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'''This page has been censored by the government of China'''
<!--Use en-US spelling-->
:''For other uses, see [[US (disambiguation)]] and [[United States (disambiguation)]]''

The '''United States of America'''&mdash;also referred to as the '''United States''', '''the USA''', '''the U.S.''', '''America''', '''the States''', and (poetically) '''[[Historical Columbia|Columbia]]'''&mdash;is a [[constitution]]al [[federal republic]] of fifty [[U.S. state|states]], with a strong tradition of [[democracy]]. Located primarily in central [[North America]], the United States has land borders with [[Canada]] and [[Mexico]], as well as territorial water boundaries with Canada, [[Russia]] and the [[Bahamas]]. It is otherwise bounded by the [[Pacific Ocean]], the [[Bering Sea]], the [[Arctic Ocean]], the [[Atlantic Ocean]], the [[Gulf of Mexico]], and the [[Caribbean Sea]]. Forty-eight of the states&mdash;often referred to as the Contiguous or [[Lower 48]]&mdash;are located in a contiguous region between Canada and Mexico. Two of the fifty states, [[Alaska]] (an [[exclave]]) and [[Hawaii]] (an [[archipelago]]), are not contiguous with any of the other states. The United States also has a federal district&mdash;the [[District of Columbia]]&mdash;for its [[capital]] and a collection of [[Political divisions of the United States#Territories of the United States|overseas territories and possessions]] around the world. Each of the fifty states has a relatively high level of local autonomy under the [[federation|federal]] system.

{{Infobox Country |
native_name = United States of America |
common_name = the United States |
image_flag = Us flag large.png |
image_coat = Great Seal of the US.png|20px |
national_motto = <br>''[[E Pluribus Unum]]'' ([[1789]]&ndash;present)<br>([[Latin]]: "Out of Many, One")<br>''[[In God We Trust]]'' ([[1956]]&ndash;present) |
image_map = LocationUSA.png |
national_anthem = ''[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]'' |
official_languages = [[Languages in the United States|None at federal level]];<br> [[English language|English]] [[de facto]] |
capital = [[Washington, D.C.]] |latd=38|latm=53|latNS=N|longd=77|longm=02|longEW=W|
government_type = [[Democracy|Democratic]] [[federal republic]] |
leader_titles = [[President of the United States|President]]<br>[[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] |
leader_names = [[George W. Bush]]<br>[[Dick Cheney]] |
largest_city = [[New York City]] |
area = 3,794,083&nbsp;mi²/9,631,418 |
area_rank = 3rd|
area_magnitude = 1 E12|
percent_water = 4.87% |
population_estimate = 296,500,000 [http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/popclock] |
population_estimate_year = July 2005 |
population_estimate_rank = 3rd |
population_census = 281,421,906 |
population_census_year = 2000 |
population_density = 31 |
population_density_rank = 176th |
GDP_PPP_year = 2005 |
GDP_PPP = $12,332,296 million |
GDP_PPP_rank = 1st |
GDP_PPP_per_capita = $41,557 |
GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 3rd |
sovereignty_type = [[American Revolutionary War|Independence]] |
established_events = &nbsp;- Declared<br>&nbsp;- Recognized<br><br>[[United States Constitution|'''Constitution''']]<br>&nbsp;- completed<br>&nbsp;- ratified<br>&nbsp;- effective|
established_dates = From [[Great Britain]]<br> [[July 4]], [[1776]]<br>[[September 3]], [[1783]]<br><br><br>
[[September 17]], [[1787]]<br>[[May 23]], [[1788]]<br>[[March 4]], [[1789]]|
currency = [[United States dollar|US dollar]] ([[$]]) |
currency_code = USD |
time_zone = |
utc_offset = -5 to -10 |
time_zone_DST = varies |
utc_offset_DST = |
cctld = [[.gov]] [[.edu]] [[.mil]] [[.us]] [[.um]] |
calling_code = 1 |
footnotes=|
}}<!--

END INFOBOX

-->
The official founding date of the United States is [[July 4]], [[1776]], the date the Second [[Continental Congress]], representing the thirteen [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] [[13 colonies|colonies]], adopted the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]. The structure of the United States was profoundly changed in [[1788]], however, when the states replaced the [[Articles of Confederation]] with the [[United States Constitution]]; often sources use the date each of the original thirteen states adopted the Constitution as the date that state "entered the Union" (became part of the United States). Since the mid [[twentieth century]] the United States has become the dominant [[Geopolitics|global]] influence in contemporary [[economic]], [[political]], [[military]], [[scientific]], [[technological]] and [[cultural]] matters.

==History==
''Main articles: [[History of the United States]], [[Military history of the United States]], [[Timeline of United States history]], [[List of U.S. military history events]]''

United States history begins with the migration of people from [[Asia]] across the [[Bering Sea]] approximately ten to thirty thousand years ago. The [[Native Americans]] left [[petroglyph]]s, [[burial mound]]s, and other [[artifact]]s. Spanish settlers sparsely settled portions of what are now the [[Southwestern United States|southwest]] and [[Florida]] during the [[1500s]] and [[1600s]]. The first successful [[English]] settlement was at [[Jamestown, Virginia]] in [[1607]]. This was followed by extensive settlement of the east coast, and they remained relatively undisturbed by their home country until after the [[French and Indian War]], when [[France]] lost its land around the [[Great Lakes]] and [[Mississippi River]] in a war with the British. Britain then began to impose what the settlers thought of as unfair taxes on the 13 colonies, as they did not have representation in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]]. Tensions rose with Britain, and the [[thirteen colonies]] eventually rebelled against British rule.

[[Image:George-Washington.jpg|thumb|150px|right|First [[President of the United States]], [[George Washington]]]]
Following the [[European colonization of the Americas]], the thirteen colonies split from Great Britain and formed the United States, the world's first constitutional and democratic federal republic, after their [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] in 1776 and the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] (1775&ndash;[[1783]]). The original political structure was a [[confederation]] in [[1777]], ratified in [[1781]] as the [[Articles of Confederation]]. After long [[Federalist papers|debate]], this was supplanted by the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] in [[1789]], forming a more centralized [[federalism|federal]] government. Prior to all these was the [[Albany Congress]] in [[1754]], in which a union was first seriously proposed.

From early colonial times, there existed a shortage of labor, which encouraged [[unfree labor]], particularly [[indentured servitude]] and [[slavery]]. In the mid [[19th century]], a major division occurred in the United States over the issue of [[states' rights]] and the expansion of slavery. The northern states had become opposed to slavery, while the southern states saw it as necessary for the continued success of southern [[agriculture]] and wanted it expanded to the territories. Several federal laws were passed in an attempt to settle the dispute, including the [[Missouri Compromise]] and the [[Compromise of 1850]]. The dispute reached a crisis point in [[1861]], when seven southern states seceded[[Confederate States of America#International Diplomacy and Legal Status|<small><sup>1</sup></small>]] from the Union and formed the [[Confederate States of America]], leading to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Soon after the war began, four more southern states seceded. During the war, [[Abraham Lincoln]] issued the [[Emancipation Proclamation]], mandating the freedom of all slaves in states in rebellion, though full emancipation did not take place until after the end of the war in [[1865]], the dissolution of the Confederacy, and the [[Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Thirteenth Amendment]] took effect. The Civil War effectively ended the question of a state's right to secede, and is often cited as a major turning point, when the federal government became more powerful than state governments.

During the [[nineteenth century]] many new [[U.S. state|state]]s were added to the original thirteen as the nation expanded across the [[North America]]n continent. [[Manifest Destiny]] was a philosophy that encouraged westward expansion in the United States. As the population of the Eastern states grew and as a steady increase of immigrants entered the country, settlers moved steadily westward across the North America. In the process, the U.S. displaced most [[Native American]] nations. ''(See [[Trail of Tears]].)'' This displacement of Native Americans continues to be a matter of contention in the US with many tribes attempting to assert their original claims to various lands. In some areas Native American populations were reduced by foreign diseases contracted through contact with European settlers, and U.S. settlers acquired those emptied lands. Unlike European countries, the US was never a colonial power (having itself been spawned from a colonial rebellion) but through various military victories, diplomacy, and outside dealings, the US acquired a number of overseas possessions, from [[Cuba]] to the [[Philippines]], though it gave up most of these over time. ''(See [[United States territorial acquisitions]].)''

During this period the nation also became an [[industrialisation|industrial power]]. This continued into the [[twentieth century]], which some have termed "the [[American Century]]" due to America's tremendous influence on the world. The nation became a center for invention and technological development; major technologies that America either developed or was greatly involved in improving are the [[telephone]], [[television]], [[computer]], the [[Internet]], [[nuclear weapon]]s, [[nuclear power]], [[air travel]] and [[space travel]].

In addition to the Civil War, another major traumatic experience for the nation was the [[Great Depression]] ([[1929]]&ndash;[[1939]]). The U.S. has also has taken part in several major foreign wars, including [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] (in which the U.S. was allied with Britain and other states). During the [[Cold War]], the United States was a major player in the [[Korean War|Korean]] and [[Vietnam War]]s, and, along with the [[Soviet Union]], was considered one of the world's two "[[superpower]]s". With the [[collapse of the Soviet Union]], the U.S. emerged as the world's leading economic and military power. Beginning in the [[1990s]], the United States became very involved in [[police action]]s and [[peacekeeping]], including actions in [[Kosovo]], [[Haiti]], [[Somalia]] and [[Liberia]], and the first [[Gulf War]] to drive [[Iraq]] out of [[Kuwait]]. After [[September 11, 2001 attacks|terrorist attacks]] on the [[World Trade Center]] and [[the Pentagon]] in [[2001]], the USA and other allied nations entered a [[U.S. invasion of Afghanistan|war against Afghanistan]] and later the controversial [[2003 invasion of Iraq|war against Iraq]].

== Government and politics ==
''Main article: [[Politics of the United States]]''

The government of the United States may be accurately categorized as a [[republic]] or as a [[liberal democracy]]. Specifically, the United States is an example of a [[representative democracy]]. There are three levels of government in the United States&mdash;federal, state, and local. All of these are freely elected by the American people. Americans enjoy [[universal suffrage]].

===Federal government===
[[Image:Uscapitolindaylight.jpg|thumb|250px|right|United States Capitol]]
The [[federal government of the United States|federal government]] is the national government. The Constitution of the United States limits the powers of the federal government to defense, foreign affairs, printing money, controlling trade and relations between the states, and protecting [[human rights]]. In addition to these explicitly stated powers, the government has generally extended these powers, citing the "[[Necessary_and_Proper_Clause|necessary and proper clause]]" of the Constitution, into such areas as [[welfare]] and education. The federal government is made up of the [[Congress of the United States|Congress]] (the [[legislature|legislative]] branch), the [[President of the United States|President]] (the executive branch), and the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] (the judicial branch). These three branches are said to apply [[checks and balances]] on each other.

The Congress is a [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] law-making institution composed of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and the [[United States Senate|Senate]], which both meet in the [[United States Capitol]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] Traditionally, the House is considered the "lower house" and the Senate the "upper house," but Congressional publications disagree with this. The House has 435 members, called representatives or congressmen and congresswomen, who are elected by the people of a [[congressional district]] to represent that district for a term of two years. The number of districts for each state depends on the size of the population of the state, and each state has at least one representative. As of the [[United States 2000 census|2000 census]], the districts had an average size of about 640,000 people.

The Senate has 100 members called senators, who are also elected by the people of a state to represent that state for a term of six years. Each state has two senators, regardless of its size. The Constitution initially gave the power to elect senators to the state legislatures; the [[Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Seventeenth Amendment]] transferred this ability to the people.

At the top of the executive branch is the President of the United States, who is the [[Commander in Chief]] of the armed forces. The President signs laws into action, and can also issue [[pardon]]s and [[executive order]]s. He has few other Constitutional duties, among them being the requirement to give a [[State of the Union]] address to Congress from time to time. Below the President is the [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]], who is first in the [[United States presidential line of succession|line of succession]] and is the [[President of the Senate]], with the ability to cast a tie-breaking vote. These two posts are elected, as running mates, by the people via the [[U.S. Electoral College|Electoral College]] for four-year terms.

Next are the members of the [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]], and the various departments they head, including the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]], and the [[United States Department of State|State Department]]. These departments and department heads hold much regulatory and political power, and it is these departments that are used to execute the laws of the nation.

The judicial branch of the federal government is used when dealing with federal and constitutional matters. A case may be appealed from a state court to a federal court only if there is a federal question, the [[State supreme court|supreme court of a state]] is the final authority on the interpretation of that state's laws and constitution. The highest court in the land is the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]], which consists of nine justices and can declare legislation made at any level of the government as [[Constitution#Constitutional courts|unconstitutional]], nullifying the law and creating [[precedent]] for future law and decisions. Below the Supreme Court are the [[United States courts of appeals|courts of appeals]], and below that are the [[United States district court|district courts]], which are the general trial courts for federal law.

===State and local governments===

The state governments have the greatest influence over people's daily lives. Each state has its own written constitution and has different laws. There are sometimes great differences in law and procedure between the different states, concerning issues such as property, crime, health, and education. The highest elected official of each state is the Governor. Each state also has an elected legislature with two houses (one in [[Nebraska]]), whose members represent the different parts of the state. Of note is the [[New Hampshire]] legislature, which is the third-largest legislative body in the English speaking world, and has one representative for every 3,000 people. Each state maintains its own judiciary, with the lowest level typically being county courts, and culminating in each [[state supreme court]], though sometimes named differently. In some states, supreme and lower court justices are elected by the people; in others, they are appointed, as they are in the federal system.

The institutions that are responsible for local government are typically town, city, or [[county council]]s, making laws that effect their particular area. These laws concern issues such as traffic, the sale of alcohol, and keeping animals. The highest elected official of a town or city is usually the [[mayor]]. In some states in [[New England]], [[county|counties]] have little or no power, existing only as geographic distinctions. In other areas, county governments have more power, such as to collect taxes and maintain [[law enforcement]] agencies.

=== Military ===
''Main article: [[Military of the United States]]''

Four of America's five military branches are under the [[Department of Defense]]: [[United States Army]], [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], [[United States Navy|Navy]], and the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]. The [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] is under the [[Department of Homeland Security]] in peacetime, but part of the Department of Defense in time of war.

The combined United States armed forces consist of 1.4 million [[active duty]] [[personnel]] along with several hundred thousand each in the [[Reserves]] and [[National Guard]]. Military [[conscription]] ended in [[1973]]. The United States Armed Forces are considered to be the most powerful [[military]] in the [[world]] and their [[force projection]] capabilities are unrivaled by any other single [[nation]].

=== Foreign relations ===
''Main article: [[Foreign relations of the United States]]''

The immense military, economic, and cultural dominance of the United States has made foreign relations an especially important topic in its politics, with considerable concern about the image of the United States throughout the world. Reactions towards the United States by other nationalities are often strong, ranging from uninhibited [[Amerophilia]] (admiration and mimicking of all things American) to [[anti-Americanism]].

U.S. foreign policy has swung about several times over the course of its history between the poles of [[isolationism]] and [[imperialism]] and everywhere in between.

== Geography ==
=== Physical geography ===
{{Dual image|National-atlas-general-reference-map-USA.png|Map of the United States|http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/pdf/reference/genref}}
''Main article: [[Geography of the United States]]''

As the world's third-largest country (by total area), the United States landscape varies greatly: temperate forestland and rolling hills on the East coast, [[mangrove]] in [[Florida]], the [[Great Plains]] in the center of the country, the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]-[[Missouri River|Missouri]] river system, the [[Great Lakes]] which are shared with [[Canada]], the [[Rocky Mountains]] west of the plains, deserts and temperate coastal zones west of the Rocky Mountains and [[temperate rain forests]] in the Pacific Northwest. [[Alaska]]'s [[tundra]] and the [[volcano|volcanic]], [[tropical]] islands of [[Hawaii]] add to the geographic and climatic diversity.

The climate varies along with the landscape, from tropical in [[Hawaii]] and southern [[Florida]] to [[tundra]] in [[Alaska]] and atop some of the highest mountains. Most of the North and East experience a temperate continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Most of the American South experiences a subtropical humid climate with mild winters and long, hot, humid summers. Rainfall decreases markedly from the humid forests of the Eastern Great Plains to the semiarid shortgrass prairies on the High Plains abutting the Rocky Mountains. Arid deserts, including the [[Mojave desert|Mojave]], extend through the lowlands and valleys of the American Southwest from westernmost Texas to California and northward throughout much of [[Nevada]]. Some parts of the American West, including [[San Francisco, California]], have a [[Mediterranean climate]]. Rain forests line the windward mountains of the Pacific Northwest from Oregon to Alaska.

=== Political geography ===
The political geography is notable as well, with the Canadian border being the longest undefended border in the world, and with the country being divided into three distinct sections: the [[continental United States]], also known as "The Lower 48"; [[Alaska]], which is physically connected only to Canada; and the [[archipelago]] of Hawaii in the central [[Pacific Ocean]].
<br style="clear:both;" />

=== Political divisions ===
''Main article: [[Political divisions of the United States]]''

With the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], the [[thirteen colonies]] transformed themselves into [[nation states]] modeled after the European states of the time. Although considered as sovereigns initially, under the constitution they have delegated certain powers to the Congress, but have retained the majority of legislative authority for themselves. In the following years, the number of states within the U.S. grew steadily due to western expansion, the conquest and purchase of lands by the national government, and the subdivision of existing states, resulting in the current total of 50. The states are generally divided into smaller administrative regions, including [[county (United States)|counties]], [[List of cities of the United States|cities]] and [[township (United States)|township]]s.

The United States also holds several other territories, districts and possessions, notably the [[federal district]] of the [[District of Columbia]], which is the nation's capital, and several overseas [[insular area]]s, the most significant of which are [[Puerto Rico]], [[American Samoa]], [[Guam]], [[Northern Mariana Islands]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]. The United States Navy has held a base at an occupied portion of [[Guantanamo Bay]], [[Cuba]] since [[1898]]. The United States government claims a lease to this land, which only mutual agreement or United States abandonment of the area can terminate. The Cuban government disputes this arrangement, claiming Cuba was not truly [[sovereignty|sovereign]] at the time of the signing.

== Largest cities ==
{|align=right
|[[image:Panorama_clip3.jpg|thumb|right|245px|New York City, New York]]
|-
|[[Image:DowntownLosAngeles.jpg|thumb|right|245px|Los Angeles, California]]
|-
|[[Image:Chicagoskyline2005.jpg|245px|thumb|right|Chicago, Illinois]]
|}
''Main article: [[List of cities in the United States]]''

The United States has dozens of major cities, including several important [[global cities]] such as [[New York City]], [[Los Angeles]], and [[Chicago]]. The figures expressed below are for populations within city limits. A different ranking is evident when considering [[List_of_United_States_metropolitan_statistical_areas_by_population|U.S. metro area populations]], although the top three would be unchanged. The twenty largest cities, based on the [[United States 2000 Census|2000 U.S. Census]]<sup>[http://www.census.gov/statab/ccdb/cit1020r.txt]</sup>, are:

{|align=left cellpadding=2 style="text-align:right; font-size: 100%; margin-left: 15px"
! Rank !!align=center| City !! Population
|-
| 1. ||align=left | [[New York City|New York City, New York]] || 8,008,278
|-
| 2. ||align=left | [[Los Angeles, California]] || 3,694,820
|-
| 3. ||align=left | [[Chicago, Illinois]] || 2,896,016
|-
| 4. ||align=left | [[Houston, Texas]] || 1,953,631
|-
| 5. ||align=left | [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] || 1,517,550
|-
| 6. ||align=left | [[Phoenix, Arizona]] || 1,321,045
|-
| 7. ||align=left | [[San Diego, California]] || 1,223,400
|-
| 8. ||align=left | [[Dallas, Texas]] || 1,188,580
|-
| 9. ||align=left | [[San Antonio, Texas]] || 1,144,646
|-
|10. ||align=left | [[Detroit, Michigan]] || 951,270
|-
|11. ||align=left | [[San Jose, California]] || 894,943
|-
|12. ||align=left | [[Indianapolis, Indiana]] || 791,926
|-
|13. ||align=left | [[San Francisco, California]] || 776,733
|-
|14. ||align=left | [[Jacksonville, Florida]] || 735,617
|-
|15. ||align=left | [[Columbus, Ohio]] || 711,470
|-
|16. ||align=left | [[Austin, Texas]] || 656,562
|-
|17. ||align=left | [[Baltimore, Maryland]] || 651,154
|-
|18. ||align=left | [[Memphis, Tennessee]] || 650,100
|-
|19. ||align=left | [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] || 596,974
|-
|20. ||align=left | [[Boston, Massachusetts]] || 589,141
|-
|}
<br clear=left>
<br>

It should be noted that some cities not listed are still considered important on the basis of other factors and issues, including culture, economics, heritage and politics.

== Economy ==
=== National economy ===
''Main article: [[Economy of the United States]]''

The economy of the United States is organized primarily on a [[capitalism|capitalist model]], with some [[government regulation]] in many industries. There are also some [[social welfare]] programs like [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and [[unemployment benefits]], Temporary Assistance to Needy Families ("[[welfare]]"), the [[Earned Income Tax Credit]], [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]], and [[Medicaid]]. Such departures from a pure [[free market|free-market]] economy have generally increased since the late [[1800s]], but are less pronounced in the United States than in other industrialized countries.
[[Image:U.S._one_dollar_obverse.jpg|right|thumb|220px|The [[United States dollar]] is the official currency.]]
The country has rich [[mineral]] resources, with extensive [[gold]], [[oil]], [[coal]], and [[uranium]] deposits. Successful [[Agriculture|farm industries]] rank the country among the top producers of, among others, [[maize|corn]], [[wheat]], [[sugar]], and [[tobacco]]. The U.S. [[manufacturing|manufacturing sector]] produces, among other things, [[automobile|cars]], [[airplanes]], and [[electronics]]. The largest industry is now [[Tertiary sector of industry|service]], which employs roughly three-quarters of U.S. residents.

Economic activity varies greatly from one part of the country to another, with many industries being largely dependent on a certain city or region; [[New York City]] is the center of the American [[finance|financial]], [[publishing]], [[broadcasting]], and [[advertising]] industries; [[Silicon Valley]] is the country&#8217;s primary location for [[high technology]] companies, while [[Los Angeles]] is the most important center for [[film]] production. The [[Midwest]] is known for its reliance on manufacturing and heavy industry, with [[Detroit]] serving as the center of the American [[automotive industry]]; the [[Great Plains]] are known as &ldquo;the breadbasket of America&rdquo; for their tremendous agricultural output, while [[Texas]] is largely associated with the [[oil]] industry; the Southeastern U.S. is a major hub for [[medical research]], as well as many of the nation's [[textiles]] manufacturers.

Several countries continue to link their [[currency]] to the [[United States dollar|dollar]] (such as the [[People's Republic of China]]) or even use it as a currency (such as [[Ecuador]]), although this practice has subsided since the collapse of the [[Bretton Woods system]].

The largest trading partner of the United States is [[Canada]] (20%), followed by [[Mexico]] (12%), [[People's Republic of China|China]] (Mainland 10%, [[Hong Kong]] 1%) and [[Japan]] (8%). More than 50% of total trade is with these four countries. In 2003, the United States was [[World Tourism Rankings|ranked]] as the third most visited [[Tourism|tourist]] destination in the world; its 40.4 million visitors ranked behind [[France]]'s 75 million and [[Spain]]'s 52.5 million.

''See also: [[List of United States companies]]''

=== Transportation ===
[[Image:Interstate95.png|right|100px]]
[[Image:La city hwys.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Stack [[interchange]] in [[Los Angeles]] ]]
''Main article: [[Transportation in the United States]]''

Because the United States is a relatively young nation, most of the development of US cities has taken place after the invention of the [[automobile]]. To link its vast territories, the United States built a network of high capacity, high speed [[highways]], of which the most important aspect is the [[Interstate Highway]] system, commissioned in the [[1950s]] by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and modeled after the German [[autobahn]]. The United States also has a [[First Transcontinental Railroad|transcontinental rail system]] which is used for moving freight across the lower forty-eight states.

Many cities in the United States have extensive [[mass transit]] systems. [[New York City]], [[NY]] operates the world's largest and most heavily used [[subway]] system.

[[Air travel]] is often preferred for destinations over 300&nbsp;[[mile]]s (500&nbsp;[[kilometer|km]]) away, and some [[airports]], such as [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]] and Chicago's [[O'Hare International Airport]], are among the busiest in the world. There are several major [[seaport]]s in the United States, the three busiest are the [[Port of Los Angeles]] (California), [[Port of Long Beach]] (California) and [[Port_Authority_of_New_York_and_New_Jersey|Port of New York/New Jersey]]. Others include [[Houston, Texas]], [[Savannah, Georgia]], [[Miami, Florida]], [[Portland, Oregon]], [[San Francisco, California]] and [[Seattle, Washington]], plus, outside the contiguous 48 states, [[Anchorage, Alaska]] and [[Honolulu, Hawaii]].
<br style="clear:both;" />

== Society ==
=== Demographics ===
[[Image:2k_night.jpg|thumb|2000 [[population density]]]]
[[Image:USA 2000 population density.png|thumb|Population density by county]]
''Main article: [[Demographics of the United States]]''

====Ethnicity and race====
[[Image:Census-2000-Data-Top-US-Ancestries-by-County.jpg|left|thumb|Top ancestry in each U.S. county in 2000.]]
Americans, in part due to [[Race (U.S. census)|racial categories]] outlined by the U.S. government, generally describe themselves as belonging to one of five groups: '''[[Whites|White]]''', also called ''[[Caucasian]]'' (those having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa); '''[[Black]]''', also called ''[[African American]]'' (those having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa); '''[[American Indian]]/[[Alaskan Native]]''', also called ''[[Native American]]'' (those having origins in any of the original peoples of North, Central and South America, and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment); '''[[Asian]]''', also called ''[[Asian American]]'' (those having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent); and '''[[Native Hawaiian]]/[[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]]''' (those having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).

In addition to these, the category "'''Some other race'''" was included in the 2000 census for respondents who were unable to identify with any of the five [[Office of Management and Budget]] race categories. Those who identified as "South African", "Belizean", a [[Hispanic]] origin (eg. Mexican, Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc.) or even "American" were included in the "Some other race" category. The Census Bureau considers race to be separate from Hispanic origin.

The category '''Asian''' is popularly identified with [[East Asia]], rather than [[South Asia|South]] or [[Southwest Asia|Southwest]] Asia. The term ''African-American'' is associated with centuries-long residence, and does not make distinctions between them and, say, recent [[Afro-Caribbean]] immigrants from [[Jamaica]] or immigrants from [[Nigeria]] or refugees from [[Somalia]].

[[Image:Census-2000-Data-Top-US-Ancestries.jpg|right|thumb|Top ancestries in 2000.]]
The majority of the 295 million people currently living in the United States descend from [[Europe|European]] immigrants who have arrived since the establishment of the first colonies. Major components of the European segment of the United States population are descended from immigrants from [[Germany]] (15.2%), [[Ireland]] (10.8%), [[England]] (8.7%), [[Italy]] (5.6%), [[Scandinavia]] (3.7%) and many immigrants also coming from [[Slavs|Slavic]] countries. Other significant immigrant populations came from eastern and southern Europe and French Canada, though far more immigrants came directly to America from [[France]] than came via French Canada. These numbers, however, are less precise than they appear, as many citizens listed themselves as "American" on the census (7.2%). A [[:Image:Census-2000-Data-Top-US-Ancestries-by-County.jpg|county by county map of plurality ethnic groups]] reveals that the areas with the largest "American" ancestry populations were mostly settled by English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh, suggesting that the percentages listed for those groups should consequently be slightly larger.

Similarly, while there were few immigrants directly from [[Spain]], [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanics]] from [[Mexico]] and South and Central America are considered the largest minority group in the country, comprising 13.4% of the population in [[2002]]. This has brought increasing use of the [[Spanish in the United States|Spanish language in the United States]]. Americans of Mexican descent or origin alone made up 7.3% of the population in the 2000 census, and this proportion is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades. The Hispanic category is based more on language than race and is defined by the Census as anybody from or with forebears from Spain or Spanish-speaking Latin America so Hispanics may be of any race. About 45% identify by their ethnic background only (e.g., "Mexican", "Colombian"); they are usually [[mestizos]] or even [[American Indians]] of unmixed ancestry. About 40% identify as white with more European (especially Spanish) ancestry; however, on average, they tend to have more Amerindian or African blood than non-Hispanic whites. Another 5% identify as black or mulatto; they typically are descended from Spanish-speaking Caribbean immigrants such as [[Dominican Republic|Dominicans]]. The remainder includes mostly self-identified Indians ([[Maya]], [[Mixtec]], etc.) and people of mixed background. Most Americans of Filipino descent, however, are not considered Hispanic.

About 12.9% ([[2000]] census) of the American people are African American, mostly the descendants of the [[slave trade|enslaved Africans]] brought to the U.S. between the [[1620s]] and [[1807]]. Starting in the 1970s, the black population has been bolstered by immigration from the [[Caribbean]], especially [[Jamaica]] and [[Haiti]]; more recently, starting in the 1990s, there has been an influx of African immigrants to the United States due to the instability in political and economic opportunities in various nations in [[Africa]].

A third significant minority is the [[Asian American]] population (4.2%), most of whom are concentrated on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] and [[Hawaii]]. It is by no means a monolithic group; the largest groups are immigrants or descendants of emigrants from [[China]], the [[Philippines]], [[India]], [[Vietnam]], [[South Korea]] and [[Japan]]. While the Asian-American population is generally a fairly recent addition to the nation's ethnic mix, large waves of Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese immigration occurred in the mid to late [[1800s]].

The aboriginal population of [[Native American]]s, such as [[American Indian]]s and [[Inuit]], make up about 1.5% of the population.

According to the 2000 census, the United States has 37 ethnic groups of at least one million people each.

''See also: [[Immigration to the United States]]''

==== Religion ====
''Main articles: [[Religion in the United States]], [[Demographics of the United States#Religious Affiliation|Demographics of the United States]]''

'''Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population: 1990 and 2001 [http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_briefs/aris/key_findings.htm]'''

{|border=1 align=left cellpadding=4 style="text-align:right; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 50px;"
|+ align=bottom | '''[http://www.census.gov/prod/www/religion.htm Source: US Census]'''
! !! [[1990]] !! [[2001]] !! Change<br>in %
|-
!align=left |Total Christian
| 86.4%
| 76.7%
| -9.7%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:15px"| [[Catholic]]
| 26.2%
| 24.5%
| -1.8%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:15px"| [[Protestantism|Protestant]]
| 55.2%
| 45.1%
| -10.1%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"|[[Baptist]]
| 19.4%
| 16.3%
| -3.1%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"|[[Methodism|Methodist]]/Wesleyan
| 8.1%
| 6.8%
| -1.3%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"|[[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]
| 5.2%
| 4.6%
| -0.6%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"|[[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]]
| 2.8%
| 2.7%
| -0.2%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"| Protestant - no denomination supplied
| 9.8%
| 2.2%
| -7.6%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"| [[Pentecostalism| Pentecostal]]/Charismatic
| 1.8%
| 2.1%
| +0.3%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"| [[Episcopal|Episcopalian]]/[[Anglicanism|Anglican]]
| 1.7%
| 1.7%
| -0.1%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"| [[Mormon]]/Latter-Day Saints
| 1.4%
| 1.3%
| -0.1%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"| [[Church of Christ|Churches of Christ]]
| 1.0%
| 1.2%
| +0.2%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:40px"| Other Protestant (less than 1% each)
| 4.0%
| 6.2%
| +2.2%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:15px"|Christian - no denomination supplied
| 4.6%
| 6.8%
| +2.2%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:15px"|[[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]]
| 0.3%
| 0.3%
| --
|-
!align=left|Total other religions
| 3.3%
| 3.7%
| +0.4%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:10px"| [[Judaism|Jewish]] || 1.8%|| 1.4%|| -0.4%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:10px"| [[Islam]]ic|| 0.3%|| 0.5%|| +0.2%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:10px"| [[Buddhism|Buddhist]]|| 0.2%|| 0.5%|| +0.3%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:10px"| [[Hinduism|Hindu]]|| 0.1%||0.4%||+0.2%
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:10px"| [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian Universalist]]|| 0.3%||0.3%|| --
|-
|align=left style="text-indent:10px"| Others (less than 0.07% each)|| 0.6%||0.6%|| --
|---
!align=left |Total No religion
| 8.2%
| 14.2%
| +6.0%
|---
!align=left |Total Refused to reply
| 2.3%
| 5.4%
| +3.1%
|}
<br clear=all> <br>

The United States is noteworthy among developed nations for its relatively high level of religiosity. According to a [[2004]] [[Gallup poll]], about 44% of Americans attend a religious service at least once a week. However, this rate is not uniform across the country; attendance is more common in the [[Bible Belt]]&mdash;composed largely of [[Southern U.S.|Southern]] and [[Midwest|Midwestern]] states&mdash;than in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] and [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]].

=== Education ===
''Main article: [[Education in the United States]]''

In the United States, education is a state, not federal, responsibility, and the laws and standards vary considerably. In most states, all students must attend mandatory schooling starting with [[kindergarten]] and following through twelth grade (although students are permitted to drop out upon the age of 16 with the permission of their parents/guardians). Parents may educate their own children at home (with varying degrees of state oversight), send their children to a [[public school]], which is free, or to a [[private school]], where parents must pay [[tuition]]. Public schools are highly decentralized with funding and curriculum decisions taking place mostly at the local level through [[school boards]].

After high school, students have a choice of attending either a [[public university|public]]/[[state university]] or a [[private university]]. Public universities receive funding from the federal and state government but students still pay tuition, which can vary depending on the university, state, and whether the student is a resident of the state or not. Tuition at private universities tends to be much higher than at public universities.

American colleges and universities range from highly competitive schools, such as [[Harvard University]], to hundreds of local [[community college]]s with open admission policies. For a complete list, see [[List of colleges and universities in the United States|Colleges and Universities in the United States]].

=== Language ===
''Main article: [[Languages in the United States]]''

The United States does not have an [[official language]] at federal level; nevertheless, [[English language|English]] is the first and/or only language of the overwhelming majority of the population and serves as the ''[[de facto]]'' language: English is the language used for legislation, regulations, executive orders, treaties, federal court rulings, and all other official pronouncements.

Twenty-seven individual states have adopted English as their official language, and three of those&mdash;[[Hawaii]], [[Louisiana]], and [[New Mexico]]&mdash;have also adopted a second official language ([[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]], [[French language|French]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]], respectively). [[Spanish language|Spanish]] follows English as the second-most spoken language in the United States, primarily due to the influence of recent [[Latin America]]n immigrants, and it is a primary spoken language in some areas of the [[U.S. Southwestern states|Southwest]].

The primary signed language is [[American Sign Language]] (ASL).

As of 2004, the United States was the home of approximately 336 languages (spoken or signed), of which 176 are indigenous to U.S. territory.

=== Class ===
In terms of relative wealth, U.S. residents enjoy a standard of personal economic wealth that is close to that known in [[Scandinavian countries]] and [[Switzerland]]. For example, 51% of all households have access to a [[computer]] and 67.9% of U.S. households owned their dwellings in [[2002]]. However, there is also a considerable amount of [[poverty in the United States]] with 12.1% of the population living below the official national poverty level.

The [[social structure of the United States]] is somewhat stratified, with a significant class of very wealthy individuals; eleven of the twenty [[list of billionaires|richest people in the world]] are Americans. On one widely used measure of inequality, the [[Gini coefficient]], the United States has the highest inequality of any wealthy country. Nevertheless, ideas of [[social mobility]] figure prominently in the [[American dream]], which holds that someone born into a poor family can, through hard work, ultimately rise into the upper classes. However, there is some debate over how often this actually occurs in modern American society, both compared with earlier eras and with other developed nations.

''See also: [[Richest places in the United States]] and [[Poorest places in the United States]]''

=== Social issues ===
''Main articles: [[Social issues in the United States]], [[Human rights in the United States]], [[Health care in the United States]]''
[[Image:United States Bill of Rights.jpg|200px|thumb|The American [[Bill of Rights]], enacted in [[1791]], provides a list of basic guaranteed rights]]

The Constitution makes provisions for a number of rights, including [[freedom of speech]], the [[right to keep and bear arms]], [[freedom of religion]], [[trial by jury]], and protection from [[cruel and unusual punishment]]. The United States accepts many [[immigration|immigrant]]s, and has anti-[[discrimination]] laws to protect many [[minority group]]s. Some examples of these are the various [[Civil Rights Act]]s, the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|Americans with Disabilities Act]], the [[Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourteenth Amendment]], and [[hate crime]] legislation.

Nevertheless, the United States has at times been criticized for alleged violations of human rights, including racial discrimination in trials and sentences, police abuses, excessive and unwarranted incarceration, and the imposition of the [[death penalty]] in some states. In 2001, [[Human Rights Watch]] issued a report asserting that United States had "made little progress in embracing international human rights standards at home." [http://www.hrw.org/wr2k1/usa/]

=== Culture ===
''Main article: [[Culture of the United States]]''

[[Image:Elvisstamp.jpg|frame|right|[[Elvis Presley]], an American singer and star who had a large impact on music and youth culture in the world.]]
U.S. culture has a large influence on the rest of the world, especially the [[Western world]]. This influence is sometimes criticized as [[cultural imperialism]]. [[Music of the United States|U.S. music]] is heard all over the world, and it is the sire of such forms as [[blues]] and [[jazz]] and had a primary hand in the shaping of modern [[rock and roll]] and [[popular music]] culture. Many great [[Western classical music]]ians and ensembles find their home in the U.S. [[New York City]] is a hub for international [[opera]]tic and [[instrumental]] music as well as the world-famed [[Broadway]] plays and musicals, [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]] is a world leader in the [[grunge]] and [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] music industries, and [[Nashville]] is the capital of [[country music]]. New York, Seattle, and [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] are worldwide leaders in [[graphic design]] and New York and [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] compete with major European cities in the fashion industry.

[[Cinema of the United States|U.S. movies]] (primarily embodied in [[Hollywood]]) and [[Television of the United States|television]] shows can be seen almost anywhere. This is in stark contrast to the early days of the republic, when the country was viewed by Europeans as an agricultural backwater with little to offer the culturally "advanced" world centers of Asia and Europe. Nearing the mid-point of its third century of nationhood, the U.S. plays host to the gamut of human intellectual and artistic endeavor in nearly every major city, offering classical and popular music; historical, scientific and art research centers and museums; dance performances, musicals and plays; outdoor art projects and internationally significant architecture. This development is a result of both contributions by private philanthropists and government funding.

''See also: [[Arts and entertainment in the United States]], [[Media of the United States]]''

==== Sports ====
Some [[sports]] that originated or evolved in the United States, particularly [[basketball]], [[American football]], and [[baseball]], which is often referred to as the [[baseball|Great American Pastime]], have achieved a worldwide audience; the [[Super Bowl]], the annual championship game of the [[National Football League]], is one of the highest watched broadcasts in the world, with viewership far outnumbering the total American population. Baseball is extremely popular in [[Latin America]]n nations and [[Japan]], and football has had some success in expanding to [[Canada]] ([[Canadian Football League]]) and [[Europe]] ([[NFL Europe]]). However, few "foreign" sports have caught on in America; attempts to create professional [[soccer]] (football) leagues have struggled, and [[cricket]] and [[rugby]] are not played on any professional level.

The United States hosts some of the premier events in other sports such as [[golf]] (including [[The Masters]]), [[tennis]] ([[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S. Open]]), and [[auto racing]] (particularly the [[Indianapolis 500]]), and hosted the [[Football World Cup|World Cup]] in [[1994]].

Eight [[Olympics|Olympic Games]] have been hosted in the US, more than any other nation. The United States generally fares very well in the Olympics, especially the [[Summer Olympics]]: in [[2004]], the US collected a record 103 Olympic medals (35 gold, 39 silver and 29 bronze). For details see: [[United States at the Olympics]]

== Federal holidays ==
''Main article: [[Holidays of the United States]]''
{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;border:1px solid gray;font-size:95%"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Date !! Name !! Remarks
|-
| [[January 1]] || [[New Year's Day]] || Beginning of year, marks the traditional end of the "holiday season."
|-
| [[January]], third&nbsp;Monday || [[Martin Luther King, Jr. Day]] || Honors the late [[civil rights]] leader. Few non-governmental organizations grant time off for this holiday.
|-
| [[February]], third&nbsp;Monday || [[Presidents' Day|Washington's Birthday]] || Usually called Presidents' Day; honors former U.S. presidents, especially [[George Washington]] (from whose date of birth the date of observation is derived) and [[Abraham Lincoln]], who both share February birthdays. Few non-governmental organizations grant time off for this holiday.
|-
| [[May]], last&nbsp;Monday || [[Memorial Day]] || Honors the nation's war dead; also marks the traditional beginning of summer.
|-
| [[July 4]] || [[Independence Day (US)|Independence&nbsp;Day]] || Usually called the Fourth of July. Celebrates the United States' independence from Great Britain, formally declared on this date in [[1776]].
|-
| [[September]], first&nbsp;Monday || [[Labor Day]] || Celebrates achievements of workers. This holiday is held instead of the traditional worldwide Labor Day, [[May Day|May 1]], which actually began in the U.S. Also marks the traditional end of summer.
|-
| [[October]], second&nbsp;Monday || [[Columbus Day]] || Honors [[Christopher Columbus]], traditional discoverer of the Americas. Somewhat controversial, and few non-governmental organizations grant time off for this holiday. [[Hawaii]] does not honor the day, instead celebrating [[Discoverer's Day]] in honor of [[James Cook]].
|-
| [[November 11]] || [[Veterans Day|Veterans' Day]] || Previously known as [[Armistice Day]]. Honors those who have served in the military. Also marks the end of [[World War I]] in 1918. Traditional observation of a moment of silence at 11 a.m.
|-
| [[November]], fourth&nbsp;Thursday || [[Thanksgiving]] || Day of thanks that marks the traditional beginning of the "holiday season." The day before Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest travel day of the year in the U.S., and the day after is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, known as "Black Friday."
|-
| [[December 25]] || [[Christmas]] || Celebration of Christmas, the birth of [[Jesus]]. In recent years, it has become a more secular winter holiday outside of religious communities, with many non-Christians and non-observant Christians buying and exchanging traditional Christmas gifts. Most retailers count on the Christmas holiday to provide a significant portion of their total annual sales.
|}

== Related topics ==
''Main article: [[List of United States-related topics]]''

{{US_topics}}

== International rankings ==
* [[IMD International]]: [http://www01.imd.ch/wcy/ World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005], ranked 1 out of 60 economies (countries and regions)
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Global+Competitiveness+Programme%5CGlobal+Competitiveness+Report Global Competitiveness Report 2004-2005 - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking], ranked 2 out of 104 countries
* [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [http://www.atkearney.com/main.taf?p=5,4,1,116 Globalization Index 2005], ranked 4 out of 62 countries
* [[United Nations Development Programme]]: [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/ Human Development Index 2004], ranked 8 out of 177 countries
* [[Save the Children]]: [http://www.savethechildren.org/mothers/report_2005/ State of the World's Mothers 2005], ranked 11 out of 110 countries
* [[The Wall Street Journal]]: [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/ 2005] [[Index of Economic Freedom]], ranked 12 out of 155 countries
* [[The Economist]]: [http://www.economist.com/theworldin/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3372495&d=2005 The World in 2005 - Worldwide quality-of-life index, 2005], ranked 13 out of 111 countries
* [[Transparency International]]: [http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2004/2004.10.20.cpi.en.html Corruption Perceptions Index 2004], ranked 17 out of 146 countries (tied with Belgium and Ireland)
* [[Reporters without borders]]: [http://www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=11715 Third annual worldwide press freedom index (2004)], ranked 22 (American territory; tied with Belgium) & 108 (in Iraq) out of 167 countries

==Notes==
{{anb|America}} ''[[America]]'' may refer to the nation of the United States or to ''[[the Americas]]'' &mdash; [[North America|North]], [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. The latter usage is more common in [[Latin American]] countries where the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Portuguese]] word ''Am&eacute;rica'' refers to both continents. The ''United States'' (or ''Estados Unidos'' in Spanish and Portuguese) is a less ambiguous term and less likely to cause offense. The term ''[[American]]'' meaning a citizen or national of the United States has no straightforward unambiguous synonym. Many [[alternative words for American]] have been proposed, but none have enjoyed widespread acceptance.<br>

== External links ==
{{portal}}
{{commons|United States}}
{{wikiquote|United States}}
{{Wikinews|United States}}
=== United States government ===
*[http://www.firstgov.gov Official website of the United States government] - Gateway to governmental sites
*[http://www.whitehouse.gov White House] - Official site of the US President
*[http://www.senate.gov Senate.gov] - Official site of the United States Senate
*[http://www.house.gov House.gov] - Official site of the United States House of Representatives
*[http://www.supremecourtus.gov Supreme Court] - Official site of the Supreme Court of the United States
*[http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/factover/homepage.htm Portrait of the USA] - Published by the United States Information Agency, September 1997.
*[http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/ US Census Housing and Economic Statistics] Updated regularly by US Bureau of the Census.
*[http://nationalatlas.gov/ The National Atlas] of the United States.
*[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html CIA World Factbook Entry for United States]

=== Other ===
*[http://www.mediatico.com/en US Newspapers by State]
*[http://www.religioustolerance.org/nat_mott.htm National Motto: History and Constitutionality]
*[http://www.nationalcenter.org/HistoricalDocuments.html Historical Documents]
*[http://www.travel-directory.org/Destinations/North_America/United_States/index.html Reference: US specific web resources sorted by state]
*[http://www.teacheroz.com/states.htm info links for each state]
*[http://www.adbusters.org/jams/history/timeline.swf Archive of 163 US interventions]

=== Further Reading ===
Johnson, Paul M., ''A History of the American People'', Perennial, 1999. ISBN 0060930349

{{United_States}}
{{U.S. regions}}
{{North_America}}
{{G8}}

[[Category:North American countries]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:United States| ]]

[[os:&#1040;&#1084;&#1077;&#1088;&#1080;&#1082;&#230;&#1081;&#1099; &#1048;&#1091;&#1075;&#1086;&#1085;&#1076; &#1064;&#1090;&#1072;&#1090;&#1090;&#230;]]

[[af:Verenigde State]]
[[ang:Ge&#225;nl&#509;ht Underr&#237;cu American]]
[[ar:&#1608;&#1604;&#1575;&#1610;&#1575;&#1578; &#1605;&#1578;&#1581;&#1583;&#1577; &#1571;&#1605;&#1585;&#1610;&#1603;&#1610;&#1577;]]
[[ast:Estaos Uníos]]
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[[bn:&#2479;&#2497;&#2453;&#2509;&#2468;&#2480;&#2494;&#2487;&#2509;&#2463;&#2509;&#2480;]]
[[bs:Sjedinjene Ameri&#269;ke Dr&#382;ave]]
[[ca:Estats Units]]
[[cv:&#1040;&#1084;&#1077;&#1088;&#1080;&#1082;&#259;&#1088;&#1080; &#1055;&#277;&#1088;&#1083;&#1077;&#1096;&#1267;&#1083;&#1083;&#277; &#1064;&#1090;&#1072;&#1090;&#1089;&#1077;&#1084;]]
[[chr:&#5024;&#5050;&#5026;]]
[[cs:Spojené státy americké]]
[[cy:Unol Daleithiau America]]
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[[de:USA]]
[[et:Ameerika Ühendriigid]]
[[el:&#919;&#957;&#969;&#956;&#941;&#957;&#949;&#962; &#928;&#959;&#955;&#953;&#964;&#949;&#943;&#949;&#962;]]
[[es:Estados Unidos]]
[[eo:Usono]]
[[fa:&#1575;&#1740;&#1575;&#1604;&#1575;&#1578; &#1605;&#1578;&#1581;&#1583;&#1607; &#1570;&#1605;&#1585;&#1740;&#1705;&#1575;]]
[[fr:États-Unis d'Amérique]]
[[fy:Feriene Steaten fan Amearika]]
[[ga:Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá]]
[[gd:Na Stàitean Aonaichte]]
[[gl:Estados Unidos de América - United States of America]]
[[ko:&#48120;&#44397;]]
[[ht:Etazini]]
[[hi:&#2360;&#2306;&#2351;&#2369;&#2325;&#2381;&#2340; &#2352;&#2366;&#2332;&#2381;&#2351; &#2309;&#2350;&#2375;&#2352;&#2367;&#2325;&#2366;]]
[[hr:Sjedinjene Ameri&#269;ke Dr&#382;ave]]
[[io:Usa]]
[[id:Amerika Serikat]]
[[ia:Statos Unite de America]]
[[iu:&#5130;&#5285;&#5130;&#5333;&#5234;]]
[[is:Bandaríkin]]
[[it:Stati Uniti d'America]]
[[he:&#1488;&#1512;&#1510;&#1493;&#1514; &#1492;&#1489;&#1512;&#1497;&#1514;]]
[[ks:&#2360;&#2306;&#2351;&#2369;&#2325;&#2381;&#2340; &#2352;&#2366;&#2332;&#2381;&#8205;&#2351; &#2309;&#2350;&#2375;&#2352;&#2367;&#2325;&#2366;]]
[[ku:Dewletên Yekbûyî yên Emerîkayê]]
[[la:Civitates Americae Unitae]]
[[lv:Amerikas Savienot&#257;s Valstis]]
[[lt:JAV]]
[[li:Vereinegde State van Amerika]]
[[hu:Amerikai Egyesült Államok]]
[[mt:Stati Uniti]]
[[ms:Amerika Syarikat]]
[[zh-min-nan:Bí-kok]]
[[nah:Altepetl Osehsepanoaseh Amerikak]]
[[nv:W&#225;&#225;shindoon bik&#233;yah a&#322;hidadiidzoo&#237;g&#237;&#237;]]
[[nl:Verenigde Staten van Amerika]]
[[nds:USA]]
[[ja:&#12450;&#12513;&#12522;&#12459;&#21512;&#34886;&#22269;]]
[[nb:Amerikas forente stater]]
[[nn:USA]]
[[oc:Estats Units]]
[[pl:Stany Zjednoczone]]
[[pt:Estados Unidos da América]]
[[ro:Statele Unite ale Americii]]
[[rm:Stadis Unids da l'America]]
[[ru:&#1057;&#1086;&#1077;&#1076;&#1080;&#1085;&#1105;&#1085;&#1085;&#1099;&#1077; &#1064;&#1090;&#1072;&#1090;&#1099; &#1040;&#1084;&#1077;&#1088;&#1080;&#1082;&#1080;]]
[[se:Amerihká ovttastuvvan stáhtat]]
[[sa:&#2360;&#2306;&#2351;&#2369;&#2325;&#2381;&#2340; &#2352;&#2366;&#2332;&#2381;&#8205;&#2351; &#2309;&#2350;&#2375;&#2352;&#2367;&#2325;&#2366;]]
[[simple:United States]]
[[sk:Spojen&#233; &#353;t&#225;ty americk&#233;]]
[[sl:Zdru&amp;#382;ene dr&#382;ave Amerike]]
[[sr:&#1057;&#1112;&#1077;&#1076;&#1080;&#1114;&#1077;&#1085;&#1077; &#1040;&#1084;&#1077;&#1088;&#1080;&#1095;&#1082;&#1077; &#1044;&#1088;&#1078;&#1072;&#1074;&#1077;]]
[[fi:Yhdysvallat]]
[[sv:USA]]
[[tl:Estados Unidos]]
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[[vi:Hoa K&#7923;]]
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