. The Continental Congress raised an army with George Washington as the commander. The Americans won the Battle of Saratoga which convinced the French to help them. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed, declaring the thirteen colonies independent. The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution with the British Recognition of the United States as an independent country.
States of the USA
The United States consists of 50 states. The following is the list of states under the United States:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New york
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhodes Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Along with the states, the total area of the United States also includes inhabited and uninhabited territories of the United States.
Conclusion
The USA is a major world power in the current scenario. It is the leader of many organisations and is also the founding member of the United Nations. The defence budget of the country is the largest in the world. The US is also a major exporter of crude oil and industrial parts.
