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Revision as of 11:12, 3 September 2022 view sourceRandy Kryn (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users284,237 edits added 'legalized' to 'racial discrimination' in lead (accuracy. The purpose and gains of the Civil Rights Movement were to end legalized racial segregation in the U.S., not to end racial discrimination which is a concept and attitude and not something which 'ends' through legislation)← Previous edit Revision as of 22:28, 24 December 2024 view source JacktheBrown (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers76,485 edits →Cuisine: WP:NOTBROKENTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile editNext edit →
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{{Short description|Country in North America}} {{Short description|Country in North America}}
{{Redirect-several|America|US|USA|The United States of America|United States}} {{Redirect|America|the landmass comprising North and South America|Americas|5=America (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect-several|US|USA|United States|The United States of America}}
{{Pp-semi-indef}}
{{Pp-move-indef}} {{pp-move}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox country {{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = United States of America | conventional_long_name = United States of America
| common_name = United States | common_name = United States
| image_flag = Flag of the United States.svg | image_flag = Flag of the United States (DoS ECA Color Standard).svg
| alt_flag = {{nbsp}} <!--Used to denote purely decorative images--> | alt_flag = {{nbsp}} <!--Used to denote purely decorative images-->
| flag_type_article = Flag of the United States
| image_coat = Greater coat of arms of the United States.svg | image_coat = Greater coat of arms of the United States.svg
| coat_alt = {{nbsp}} <!--Used to denote purely decorative images--> | coat_alt = {{nbsp}} <!--Used to denote purely decorative images-->
| symbol_type_article = Great Seal of the United States#Obverse | symbol_type_article = Great Seal of the United States#Obverse
| national_motto = <div style="padding-bottom:0.5em;text-align:center;">"]"<ref>{{USC|36|302}}</ref></div>{{collapsible list | national_motto = "]"<ref>{{USC|36|302}}</ref>{{collapsible list
|title=Other traditional mottos:<ref name="de facto Motto">{{cite web|publisher=], ]|year=2003|url= https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/27807.pdf|title=The Great Seal of the United States|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref> |title={{nowrap|Other traditional mottos:<ref name="de facto Motto">{{cite web|publisher=], ]|year=2003|url= https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/27807.pdf|title=The Great Seal of the United States|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref>}}
|titlestyle=background:transparent;text-align:center;line-height:1.15em; |titlestyle=background:transparent;color:inherit;text-align:center;line-height:1.15em;
|liststyle=text-align:center;white-space:nowrap; |liststyle=text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;
|{{native phrase|la|"]"|italics=off}}<br />"Out of many, one" |{{native phrase|la|"]"|italics=off}}<br />"Out of many, one"
|{{native phrase|la|"]"|italics=off}}<br />"Providence favors our undertakings" |{{native phrase|la|"]"|italics=off}}<br />"Providence favors our undertakings"
|{{native phrase|la|"]"|italics=off}}<br />"New order of the ages" |{{native phrase|la|"]"|italics=off}}<br />"New order of the ages"
}} }}
| national_anthem = "]"<ref>{{cite act|date=March 3, 1931|article=14|article-type=H.R.|legislature=]|title=An Act To make The Star-Spangled Banner the national anthem of the United States of America|url=https://uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm?volume=46&page=1508}}</ref><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">]</div> | national_anthem = "]"<ref>{{cite act|date=March 3, 1931|article=14|article-type=H.R.|legislature=]|title=An Act To make The Star-Spangled Banner the national anthem of the United States of America|url=https://uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm?volume=46&page=1508}}</ref><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">]</div>
<!-- Commented out, as not ] for lead.
<!-- Commented out, as not ] for lead.| march = "]"{{sfn|Kidder|Oppenheim|2007|p=91}}<ref name="urluscode.house.gov">{{cite web|url=https://uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm?volume=112&page=1263|title=uscode.house.gov|date=August 12, 1999|website=Public Law 105-225|publisher=uscode.house.gov|pages=112 Stat. 1263|quote=Section 304. "The composition by John Philip Sousa entitled 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' is the national march."|access-date=September 10, 2017}}</ref><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">]</div> -->| image_map = {{Switcher|]|Show globe (] and ] only)|]|Show the U.S. and ]|default=1}}<!-- Consensus map, see talk page. -->
| march="]"<ref name="urluscode.house.gov">{{cite web|url=https://uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm?volume=112&page=1263|title=uscode.house.gov|date=August 12, 1999|website=Public Law 105-225|publisher=uscode.house.gov|pages=112 Stat. 1263|quote=Section 304. "The composition by John Philip Sousa entitled 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' is the national march."|access-date=September 10, 2017}}</ref><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">]</div>
-->
<!-- Consensus map, see talk page. -->
| image_map = {{Switcher|]|Show globe (] and ] only)|]|Show the U.S. and ]|]|Show territories with ]|default=1}}
| map_width = 220px | map_width = 220px
| capital = ]<br />{{coord|38|53|N|77|01|W|display=inline}} | capital = ]<br />{{coord|38|53|N|77|1|W|display=inline}}
| largest_city = ]<br />{{coord|40|43|N|74|00|W|display=inline}} | largest_city = ]<br />{{coord|40|43|N|74|0|W|display=inline}}
| official_languages = None at the ]{{efn|name=officiallanguage|Twenty-eight of the 50 states recognize only English as an official language. The ] recognizes both ] and English as official languages, the ] officially recognizes 20 ] alongside English, and the ] recognizes English and ] as official languages. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have no official language.}}
| official_languages = ]{{efn|] is the ] of 32 states; English and ] are both official languages in ], and English and ] are official in ]. ], ], and ] are among many other official languages in Native-controlled lands throughout the country. ] is a de facto but unofficial language in ] and ], while ] law grants ] a special status. In five territories, English as well as one or more indigenous languages are official: ] in ], ] in ], and ] in both ] and the ]. ] is also an official language in the Northern ].{{sfn|Cobarrubias|1983|p=195}}{{sfn|García|2011|p=167}}}}
| languages_type = ] | languages_type = ]
| languages = ] (de facto) | languages = ]{{efn|English is the ] language. For more information, see ].}}
<!-- NOTE: For English, don't add "American English" -->| ethnic_groups = {{plainlist|'''By race:''' <!-- NOTE: For English, don't add "American English" -->
| ethnic_groups = {{plainlist|''By race:''
* 61.6% ] * 61.6% ]
* 12.4% ] * 12.4% ]
Line 35: Line 42:
* 1.1% ] * 1.1% ]
* 0.2% ] * 0.2% ]
* 10.2% ] * 10.2% ]
* 8.4% ]}} {{plainlist|'''By Hispanic or Latino origin:''' * 8.4% ]
}}
{{plainlist|''By origin:''
* 81.3% Non-Hispanic or Latino * 81.3% non-]
* 18.7% ]}} * 18.7% Hispanic or Latino
}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2020 | ethnic_groups_year = 2020
| ethnic_groups_ref = <ref name="2020CensusData">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/improved-race-ethnicity-measures-reveal-united-states-population-much-more-multiracial.html|title=2020 Census Illuminates Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Country|work=]|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref><ref name="2020InteractiveCensusData">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html?linkId=100000060666476|title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census|work=]|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/08/13/1014710483/2020-census-data-us-race-ethnicity-diversity|title=A Breakdown of 2020 Census Demographic Data|author=|date=August 13, 2021|website=NPR|publisher=|access-date=|quote=}}</ref> | ethnic_groups_ref = <ref name="2020CensusData">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/improved-race-ethnicity-measures-reveal-united-states-population-much-more-multiracial.html|title=2020 Census Illuminates Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Country|work=]|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref><ref name="2020InteractiveCensusData">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html?linkId=100000060666476|title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census|work=]|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/08/13/1014710483/2020-census-data-us-race-ethnicity-diversity|title=A Breakdown of 2020 Census Demographic Data|date=August 13, 2021|publisher=NPR|access-date=}}</ref>
| demonym = ]{{efn|name=demonym|The historical and informal demonym ] has been applied to Americans, New Englanders, or northeasterners since the 18th century.}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia and Fact-index: Ohio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uV5tvKPO684C&q=%22national+nicknames%22+Yankee|year=1963|page=336}}</ref> | demonym = ]{{efn|name=demonym|The historical and informal demonym ] has been applied to Americans, New Englanders, or northeasterners since the 18th century.}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia and Fact-index: Ohio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uV5tvKPO684C&q=%22national+nicknames%22+Yankee|year=1963|page=336}}</ref>
| government_type = ] ] ]<!-- Consensus description; do not change without addressing in talk page first --> | government_type = ] presidential republic
<!-- Consensus is to list President, Vice President, Chief Justice, and Speaker of the House -->
| leader_title1 = ] | leader_title1 = ]
| leader_name1 = ] | leader_name1 = ]<!--]-->
| leader_title2 = ] | leader_title2 = ]
| leader_name2 = ] | leader_name2 = ]<!--]-->
| leader_title3 = ] | leader_title3 = ]
| leader_name3 = ] | leader_name3 = ]
| leader_title4 = ] | leader_title4 = ]
| leader_name4 = ] | leader_name4 = ]
Line 58: Line 69:
| established_event1 = ] | established_event1 = ]
| established_date1 = {{Start date|1776|7|4}} | established_date1 = {{Start date|1776|7|4}}
| established_event2 = ] | established_event2 = ]
| established_date2 = {{Start date|1781|3|1}} | established_date2 = {{Start date|1781|3|1}}
| established_event3 = ] | established_event3 = ]
| established_date3 = {{Start date|1783|9|3}} | established_date3 = {{Start date|1783|9|3}}
| established_event4 = ] | established_event4 = ]
| established_date4 = {{Start date|1788|6|21}} | established_date4 = {{Start date|1788|6|21}}
| established_event5 = ]
| established_date5 = {{Start date|1959|8|21}}
| area_link = Geography of the United States | area_link = Geography of the United States
| area_label = Total area | area_label = Total area
| area_footnote = <ref>Areas of the 50 states and the District of Columbia but not Puerto Rico nor other island territories per {{cite web| date = August 2010| title = State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates| work = ]| url = https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2010/geo/state-area.html| access-date = March 31, 2020| quote = reflect base feature updates made in the MAF/TIGER database through August, 2010.}}</ref> | area_footnote = <ref name="CensusGov2010HTML">Areas of the 50 states and the District of Columbia but not Puerto Rico nor other island territories per {{cite web| date = August 2010| title = State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates| work = ]| url = https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2010/geo/state-area.html| access-date = March 31, 2020| quote = reflect base feature updates made in the MAF/TIGER database through August, 2010.}}</ref>{{efn|name=largestcountry}}
| area_rank = 3rd{{efn|name=largestcountry}} | area_rank = 3rd
| area_sq_mi = 3,796,742 | area_sq_mi = 3,796,742
| percent_water = 4.66<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=October 11, 2020|publisher=] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER#|date=2015}}</ref> | percent_water = 7.0<ref>{{cite web|title=The Water Area of Each State|access-date=January 29, 2024|publisher=]|url=https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/how-wet-your-state-water-area-each-state|year=2018}}</ref> (2010)
| area_label2 = Land area | area_label2 = Land area
| area_data2 = {{convert|3,531,905|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} (3rd) | area_data2 = {{convert|3,531,905|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} (3rd)
| population_census = 331,449,281{{efn|name="pop"}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/2020-census-apportionment-results.htmlpid=2020CENSUS&src=pt|title=Census Bureau's 2020 Population Count|work=]|access-date=April 26, 2021}} The 2020 census is as of April 1, 2020.</ref> | population_census = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 331,449,281{{efn|name="pop"}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/04/2020-census-data-release.html|title=U.S. Census Bureau Today Delivers State Population Totals for Congressional Apportionment|work=]|access-date=April 26, 2021}} The 2020 census is as of April 1, 2020.</ref>
| population_census_year = 2020 | population_census_year = 2020
| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 331,893,745{{efn|name=pop clock}}<ref name=2021USEst>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/2021-population-estimates.html|title=New Vintage 2021 Population Estimates Available for the Nation, States and Puerto Rico|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|website=Census.gov}}</ref> | population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 340,110,988<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-national-total.html | title=National Population Totals and Components of Change: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |publisher=] (USCB) |website=www.census.gov |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2021 | population_estimate_year = 2024
| population_census_rank = 3rd | population_census_rank = 3rd
| population_density_sq_mi = 87<!-- Figure uses (population/land + water area) as of July 2019. --> | population_density_sq_mi = 87<!-- Figure uses (population/land + water area) as of July 2019. -->
| population_density_rank = 185th | population_density_rank = 185th
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $25.35&nbsp;trillion<ref name="IMF.WEO.US">{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/April|title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2022|date=April 2022|website=IMF.org|publisher=]|access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> | GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $29.168&nbsp;trillion<ref name="IMFWEO.US">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=111,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2024 Edition. (United States) |publisher=] |website=www.imf.org |date=October 22, 2024 |access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year = 2022 | GDP_PPP_year = 2024
| GDP_PPP_rank = 2nd | GDP_PPP_rank = 2nd
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $76,027<ref name="IMF.WEO.US"/> | GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $86,601<ref name="IMFWEO.US" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 9th | GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 8th
| GDP_nominal = {{increase}} $25.35&nbsp;trillion<ref name="IMF.WEO.US"/> | GDP_nominal = {{increase}} $29.168&nbsp;trillion<ref name="IMFWEO.US" />
| GDP_nominal_year = 2022 | GDP_nominal_year = 2024
| GDP_nominal_rank = 1st | GDP_nominal_rank = 1st
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $76,027<ref name="IMF.WEO.US"/> | GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $86,601<ref name="IMFWEO.US" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 8th | GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 6th
| Gini = 46.9<!-- Number only. --> | Gini = 41.6<!-- Number only. -->
| Gini_year = 2020 | Gini_year = 2023
| Gini_change = increase | Gini_change = decrease
| Gini_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2021/demo/income-poverty/p60-273.html|title=Income and Poverty in the United States: 2020, Table A-3|first=US Census|last=Bureau|newspaper=Census.gov |access-date=July 26, 2022}}</ref> | Gini_ref = {{efn|After adjustment for taxes and transfers}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/p60-282.html|title=Income in the United States: 2023|newspaper=Census.gov |page=53|access-date=December 15, 2024}}</ref>
| Gini_rank = | HDI = 0.927<!-- Number only. -->
| HDI = 0.926<!-- Number only. --> | HDI_year = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year. -->
| HDI_year = 2019<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year. -->
| HDI_change = increase<!-- Increase/decrease/steady. --> | HDI_change = increase<!-- Increase/decrease/steady. -->
| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2020: The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene|language=en|publisher=]|date=December 15, 2020|access-date=December 15, 2020}}</ref> | HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2023/24|language=en|publisher=]|date=March 13, 2024|access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 17th | HDI_rank = 20th
| currency = ] ($) | currency = ] (])
| currency_code = USD | currency_code = USD
| utc_offset = −4 to −12, +10, +11 | utc_offset = −4 to −12, +10, +11
Line 109: Line 117:
| calling_code = ] | calling_code = ]
| iso3166code = US | iso3166code = US
| cctld = ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cozab.com/the-difference-between-us-vs-com/|title=The Difference Between .us vs .com|date=January 3, 2022|website=Cozab|access-date=August 11, 2023|archive-date=April 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416200528/https://cozab.com/the-difference-between-us-vs-com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| cctld = <!-- Commented out, as .us is infrequently used and we don't have room to explain fully; see ] for details. -->
| area_km2 =
| today =
| religion = {{ublist|item_style=white-space:nowrap; | religion = {{ublist|item_style=white-space:nowrap;
|{{Tree list}}
|63% ]|—40% ]|—21% ]|—2% Other ]
|29% ] * 67% ]
|6% ] ** 33% ]
** 22% ]
|2% Unknown
** 1% ]
}}
** 11% other ]
| religion_year = 2021
{{Tree list/end}}
| religion_ref = <ref name="Pew2021">{{cite web|title=About Three-in-Ten U.S. Adults Are Now Religiously Unaffiliated|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2021/12/14/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/|website=Measuring Religion in Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=December 21, 2021|date=December 14, 2021}}</ref>
|22% ]
|2% ]
|6% ]
|3% unanswered
}}
| religion_year = 2023
| religion_ref = <ref name="Staff-2007">{{Cite web |last=Staff |date= June 8, 2007|title=In Depth: Topics A to Z (Religion) |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/1690/Religion.aspx |access-date=July 1, 2024 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>
}} }}


The '''United States of America''' ('''U.S.A.''' or '''USA'''), commonly known as the '''United States''' ('''U.S.''' or '''US''') or '''America''', is a ] primarily located in ]. It consists of 50 ], a ], five major ], nine ],{{efn|The five major territories are ], ], the ], ], and the ]. There are eleven smaller island areas without permanent populations: ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. U.S. sovereignty over ], ], ], and ] is disputed.<ref>U.S. State Department, , December 30, 2011, Item 22, 27, 80. And U.S. General Accounting Office Report, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103093032/https://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/og98005.pdf|date=November 3, 2013 }}, November 1997, pp. 1, 6, 39n. Both viewed April 6, 2016.</ref>}} and 326 ] with limited sovereignty. It is the ] by both land and total area.{{efn|The United States is the third-largest country by total area, after ] and ], if its coastal and territorial water areas are included. If only its internal waters are included (bays, sounds, rivers, lakes, and the ]), the U.S. is the fourth-largest, after Russia, Canada, and ]. The '''United States of America''' ('''USA'''), commonly known as the '''United States''' ('''U.S.''') or '''America''', is a country primarily located in ]. It is a ] of 50 ] and a federal capital district, ] The ] border ] to the north and ] to the south, with the states of ] to the northwest and the ] ] in the ]. The United States also asserts sovereignty over five ] and ].{{efn|The five major territories outside the union of states are ], ], the ], ], and the ]. The seven undisputed island areas without permanent populations are ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. U.S. sovereignty over the unpopulated ], ], ], and ] is disputed.<ref name="HRI-2012">{{multiref2|{{Cite web|publisher=U.S. State Department |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/179780.htm |title=Common Core Document to U.N. Committee on Human Rights|date=December 30, 2011 |at=Item 22, 27, 80 |access-date=April 6, 2016}}|{{Cite web|publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office Report |url=https://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/og98005.pdf |title=U.S. Insular Areas: application of the U.S. Constitution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103093032/https://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/og98005.pdf |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |date=November 1997 |pages=1, 6, 39n |access-date=April 6, 2016}}}}</ref>}} The country has the world's ],{{efn|At {{cvt|9,147,590|km2|order=flip}}, the United States is the third-largest country in the world by land area, behind ] and ]. By total area (land and water), it is the third-largest, behind Russia and ], if its coastal and territorial water areas are included. However, if only its internal waters are included (bays, sounds, rivers, lakes, and the ]), the U.S. is the fourth-largest, after Russia, Canada, and China.
<br /> <br />
Coastal/territorial waters included: {{cvt|9,833,517|km2|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web|title=China|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/china/|access-date=June 10, 2016|website=]}}</ref>
<br /> <br />
Only internal waters included: {{cvt|9,572,900|km2|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web|title=United States|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/616563/United-States-quick-facts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219194413/https://www.britannica.com/topic/616563/United-States-quick-facts|archive-date=December 19, 2013|access-date=January 31, 2010|website=]}}</ref>|name=largestcountry}} ], and ], exceeding 340 million.{{efn|The ]'s latest official population estimate of 340,110,988 residents (2024) is for the 50 states and the District of Columbia; it excludes the 3.6 million residents of the five major ] and outlying islands. The Census Bureau also provides a continuously updated but unofficial population clock: |name=pop clock}} Its three ] are ], ], and ], and its three ] are ], ], and ].
Coastal/territorial waters included: {{cvt|9,833,517|km2|order=flip}}<ref name=":00">{{cite web|title=China|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/china/|access-date=June 10, 2016|website=]}}</ref>
<br />
Only internal waters included: {{cvt|9,572,900|km2|order=flip}}<ref name=":2a">{{cite web|title=United States|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/616563/United-States-quick-facts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219194413/https://www.britannica.com/topic/616563/United-States-quick-facts|archive-date=December 19, 2013|access-date=January 31, 2010|website=]}}</ref>|name=largestcountry}} The United States shares land borders ] to the north and ] to the south as well as maritime borders with the ], ], and ], among others.{{efn|The United States has a maritime border with the ] because the ] borders the ].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States-Virgin-Islands.|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|edition=Online|title=United States Virgin Islands|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429112829/https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States-Virgin-Islands|archive-date=April 29, 2020 }}</ref> ] has a maritime border with the ].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Puerto-RicoBritannica.com|title=Puerto Rico|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|edition=Online|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702120024/https://www.britannica.com/place/Puerto-Rico|archive-date=July 2, 2020 }}</ref> ] has a maritime border with the ] (see ]).<ref>Anderson, Ewan W. (2003). International Boundaries: A Geopolitical Atlas. Routledge: New York. {{ISBN|9781579583750}}; OCLC 54061586</ref><ref>Charney, Jonathan I., David A. Colson, Robert W. Smith. (2005). International Maritime Boundaries, 5 vols. Hotei Publishing: Leiden.</ref> American Samoa also has maritime borders with ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pacgeo.org/static/maritimeboundaries/Pacgeo.org.|title=Pacific Maritime Boundaries|website=pacgeo.org|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731224602/https://www.pacgeo.org/static/maritimeboundaries/|archive-date=July 31, 2020 }}</ref>}} It has a population of over 331 million,{{efn|The ] provides a continuously updated but unofficial population clock in addition to ] and ]: |name=pop clock}} and is the ] country in the world. The ] is ], and the ] city and ] is ]. The United States is a ] of ] and ], and its population has been profoundly shaped by ]. It has a highly diverse ] and ] and is officially recognized as one of the 17 ].


] migrated across the ] more than 12,000 years ago, and formed ]. ] led to the first settlement of the ] in ] in 1607, with the beginning of the ] of ] following soon after. Clashes with the ] over taxation and ] sparked the ], with the ] formally ] on July 4, 1776. Following its victory in the 1775–1783 ], the country continued to ], resulting in the dispossession of ]. As more states ], a ] over slavery led to the secession of the ], which fought states remaining in ] in the 1861–1865 ]. With the victory and preservation of the United States, ]. By 1900, the country had established itself as a ], a status solidified after its involvement in ]. After ]'s ] in December 1941, the U.S. ]. ] left the U.S. and the ] as the world's two ] and led to the ], during which both countries struggled for ] and ]. Following the ] and the ] in 1991, the U.S. ], wielding ].
<!-- History -->
Paleo-aboriginals ] to the North American mainland at least ], and advanced cultures began to appear later on. These advanced cultures had almost completely declined by the time ] arrived during the 16th century. The United States emerged from the ] established along the ] when disputes with the ] over taxation and ] led to the ] (1765–1784), which established the nation's ]. In the late 18th century, the U.S. began expanding across North America, gradually ], sometimes ], frequently ], and ]. By 1848, the United States spanned the continent from east to west. Controversy surrounding the practice of ] culminated in the secession of the ], which fought the remaining states of the ] during the ] (1861–1865). With the Union's victory and preservation, slavery was abolished by the ].


The ] is a ] ] ] and ] with ]: ], ], and ]. It has a ] national legislature composed of the ], a ] based on population, and the ], an ] based on equal representation for each state. ] to the 50 states, while American values are based on a democratic political tradition that draws its inspiration from the ].
By ], the United States had become the ], and the ] and ] established the country as a ]. After Japan's ] in 1941, the U.S. ] on ] during ]. The ] left the United States and the ] as the world's two ]s. During the ], both countries engaged in a struggle for ideological dominance, but avoided direct military conflict. They also competed in the ], which culminated in the ] that first landed humans on the ]. Simultaneously, the ] led to legislation outlawing legalized ] against ]. The ] ended the Cold War, leaving the United States as the world's sole superpower. The ] in 2001 resulted in the United States launching the ], which included the ] (2001–2021) and the ] (2003–2011).


One of the world's ], the United States has had the ] and accounted for over 15% of the ] in 2023.{{efn|Based on ]}} It possesses by far the ] and has the ] among ] countries. The U.S. ] in ], ], ], ], and ]. Its ] and ] have a global reach. The U.S. is a founding member of the ], the ], ], and the ],{{Efn|Including agencies such as the ] and the ]}} as well as a ].
<!-- Government and citizens -->
The United States is a ] with ], including a ]. It is a ] and ]; it ] in international measures of ], ], ] and ], ], and ]; and it has low levels of ]. It has high levels of ] and ], retains ], and lacks ].

<!-- Economy and global perspective -->
The United States is a highly ], and its economy accounts for approximately a quarter of global ] and is the world's ] by GDP at market exchange rates. By value, the United States is the world's ] importer and ] exporter. Although it accounts for just over 4.2% of the world's total population, the U.S. holds ] of the total wealth in the world, the largest share held by any country. The United States is a founding member and seat of the ], ], ], ], ], and a ] of the ]. The country makes up more than a third of ], and is the ] in the world and a leading ], cultural, and ] force.


== Etymology == == Etymology ==
{{Further|Names of the United States|Demonyms for the United States|United Colonies}}
<!-- linked -->
{{Further|Naming of the Americas|Names of the United States|Names for United States citizens|American (word)|l4=''American'' (word)}}

The first known use of the name "]" dates to 1507, when it appeared on ] produced by the German cartographer ] in the French city of ]. On his map, the name is shown in large letters on what would now be considered ], honoring ]. The Italian explorer was the first to postulate that the ] did not represent Asia's eastern limit but were part of a previously unknown landmass.{{sfn|Sider|2007|p=226}}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Szalay|first1=Jessie|title=Amerigo Vespucci: Facts, Biography & Naming of America|url=https://www.livescience.com/42510-amerigo-vespucci.html|publisher=]|access-date=June 23, 2019|date=September 20, 2017}}</ref> In 1538, the Flemish cartographer ] used the name "America" to the entire ].<ref name="Cohen">{{cite web|url=https://www.uhmc.sunysb.edu/surgery/america.html|title=The Naming of America: Fragments We've Shored Against Ourselves|author=Jonathan Cohen|access-date=February 3, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006194659/https://www.uhmc.sunysb.edu/surgery/america.html|url-status=dead }}</ref>


The first documentary evidence of the phrase "United States of America" dates from a January&nbsp;2, 1776 letter written by ] to ], George Washington's ]. Moylan expressed his wish to go "with full and ample powers from the United States of America to Spain" to seek assistance in the revolutionary war effort.<ref>DeLear, Byron (July 4, 2013) "Historians have long tried to pinpoint exactly when the name 'United States of America' was first used and by whom&nbsp;... This latest find comes in a letter that Stephen Moylan, Esq., wrote to Col. Joseph Reed from the Continental Army Headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., during the Siege of Boston. The two men lived with Washington in Cambridge, with Reed serving as Washington's favorite military secretary and Moylan fulfilling the role during Reed's absence." ''Christian Science Monitor'' (Boston, MA).</ref><ref>Touba, Mariam (November 5, 2014) "Here, on January 2, 1776, seven months before the Declaration of Independence and a week before the publication of Paine's ''Common Sense'', Stephen Moylan, an acting secretary to General George Washington, spells it out, 'I should like vastly to go with full and ample powers from the United States of America to Spain' to seek foreign assistance for the cause." ''New-York Historical Society Museum & Library''</ref><ref>Fay, John (July 15, 2016) "According to the NY Historical Society, Stephen Moylan was the man responsible for the earliest documented use of the phrase 'United States of America'. But who was Stephen Moylan?" ''IrishCentral.com''</ref> The first known publication of the phrase "United States of America" was in an anonymous essay in '']'' newspaper in ], on April&nbsp;6, 1776.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Virginia Gazette|title=''"To the inhabitants of Virginia", by A PLANTER''. Dixon and Hunter's. April 6, 1776, Williamsburg, Virginia. Letter is also included in Peter Force's ''American Archives''|url=https://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/VirginiaGazette/VGIssueThumbs.cfm?IssueIDNo=76.DH.16|issue=1287|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219053616/https://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/VirginiaGazette/VGIssueThumbs.cfm?IssueIDNo=76.DH.16|archive-date=December 19, 2014|volume=5}}</ref> The first documented use of the phrase "United States of America" is a letter from January 2, 1776. ], a ] aide to General ], wrote to ], Washington's ], seeking to go "with full and ample powers from the United States of America to Spain" to seek assistance in the ] effort.<ref name="DeLear-2013">{{cite news |last=DeLear |first=Byron |date=July 4, 2013 |title=Who coined 'United States of America'? Mystery might have intriguing answer |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2013/0704/Who-coined-United-States-of-America-Mystery-might-have-intriguing-answer |work=The Christian Science Monitor |location=Boston, Massachusetts}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fay |first=John |date=July 15, 2016 |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/The-forgotten-Irishman-who-named-the-United-States-of-America.html |title=The forgotten Irishman who named the 'United States of America' |quote=According to the NY Historical Society, Stephen Moylan was the man responsible for the earliest documented use of the phrase 'United States of America'. But who was Stephen Moylan? |work=IrishCentral.com}}</ref> The first known public usage is an ] published in the ] newspaper, '']'', on April&nbsp;6, 1776.<ref name="DeLear-2013"/><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Virginia Gazette|title=To the inhabitants of Virginia |author=((A PLANTER)) |date=April 6, 1776 |location=Williamsburg, Virginia |publisher=Dixon and Hunter's |url=https://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/VirginiaGazette/VGIssueThumbs.cfm?IssueIDNo=76.DH.16|issue=1287|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219053616/https://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/VirginiaGazette/VGIssueThumbs.cfm?IssueIDNo=76.DH.16|archive-date=December 19, 2014|volume=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A Planter' s Address to the Inhabitants of Virginia |url=https://digital.lib.niu.edu/islandora/object/niu-amarch%3A87440 |website=American Archives |publisher=Northern Illinois University |access-date=May 25, 2024}}</ref> By June 1776, the "United States of America" appeared in the ]{{sfn|Safire|2003|p=199}}{{sfn|Mostert|2005|p=18}} and the ].{{sfn|Safire|2003|p=199}} The ] adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.<ref name="Davis7">], p. 7.</ref>


The term "United States" and the initialism "U.S.", used as nouns or as adjectives in English, are common short names for the country. The initialism "USA", a noun, is also common.<ref>{{cite web |title=Is USA A Noun Or Adjective? |url=https://www.dictionary.com/e/is-usa-a-noun/ |website=Dictionary.com |date=9 March 2017}}</ref> "United States" and "U.S." are the established terms throughout the ], with prescribed rules.{{efn|The official ] has prescribed specific usages for "U.S." and "United States" as part of official names. In "formal writing (treaties, Executive orders, proclamations, etc.); congressional bills; legal citations and courtwork; and covers and title pages",<ref name="gpo-stylemanual" /> "United States" is always used. In a sentence containing the name of another country, "United States" must be used. Otherwise, "U.S." is used preceding a government organization or as an adjective, but "United States" is used as an adjective preceding non-governmental organizations (e.g. ]).<ref name="gpo-stylemanual">{{cite book |title=U.S. Government Publishing Office Style Manual |date=January 12, 2017 |pages=222–223 |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016/ |access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref>}} In English, the term "America" rarely refers to topics unrelated to the United States, despite the usage of "the ]" as the totality of North and South America.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Kenneth G. |title=The Columbia guide to standard American English |date=1993 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-231-06989-2}}</ref> "The States" is an established colloquial shortening of the name, used particularly from abroad;<ref>{{cite web|website=Longman dictionary|title="The States"|url=https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/the-states|accessdate=September 27, 2024}}</ref> "stateside" is the corresponding adjective or adverb.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-27 |title=Definition of STATESIDE |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stateside |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref>
The second draft of the ] and ], prepared by ] and completed no later than June&nbsp;17, 1776, declared "The name of this Confederation shall be the 'United States of America'."{{sfn|Safire|2003|p=199}} The final version of the Articles, sent to the states for ratification in late 1777, stated that "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America'."{{sfn|Mostert|2005|p=18}} In June 1776, ] wrote the phrase "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" in all capitalized letters in the headline of his "original Rough draught" of the ].{{sfn|Safire|2003|p=199}} This draft of the document did not surface until June&nbsp;21, 1776, and it is unclear whether it was written before or after Dickinson used the term in his June 17 draft of the Articles of Confederation.{{sfn|Safire|2003|p=199}}


The name "America" is the Latinized form of the first name of Italian explorer ]. He first proposed that the ] discovered by ] in 1492 were part of a previously unknown landmass and not among the Indies at the eastern limit of ].<ref>{{cite book |first=Sandra |last=Sider |title=Handbook to Life in Renaissance Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JtYy67FsRosC&pg=PA226 |page=226 |year=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-533084-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Szalay |first1=Jessie |title=Amerigo Vespucci: Facts, Biography & Naming of America |url=https://www.livescience.com/42510-amerigo-vespucci.html |publisher=] |access-date=June 23, 2019 |date=September 20, 2017}}</ref><ref name="locnamingofamerica">{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Erin |title=How Did America Get Its Name?|url=https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2016/07/how-did-america-get-its-name/#:~:text=America%20is%20named%20after%20Amerigo,part%20of%20a%20separate%20continent |website=Library of Congress Blog |access-date=3 September 2020 |date=4 July 2016}}</ref>
The phrase "United States" was originally plural in American usage. It described a collection of states—e.g., "the United States are..." The singular form became popular after the end of the Civil War and is now standard usage. A ] is called an "]". "United States", "American", and "U.S." refer to the country adjectivally ("American values", "U.S.&nbsp;forces"). In English, the word "American" rarely refers to topics or subjects not directly connected with the United States.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wilson|first1=Kenneth G.|title=The Columbia guide to standard American English|url=https://archive.org/details/columbiaguidetos00wils_0|url-access=registration|date=1993|publisher=Columbia University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-231-06989-2|pages=}}</ref>


== History == == History ==
{{Main|History of the United States}} {{Main|History of the United States}}
{{For outline|Outline of United States history}} {{For outline|Outline of the history of the United States}}


===Indigenous peoples and pre-Columbian history=== === Indigenous peoples ===
{{Further|Native Americans in the United States|Prehistory of the United States|Pre-Columbian era}} {{Main|History of Native Americans in the United States}}
{{Further|Native Americans in the United States|Pre-Columbian era}}
], located in present-day ], was built by the ] between AD 1190 and 1260.|alt=Aerial view of the Cliff Palace]]


], a settlement of ] the ] ] in present-day ], built between {{Circa|1200 and 1275}}<ref> at Colorado Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 31, 2024</ref>]]
It is generally accepted that the ] migrated from ] by way of the ] and arrived at least 12,000 years ago; however, some evidence suggests an even earlier date of arrival.{{sfn|Erlandson|Rick|Vellanoweth|2008|p=19}}{{sfn|Savage|2011|page= 55}}{{sfn|Haviland|Walrath|Prins|2013|page=219}} The ], which appeared around 11,000 BC, is believed to represent the first wave of human settlement of the Americas.{{sfn|Waters|Stafford|2007|pages=1122–1126}}{{sfn|Flannery|2015|pages=173–185}} This was likely the first of three major waves of migration into North America; later waves brought the ancestors of present-day ], ]s, and ]s.{{sfn|Gelo|2018|pages=79–80}}
The ] migrated from ] across the ] about 12,000 years ago;{{sfn|Erlandson|Rick|Vellanoweth|2008|p=19}}{{sfn|Savage|2011|page=55}} the ], which appeared around 11,000 BC, is believed to be the first widespread culture in the Americas.{{sfn|Waters|Stafford|2007|pages=1122–1126}}{{sfn|Flannery|2015|pages=173–185}} Over time, indigenous North American cultures grew increasingly sophisticated, and some, such as the ], developed ], ], and ].{{sfn|Lockard|2010|page=315}} In the ], the Mississippian cultures were located in the ], ], and ] regions, and the ] in the ] and along the ], while the ] and ] inhabited the ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Johansen |first=Bruce |title=The Native Peoples of North America: A History, Volume 1 |year=2006 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-3899-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiKgBuSUPUIC&dq=native+american+history+archaic+period&pg=PA51}}</ref> ] of what is now the United States before the arrival of European immigrants range from around 500,000{{sfn|Thornton|1998|page=34}}{{sfn|Perdue|Green|2005|page=40}} to nearly 10 million.{{sfn|Perdue|Green|2005|page=40}}{{sfn|Haines|Haines|Steckel|2000|page=12}}


=== European settlement and conflict (1607&ndash;1765) ===
Over time, indigenous cultures in North America grew increasingly complex, and some, such as the pre-Columbian ] in the southeast, developed advanced ], ], and complex societies.{{sfn|Lockard|2010|page= 315}} The city-state of ] is the largest, most complex pre-Columbian ] in the modern-day United States.{{sfn|Martinez|Sage|Ono|2016|page= 4}} In the ] region, ] culture developed from centuries of agricultural experimentation.{{sfn|Fagan|2016|page=390}} The ], located in the southern ] region, was established at some point between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries.<ref name="Dean Snow">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P7e82KQoX6IC&q=iroquois+basque&pg=PA1|title=The Iroquois|author=Dean R. Snow|publisher=Blackwell Publishers, Ltd.|year=1994|isbn=978-1-55786-938-8|access-date=July 16, 2010}}</ref> Most prominent along the Atlantic coast were the ] tribes, who practiced hunting and trapping, along with limited ].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Inksetter|first=Leila|title=Back to Where It All Began: Revisiting Algonquin Resource Use and Territoriality|volume=60|issue=1|pages=119–132|journal=Arthopologica|year=2018 |publisher=Canadian Anthropology Society|jstor=44876739}}</ref>
{{Main|Colonial history of the United States|Colonial American military history}}
{{See also|European colonization of the Americas}}
] of ] (in pink and purple), ] (in blue), and ] (in orange) in present-day ] and the United States]]


] began exploring the ] for Spain in 1492, leading to ] from Puerto Rico and Florida to ] and ].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Davis |first1=Frederick T. |year=1932 |title=The Record of Ponce de Leon's Discovery of Florida, 1513 |url=http://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/ucf%3A21231 |journal=The QUARTERLY Periodical of THE FLORIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY |volume=XI |issue=1 |pages=5–6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Florida Center for Instructional Technology |url=https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/menendz/menendz1.htm |title=A Short History of Florida |date=2002 |publisher=University of South Florida |chapter=Pedro Menendez de Aviles Claims Florida for Spain}}<!--Online textbook for Florida public schools.--></ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 28, 2015 |title=Not So Fast, Jamestown: St. Augustine Was Here First |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/02/28/389682893/not-so-fast-jamestown-st-augustine-was-here-first |access-date=March 5, 2021 |publisher=NPR |language=en}}</ref> ] established ] along the ], ] and ].<ref name="Petto20072">{{cite book |author=Petto |first=Christine Marie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ZiaAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA125 |title=When France Was King of Cartography: The Patronage and Production of Maps in Early Modern France |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7391-6247-7 |page=125}}</ref> ] of the ] began with the ] (1607) and ] (1620).<ref name="Jr.Selby20182">{{cite book |last1=Seelye |first1=James E. Jr. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YgVnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA344 |title=Shaping North America: From Exploration to the American Revolution &#91;3 volumes&#93; |last2=Selby |first2=Shawn |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-4408-3669-5 |page=344}}</ref><ref name="BellahSullivan20062">{{cite book |last1=Bellah |first1=Robert Neelly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5DQHmykT6u4C&pg=PA220 |title=Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life |last2=Madsen |first2=Richard |last3=Sullivan |first3=William M. |last4=Swidler |first4=Ann |last5=Tipton |first5=Steven M. |publisher=University of California Press |year=1985 |isbn=978-0-520-05388-5 |page=220 |ol=7708974M}}</ref> The ] and the ] established precedents for representative ] and ] that would develop throughout the American colonies.<ref name="Remini2–32">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Remini|2007|pp=2–3}}</ref><ref name="Johnson26–302">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Johnson|1997|pp=26–30}}</ref> While European settlers in what is now the United States experienced conflicts with Native Americans, they also engaged in trade, exchanging European tools for food and animal pelts.<ref>], p. 6</ref>{{efn|From the late 15th century, the ] had been catastrophic for native populations throughout the Americas. It is estimated ], especially in the Caribbean, ];<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ehrenpreis |first1=Jamie E. |last2=Ehrenpreis |first2=Eli D. |date=April 2022 |title=A Historical Perspective of Healthcare Disparity and Infectious Disease in the Native American Population |journal=The American Journal of the Medical Sciences |volume=363 |issue=4 |pages=288–294 |doi=10.1016/j.amjms.2022.01.005 |issn=0002-9629 |pmc=8785365 |pmid=35085528}}</ref> remaining populations were often displaced by European expansion.{{sfn|Joseph|2016|page=590}}<ref>] p. ]</ref>}} Relations ranged from close cooperation to warfare and massacres. The colonial authorities often pursued policies that forced Native Americans to adopt European lifestyles, including conversion to Christianity.<ref>] p. 5</ref><ref>], p. 55</ref> Along the eastern seaboard, settlers ] through the ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Hugh |url=https://archive.org/details/slavetradestoryo00thom/page/516 |title=The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade: 1440{{ndash}}1870 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=1997 |isbn=0-684-83565-7 |pages= |url-access=registration}}</ref>
Estimating the native population of North America during European contact is difficult.{{sfn|Perdue|Green|2005|page=40}}{{sfn|Haines|Haines|Steckel|2000|page=12}} ] of the ] estimated a population of 93 thousand in the ] and a population of 473 thousand in the Gulf states,{{sfn|Thornton|1998|page=34}} but most academics regard this figure as too low.{{sfn|Perdue|Green|2005|page=40}} Anthropologist ] believed the populations were much higher, suggesting around 1.1 million along the shores of the ], 2.2 million people living between ] and ], 5.2 million in the ] and tributaries, and around 700,000 people in the ].{{sfn|Perdue|Green|2005|page=40}}{{sfn|Haines|Haines|Steckel|2000|page= 12}}


The original ]{{efn|], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]}} that would later found the United States were administered as possessions of ],<ref name="BilhartzElliott20072">{{cite book |author1=Bilhartz, Terry D. |url=https://archive.org/details/currentsinameric0000bilh |title=Currents in American History: A Brief History of the United States |author2=Elliott, Alan C. |publisher=M.E. Sharpe |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7656-1817-7 |url-access=registration}}</ref> and had ].<ref name="Wood19982">{{cite book |author=Wood |first=Gordon S. |url=https://archive.org/details/creationofameric0000wood_r7v4 |title=The Creation of the American Republic, 1776–1787 |publisher=UNC Press Books |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-8078-4723-7 |page=263}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Ratcliffe |first=Donald |year=2013 |title=The Right to Vote and the Rise of Democracy, 1787–1828 |journal=Journal of the Early Republic |volume=33 |issue=2 |page=220 |doi=10.1353/jer.2013.0033 |s2cid=145135025 | issn=0275-1275}}</ref> The colonial population grew rapidly, eclipsing Native American populations;<ref>], pp. 38–39</ref> by the 1770s, the natural increase of the population was such that only a small minority of Americans had been born overseas.<ref>], p. 35</ref> The colonies' distance from Britain allowed for the development of self-governance,<ref>{{cite book |author=Otis |first=James |url=https://archive.org/details/cihm_52678 |title=The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved |year=1763 |isbn=978-0-665-52678-7}}</ref> and the ], a series of ]s, fueled colonial interest in ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Foner |first1=Eric |url=https://archive.org/details/storyofamericanf00fone |title=The Story of American Freedom |date=1998 |publisher=W.W. Norton |isbn=978-0-393-04665-6 |edition=1st |pages=–5 |quote=story of American freedom. |url-access=registration}}</ref>
===European settlements===
{{further|Colonial history of the United States}}
]'', a replica of the original '']'', docked at ]]]


For a century, the American colonists ], especially France, and the Americans had begun to develop a sense of self-defense and self-reliance separate from Britain. The ] (1754&ndash;1763) took on new significance for all North American colonists after Parliament under ] concluded that major military resources needed to be devoted to North America to win the war against France. The British colonies' position as an integral part of the ] became more apparent during the war, with British military and civilian officials becoming a more significant presence in American life.
Claims of very early colonization of ] by the ] are disputed and controversial. The first documented arrival of Europeans in the continental United States is that of Spanish ]s such as ], who made his first expedition to ] in 1513. Even earlier, ] had landed in ] on his ], and ] was settled by the Spanish a decade later.<ref name="Operé2008">{{cite book|author=Fernando Operé|title=Indian Captivity in Spanish America: Frontier Narratives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QhjWMnKYZfIC&pg=PA1|year=2008|publisher=University of Virginia Press|isbn=978-0-8139-2587-5|page=1}}</ref> The Spanish set up the first settlements in Florida and New Mexico, such as ], often considered the nation's oldest city,<ref>{{cite web|date=February 28, 2015|title=Not So Fast, Jamestown: St. Augustine Was Here First|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/02/28/389682893/not-so-fast-jamestown-st-augustine-was-here-first|access-date=March 5, 2021|website=NPR|language=en}}</ref> and ]. The French ] their own settlements along the ], notably ].<ref name="Petto2007">{{cite book|author=Christine Marie Petto|title=When France Was King of Cartography: The Patronage and Production of Maps in Early Modern France|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ZiaAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA125|year=2007|publisher=Lexington Books|isbn=978-0-7391-6247-7|page=125}}</ref>


===American Revolution and the early republic (1765&ndash;1800)===
Successful ] of the eastern coast of North America began with the ] in 1607 at ] and with the ]' ] in 1620.<ref name="Jr.Selby2018">{{cite book|author1=James E. Seelye Jr.|author2=Shawn Selby|title=Shaping North America: From Exploration to the American Revolution &#91;3 volumes&#93;|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YgVnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA344|year=2018|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-4408-3669-5|page=344}}</ref><ref name="BellahSullivan2006">{{cite book|author1=Robert Neelly Bellah|author2=Richard Madsen|author3=William M. Sullivan|author4=Ann Swidler|author5=Steven M. Tipton|title=Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5DQHmykT6u4C&pg=PA220|year=1985|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-05388-5|page=220|ol=7708974M}}</ref> The continent's first elected legislative assembly, Virginia's ], was founded in 1619. Documents such as the ] and the ] established precedents for representative self-government and constitutionalism that would develop throughout the American colonies.<ref name="Remini2–3">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Remini|2007|pp=2–3}}</ref><ref name="Johnson26–30">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Johnson|1997|pp=26–30}}</ref> Many English settlers were ] who came seeking ]. In 1784, the Russians were the first Europeans to establish a ], at ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Black |first1=Lydia T. |title=Russians in Alaska, 1732–1867 |publisher=University of Alaska Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-889963-05-1 |location=Fairbanks, AK |page=102 |author-link1=Lydia T. Black}}</ref> The ] after European arrival for various reasons,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cook|first1=Noble|title=Born to Die: Disease and New World Conquest, 1492–1650|date=1998|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-521-62730-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dvjNyZTFrS4C|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Treuer|first=David|title=The new book 'The Other Slavery' will make you rethink American history|newspaper=]|url=https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-native-american-slavery-20160505-snap-story.html|access-date=October 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>] p. ]</ref> primarily from diseases such as ] and ].<ref>"'' {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208032805/https://books.google.com/books?id=qubTdDk1H3IC&pg=PA205|date=February 8, 2016}}''". Arthur C. Aufderheide, Conrado Rodríguez-Martín, Odin Langsjoen (1998). ]. p. 205. {{ISBN|978-0-521-55203-5}}</ref><ref>] pp. 225–232</ref>
{{Main|American Revolution|American Revolutionary War}}
{{Further|History of the United States (1776–1789)|History of the United States (1789–1815)}}
]'', a portrait by ] depicting the ] presenting the draft of ] to the ] on June 28, 1776, in ]]]
Following their victory in the French and Indian War, Britain began to assert greater control over local colonial affairs, resulting in ]; one of the primary colonial grievances was a denial of their ], particularly the right to ]. To demonstrate their dissatisfaction and resolve, the ] met in 1774 and passed the ], a colonial boycott of British goods that proved effective. The British attempt to then disarm the colonists resulted in the 1775 ], igniting the ]. At the ], the colonies appointed ] commander-in-chief of the ], and created ] that named ] to draft the ]. Two days after passing the ] to create an independent nation the Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776.<ref name="YoungNash20112">{{cite book |author1=Fabian Young, Alfred |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QEzaLJ4u_MEC&pg=PA4 |title=Revolutionary Founders: Rebels, Radicals, and Reformers in the Making of the Nation |author2=Nash, Gary B. |author3=Raphael, Ray |publisher=Random House Digital |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-307-27110-5 |pages=4–7}}</ref> The ] included ]'','' ]; and the ];<ref>Yick Wo vs. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356, 370</ref> supporting ] and rejecting ], ], and all hereditary political power; ]; and vilification of ].<ref>Richard Buel, ''Securing the Revolution: Ideology in American Politics, 1789–1815'' (1972)</ref> The ], who included Washington, Jefferson, ], ], ], ], ], ], and many others, were inspired by ], ], and ] philosophies and ideas.<ref>Becker et al (2002), ch 1</ref><ref name="SEoP-2006">{{cite web |date=June 19, 2006 |title=Republicanism |url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/republicanism/ |access-date=September 20, 2022 |website=Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy}}</ref>


The ] ] were ratified in 1781 and established a decentralized government that operated until 1789.<ref name="YoungNash20112" /> After the British surrender at the ] in 1781 American sovereignty was internationally recognized by the ] (1783), through which the U.S. gained territory stretching west to the Mississippi River, north to present-day Canada, and south to ].<ref>{{cite web |editor-last=Miller |editor-first=Hunter |title=British-American Diplomacy: The Paris Peace Treaty of September 30, 1783 |url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/paris.asp |publisher=The Avalon Project at Yale Law School}}</ref> The ] (1787) established the precedent by which the country's territory would expand with the ], rather than the expansion of existing states.<ref>Shōsuke Satō, '''', Johns Hopkins University, (1886), p. 352</ref> The ] was drafted at the 1787 ] to overcome the limitations of the Articles. It went into effect in 1789, creating a ] governed by ] that together ensured a system of ].{{sfn|Foner|2020|p=524}} George Washington ] the country's first president under the Constitution, and the ] was adopted in 1791 to allay skeptics' concerns about the power of the more centralized government.{{sfn|OpenStax|2014|loc=§ }}{{sfn|Foner|2020|pp=538-540}} ] after the Revolutionary War and his later refusal to run for a third term as the country's first president established a precedent for the supremacy of civil authority in the United States and the ].<ref name="BoyerJr.20072">], pp. 192–193</ref>{{sfn|OpenStax|2014|loc=§ }}
In the early days of colonization, many European settlers were subject to food shortages, disease, and attacks from ]. Native Americans were also often fighting neighboring tribes and European settlers. In many cases, however, the natives and settlers came to depend on each other. Settlers ] for food and animal pelts; natives for guns, tools and other European goods.<ref>] p. 6</ref> Natives taught many settlers to cultivate corn, beans, and other foodstuffs. European missionaries and others felt it was important to "civilize" the Native Americans and urged them to adopt European agricultural practices and lifestyles.<ref>] p. 5</ref><ref>], p. 55</ref> However, with the increased European ] of North America, ] were displaced and often killed during conflicts.{{sfn|Joseph|2016|page=590}}
] (shown in red) in 1775|alt=Map of the U.S. showing the original Thirteen Colonies along the eastern seaboard]]


===Westward expansion and Civil War (1800&ndash;1865)===
European settlers also began ] ] into Colonial America via the ].<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade: 1440{{ndash}}1870|last = Thomas|first = Hugh|publisher = Simon and Schuster|year = 1997|isbn = 0-684-83565-7|pages = |url = https://archive.org/details/slavetradestoryo00thom/page/516}}</ref> Because of a lower prevalence of tropical diseases and better ], slaves had a much higher life expectancy in North America than in South America, leading to a rapid increase in their numbers.<ref>], p. 1534</ref><ref>], p. 484</ref> Colonial society was largely divided over the religious and moral implications of slavery, and several colonies passed acts for or against the practice.<ref name="Lien522">], p. 522</ref><ref name="Davis7">], p. 7</ref> However, by the turn of the 18th century, African slaves had supplanted European ] as ] labor, especially in the American South.<ref name="Quirk2011">], p. 195</ref>
{{Further||History of the United States (1815–1849)|History of the United States (1849–1865)}}
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The ] of 1803 from France nearly doubled the territory of the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana Purchase |url=https://www.nps.gov/jeff/historyculture/upload/louisiana_purchase.pdf |access-date=March 1, 2011 |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harriss |first=Joseph A. |title=How the Louisiana Purchase Changed the World |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-louisiana-purchase-changed-the-world-79715124/ |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref> ], leading to the ], which was fought to a draw.<ref name="Wait19992">{{cite book |last=Wait |first=Eugene M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puuQ30N0EsIC&pg=PA78 |title=America and the War of 1812 |publisher=Nova Publishers |year=1999 |isbn=978-1-56072-644-9 |page=78}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2024 |title=War of 1812 |url=http://public2.nhhcaws.local/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/1812.html |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=] |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ] and its Gulf Coast territory in 1819.<ref name="KloseJones19942">{{cite book |author1=Klose, Nelson |url=https://archive.org/details/unitedstateshist00klos_0/page/150 |title=United States History to 1877 |author2=Jones, Robert F. |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-8120-1834-9 |page=}}</ref> In the late 18th century, American settlers began to ], many with a sense of ].<ref name="MD20072">{{Cite book |last1=Carlisle |first1=Rodney P. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/659807062 |title=Manifest destiny and the expansion of America |last2=Golson |first2=J. Geoffrey |date=2007 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-85109-834-7 |series=Turning Points in History Series |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |page=238 |oclc=659807062}}</ref>{{Sfn|McPherson|1988|p=41–46}} The ] attempted to balance the desire of northern states to prevent the expansion of slavery into new territories with that of southern states to extend it, admitting ] as a ] and ] as a free state. It further prohibited slavery in all other lands of the Louisiana Purchase north of the ].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hammond|first=John Craig|date=March 2019|title=President, Planter, Politician: James Monroe, the Missouri Crisis, and the Politics of Slavery|journal=Journal of American History|volume=105|issue=4|pages=843–867|doi=10.1093/jahist/jaz002}}</ref> As Americans expanded further into land inhabited by Native Americans, the federal government often applied ] of ] or ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frymer |first=Paul |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/981954623 |title=Building an American empire : the era of territorial and political expansion |date=2017 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-4008-8535-0 |location=Princeton, New Jersey |oclc=981954623}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Calloway |first=Colin G. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1035393060 |title=First peoples : a documentary survey of American Indian history |date=2019 |publisher=Bedford/St. Martin's, Macmillan Learning |isbn=978-1-319-10491-7 |edition=6th |location=Boston |oclc=1035393060}}</ref> The ] (1830–1850) was a U.S. government policy that forcibly removed and displaced most Native Americans living east of the ] to lands far to the west.{{Sfn|McPherson|1988|p=45}} These and earlier organized displacements prompted a long series of ] west of the Mississippi.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Michno |first=Gregory |title=Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850–1890 |date=2003 |publisher=Mountain Press Publishing |isbn=978-0-87842-468-9}}</ref><ref name="BillingtonRidge2001j2">{{cite book |author1=Billington, Ray Allen |url=https://archive.org/details/westwardexpansio00bill/page/22 |title=Westward Expansion: A History of the American Frontier |author2=Ridge, Martin |publisher=UNM Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8263-1981-4 |page= |author-link2=Martin Ridge (historian)}}</ref> The ] was ] in 1845,<ref name="Morrison19992">{{cite book |author=Morrison, Michael A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTaxzMlkVEMC&pg=PA13 |title=Slavery and the American West: The Eclipse of Manifest Destiny and the Coming of the Civil War |date=April 28, 1997 |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |isbn=978-0-8078-4796-1 |pages=13–21}}</ref> and the 1846 ] led to U.S. control of the present-day ].<ref name="Kemp20102">{{cite book |author=Kemp, Roger L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JHawgM-WnlUC&pg=PA180 |title=Documents of American Democracy: A Collection of Essential Works |publisher=McFarland |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7864-4210-2 |page=180 |access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> Victory in the ] resulted in the 1848 ] of California, Nevada, Utah, and much of present-day Colorado and the ].<ref name="MD20072" /><ref name="McIlwraithMuller20012">{{cite book |author1=McIlwraith, Thomas F. |url=https://archive.org/details/northamericahist00mcil/page/61 |title=North America: The Historical Geography of a Changing Continent |author2=Muller, Edward K. |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7425-0019-8 |page= |access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> The ] of 1848–1849 spurred a huge migration of white settlers to the Pacific coast, leading to even more confrontations with Native populations. One of the most violent, the ] of thousands of Native inhabitants, lasted into the early 1870s,<ref>
The ]{{efn|], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]}} that would become the United States of America were administered by the British as overseas dependencies.<ref name="BilhartzElliott2007">{{cite book|author1=Bilhartz, Terry D.|author2=Elliott, Alan C.|title=Currents in American History: A Brief History of the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J65Z_Ura2EIC&pg=PA7|year=2007|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=978-0-7656-1817-7}}</ref> All nonetheless had local governments with elections open to most free men.<ref name="Wood1998">{{cite book|author=Wood, Gordon S.|title=The Creation of the American Republic, 1776–1787|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kdDRJLxBhl4C&pg=PA263|year=1998|publisher=UNC Press Books|isbn=978-0-8078-4723-7|page=263}}</ref> With very high birth rates, low death rates, and steady settlement, the colonial population grew rapidly, eclipsing Native American populations.<ref>], pp. 38–39</ref> The ]ist movement of the 1730s and 1740s known as the ] fueled interest both in religion and in religious liberty.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Foner|first1=Eric|title=The Story of American Freedom|date=1998|publisher=W.W. Norton|isbn=978-0-393-04665-6|pages=–5|edition=1st|url=https://archive.org/details/storyofamericanf00fone|url-access=registration|quote=story of American freedom.}}</ref>
* {{harvnb|Meyer|Snow|Snow|Cohen|Meyer|Thornton|Grinde|Dilworth|2001|loc=From 1800 to 1900}}: "The discovery of gold in California in 1848 proved a momentous watershed for native people in the West. Hordes of single men stampeded to find fortune. Unrestrained by family, community, or church, they decimated the native population near the goldfields. California natives suffered the most complete genocide in U.S. history."
* {{cite web|url=https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/revealing-the-history-of-genocide-against-californias-native-americans|title=Revealing the history of genocide against California's Native Americans|last=Wolf|first=Jessica|website=UCLA Newsroom|language=en|access-date=July 8, 2018}}
* {{Cite book|last=Madley |first=Benjamin |date=2016 |title=An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873. |publisher=Yale University Press |url=https://archive.org/details/americangenocide0000madl |url-access=registration |isbn= 9780300230697}}
* {{harvnb|Smithers|2012|p=339}}: "The genocidal intent of California settlers and government officials was acted out in numerous battles and massacres (and aided by technological advances in weaponry, especially after the Civil War), in the abduction and sexual abuse of Indian women, and in the economic exploitation of Indian child labourers"
* {{harvnb|Blackhawk|2023|p=38}}: "With these works, a near consensus emerged. By most scholarly definitions and consistent with the UN Convention, these scholars all asserted that genocide against at least some Indigenous peoples had occurred in North America following colonisation, perpetuated first by colonial empires and then by independent nation-states"</ref> just as additional western territories and states were created.<ref name="Rawls1999">{{cite book|author=Rawls, James J.|title=A Golden State: Mining and Economic Development in Gold Rush California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UPUsIaHZTm0C&pg=PA20|year=1999|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-21771-3|page=20}}</ref>


During the colonial period, ], though the practice began to be significantly questioned during the American Revolution.{{sfnm|1a1=Walker Howe|1y=2007|1p=52–54|2a1=Wright|2y=2022}} States in ] enacted ],{{sfnm|1a1=Walker Howe|1y=2007|1p=52–54|2a1=Rodriguez|2y=2015|2p=XXXIV|3a1=Wright|3y=2022}} though support for slavery strengthened in ], as inventions such as the ] made the institution increasingly profitable for ].<ref>], p. 43</ref><ref>], pp. 27, 29</ref>{{sfn|Walker Howe|2007|p=478, 481–482, 587–588}} This ] regarding slavery ] in the ] (1861–1865).<ref>{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Stuart |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_sy7mmmxQC&pg=PA76 |title=Atlas of American Military History |publisher=Infobase Publishing |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-4381-3025-5 |page=76 |access-date=October 25, 2015}} {{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Harold T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kr-xNru5vZkC&pg=PA53 |title=Christian Social Witness |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-56101-188-9 |page=53}}</ref><ref name="Woods 2012 pp. 415–4392">{{cite journal |last=Woods |first=Michael E. |year=2012 |title=What Twenty-First-Century Historians Have Said about the Causes of Disunion: A Civil War Sesquicentennial Review of the Recent Literature |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/44306803 |journal=The Journal of American History |publisher= |volume=99 |issue=2 |pages=415–439 |doi=10.1093/jahist/jas272 |issn=0021-8723 |jstor=44306803 |access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref> Eleven slave states ] and formed the ], while the other states remained in ].<ref name="Silkenat 2019 p. 252">{{cite book |last=Silkenat |first=D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nHWKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA25 |title=Raising the White Flag: How Surrender Defined the American Civil War |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-4696-4973-3 |series=Civil War America |page=25 |access-date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>{{Sfn|McPherson|1988|p=236}} War broke out in April 1861 after the Confederates ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Vinovskis |first=Maris |title=Toward A Social History of the American Civil War: Exploratory Essays |date=1990 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-39559-5 |location=Cambridge; New York |page=4}}</ref>{{Sfn|McPherson|1988|pp=273–274}} After the January 1863 ], many freed slaves joined the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/blacks-civil-war/ |title=The Fight for Equal Rights: Black Soldiers in the Civil War|work=]|date=August 15, 2016|quote=By the end of the Civil War, roughly 179,000 black men (10% of the Union army) served as soldiers in the U.S. Army and another 19,000 served in the Navy.}}</ref> The war ] following the 1863 ] and ], and the Confederacy surrendered in 1865 after the Union's victory in the ].<ref>Davis, Jefferson. , 1890, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-175-82358-8}}. Available free online as an ebook. Chapter LXXXVIII, "Re-establishment of the Union by force", p. 503. Retrieved March 14, 2012.</ref> The ] followed the war. After ] of President ], ] were passed to ]. National infrastructure, including ] and ], spurred growth in the ].<ref name="Black2011kj2">{{cite book |last=Black |first=Jeremy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EIst_CSWOqIC&pg=PA275 |title=Fighting for America: The Struggle for Mastery in North America, 1519–1871 |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-253-35660-4 |page=275 |author-link=Jeremy Black (historian)}}</ref>
During the ] (1756–1763), known in the U.S. as the ], British forces captured Canada from the French. With the creation of the ], Canada's ] population would remain isolated from the English-speaking colonial dependencies of ], ] and the Thirteen Colonies. Excluding the Native Americans who lived there, the Thirteen Colonies had a population of over 2.1&nbsp;million in 1770, about a third that of Britain. Despite continuing new arrivals, the rate of natural increase was such that by the 1770s only a small minority of Americans had been born overseas.<ref>], p. 35</ref> The colonies' distance from Britain had allowed the development of self-government, but their unprecedented success motivated British monarchs to periodically seek to reassert royal authority.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved|url=https://archive.org/details/cihm_52678| author=Otis, James|year=1763|isbn=9780665526787 }}</ref>


=== Post&ndash;Civil War era (1865&ndash;1917) ===
===Independence and expansion===
{{further|American Revolution|Territorial evolution of the United States}} {{Main|History of the United States (1865–1917)}}
] film showing immigrants arriving at ] in ], a major point of entry for European ] in the late 19th and early 20th centuries<ref name="PriceBenton-Short2008">{{cite book|first1=Marie|last1=Price|first2=Lisa|last2=Benton-Short|title=Migrants to the Metropolis: The Rise of Immigrant Gateway Cities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Tb5HMB63xAC&pg=PA51|year=2008|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-8156-3186-6|page=51}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 4, 2020 |title=Overview + History {{!}} Ellis Island |url=https://www.statueofliberty.org/ellis-island/overview-history/ |access-date=September 10, 2021 |website=Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island |language=en}}</ref>]]
]'', a painting by ], depicts the ]{{efn|John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston}} presenting the draft of the ] to the ], June 28, 1776, in ].|alt=See caption]]


From 1865 through 1917, an unprecedented stream of immigrants arrived in the United States, including 24.4 million from Europe.<ref>U.S. Bureau of the Census, ''Historical Statistics of the United States'' (1976) series C89–C119, pp.&nbsp;105–109</ref> Most came through the ], and New York City and other large cities on the ] became home to large ], ], and ] populations, while many ] and Central Europeans moved to the ]. At the same time, about one million ] migrated from ] to ].<ref>Stephan Thernstrom, ed., ''Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups'' (1980) covers the history of all the main groups</ref> During the ], millions of African Americans ] for urban areas in the North.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2021 |title=The Great Migration (1910–1970) |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/migrations/great-migration |publisher=National Archives}}</ref> ] from ] in 1867.<ref>{{cite web |title=Purchase of Alaska, 1867 |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/alaska-purchase |access-date=December 23, 2014 |website=Office of the Historian |publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>
The ] fought by the Thirteen Colonies against the ] was the first successful ] by a non-European entity against a European power in ]. Americans had developed an ideology of "]", asserting that government rested on the will of the people as expressed in their local legislatures. They demanded their "]" and "]". The British insisted on administering the empire through Parliament, and the conflict escalated into war.<ref name="Humphrey2003">{{cite book|author=Humphrey, Carol Sue|title=The Revolutionary Era: Primary Documents on Events from 1776 To 1800|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=19NWMZ6Ec_sC&pg=PA8|year=2003|publisher=Greenwood Publishing|isbn=978-0-313-32083-5|pages=8–10}}</ref>


The ] effectively ended Reconstruction and ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Woodward |first=C. Vann |title=Reunion and Reaction: The Compromise of 1877 and the End of Reconstruction |date=1991 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=United Kingdom}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Drew Gilpin Faust |author-link=Drew Gilpin Faust |author2=Eric Foner |author2-link=Eric Foner |author3=Clarence E. Walker |author3-link=Clarence E. Walker |title=White Southern Responses to Black Emancipation |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/reconstruction-white-southern-responses-black-emancipation/ |work=]}}</ref> African Americans endured a period of heightened, overt racism following Reconstruction, a time often called the ].<ref name="ReferenceA2">{{cite book |last=Trelease |first=Allen W. |title=White Terror: The Ku Klux Klan Conspiracy and Southern Reconstruction |publisher=Harper & Row |year=1979 |isbn=0-313-21168-X |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Shearer Davis Bowman |url=https://archive.org/details/masterslordsmid10000bowm |title=Masters and Lords: Mid-19th-Century U.S. Planters and Prussian Junkers |publisher=Oxford UP |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-19-536394-4 |page= |url-access=registration}}</ref> A series of Supreme Court decisions, including '']'', emptied the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of their force, allowing ] in the South to remain unchecked, ]s in the Midwest, and ], which would be reinforced by the policy of ] later adopted by the federal ].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Plessy's Legacy: The Government's Role in the Development and Perpetuation of Segregated Neighborhoods |last=Ware |first=Leland |journal=RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences |date=February 2021 |pages=92–109 |volume=7 |issue=1 |doi=10.7758/rsf.2021.7.1.06 |s2cid=231929202 }}</ref>
In 1774, the ] passed the ], which mandated a colony-wide boycott of British goods. The ] began the following year, catalyzed by events like the ] and the ] that were rooted in colonial disagreement of British policies. A celebrated early turn in the war for the Americans was ] leading the charge to ] in a surprise overnight attack on Christmas 1775. The ], an assembly representing the ], unanimously adopted the ] on July&nbsp;4, 1776 (annually celebrated as ]).<ref name="YoungNash2011" /> In 1781, the ] and ] established a decentralized government that operated until 1789.<ref name="YoungNash2011">{{cite book|author1=Fabian Young, Alfred|author2=Nash, Gary B.|author3=Raphael, Ray|title=Revolutionary Founders: Rebels, Radicals, and Reformers in the Making of the Nation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QEzaLJ4u_MEC&pg=PA4|year=2011|publisher=Random House Digital|isbn=978-0-307-27110-5|pages=4–7}}</ref>


] accompanied by the exploitation of cheap immigrant labor<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hirschman |first1=Charles |last2=Mogford |first2=Elizabeth |date=December 1, 2009 |title=Immigration and the American Industrial Revolution From 1880 to 1920 |journal=Social Science Research |volume=38 |issue=4 |pages=897–920 |doi=10.1016/j.ssresearch.2009.04.001 |issn=0049-089X |pmc=2760060 |pmid=20160966}}</ref> led to ], allowing the United States to outpace the economies of England, France, and Germany combined.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Carson |first1=Thomas |last2=Bonk |first2=Mary |title=Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History |date=1999 |publisher=Gale |chapter=Industrial Revolution}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Riggs |first1=Thomas |title=Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History Vol. 3 |date=2015 |publisher=Gale |page=1179 |edition=2}}</ref> This fostered the amassing of power by ], largely by their formation of ] and ] to prevent competition.<ref name="Atlantic2">{{Cite journal |last=Dole |first=Charles F. |year=1907 |title=The Ethics of Speculation |journal=] |volume=C |issue=December 1907 |pages=812–818}}</ref> ]s led the nation's expansion in the ], ], and ] industries. The United States emerged as a pioneer of the ].<ref>{{cite web |author1=The Pit Boss |date=February 26, 2021 |title=The Pit Stop: The American Automotive Industry Is Packed With History |url=https://pitstop.rumbleon.com/american-automotive-history |access-date=December 5, 2021 |website=Rumble On}}</ref> These changes were accompanied by significant increases in ], ], and ], creating the environment for ].<ref>Tindall, George Brown and Shi, David E. (2012). ''America: A Narrative History (Brief Ninth Edition) (Vol. 2).'' ]. {{ISBN|978-0-393-91267-8}}, p. 589</ref><ref>], pp. 321–357</ref><ref name="Fraser2">{{cite book |last=Fraser |first=Steve |title=The Age of Acquiescence: The Life and Death of American Resistance to Organized Wealth and Power |publisher=] |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-316-18543-1 |page=66}}</ref> This period eventually ended with the advent of the ], which was characterized by significant reforms.<ref name="Aldrich2">Aldrich, Mark. ''Safety First: Technology, Labor and Business in the Building of Work Safety, 1870-1939.'' Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997. {{ISBN|0-8018-5405-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929 {{!}} U.S. History Primary Source Timeline {{!}} Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress {{!}} Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/progressive-era-to-new-era-1900-1929/overview/ |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref>
After its defeat at the ] in 1781, Britain signed a ].


Pro-American elements in Hawaii ]; the islands ] in 1898. That same year, ], ], and ] were ceded to the U.S. by Spain after the latter's defeat in the ]. (The Philippines was granted full independence from the U.S. on July 4, 1946, following World War II. Puerto Rico and Guam have remained U.S. territories.)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Spanish–American War, 1898 |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/spanish-american-war |access-date=December 24, 2014 |website=Office of the Historian |publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> ] was acquired by the United States in 1900 after the ].<ref>Ryden, George Herbert. ''The Foreign Policy of the United States in Relation to Samoa''. New York: Octagon Books, 1975.</ref> The ] were purchased from ] in 1917.<ref>{{cite web |title=Virgin Islands History |url=https://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/history/ |access-date=January 5, 2018 |publisher=Vinow.com}}</ref>
American sovereignty became internationally recognized, and the country was granted all lands east of the Mississippi River.


=== Rise as a superpower (1917&ndash;1945) ===
Nationalists led the ] of 1787 in writing the ], ] in state conventions in 1788. ] in 1789, this constitution reorganized the federal government into three branches, on the principle of creating salutary checks and balances. ], who had led the ] to victory, was the first ] elected under the new constitution. The ], forbidding federal restriction of ] and guaranteeing a range of legal protections, was adopted in 1791.<ref name="BoyerJr.2007">], pp. 192–193</ref>
{{Main|History of the United States (1917–1945)}}
] in 1945, part of the ] and the first detonation of a ]. The World Wars permanently ended ] and left it as a ].]]


The United States ] alongside the ], helping to turn the tide against the ].<ref>McDuffie, Jerome; Piggrem, Gary Wayne; Woodworth, Steven E. (2005). ''U.S. History Super Review''. Piscataway, NJ: Research & Education Association. p. 418. {{ISBN|978-0-7386-0070-3}}.</ref> In 1920, ] granted nationwide ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Larson |first1=Elizabeth C. |last2=Meltvedt |first2=Kristi R. |year=2021 |title=Women's suffrage: fact sheet |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R45805 |journal=CRS Reports (Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service) |series=Report / Congressional Research Service |access-date=August 9, 2023}}</ref> During the 1920s and '30s, radio for ] and the invention of early television transformed communications nationwide.{{sfn|Winchester|2013|pp=410–411}} The ] triggered the ], which President ] responded to with the ], a series of ] and ] combined with financial reforms and ]. All were intended to protect against future economic depressions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Axinn |first1=June |title=Social Welfare: A History of the American Response to Need |last2=Stern |first2=Mark J. |publisher=Allyn & Bacon |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-205-52215-6 |edition=7th |location=Boston}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=James Noble Gregory |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qNdtGwnXYrIC |title=American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture in California |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-19-507136-8 |access-date=October 25, 2015}} {{cite web |author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line. --> |year=2013 |title=Mass Exodus From the Plains |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/dustbowl-mass-exodus-plains/ |access-date=October 5, 2014 |website=American Experience |publisher=WGBH Educational Foundation}} {{cite web |last1=Fanslow |first1=Robin A. |date=April 6, 1997 |title=The Migrant Experience |url=https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/afctshtml/tsme.html |access-date=October 5, 2014 |website=American Folklore Center |publisher=Library of Congress}} {{cite book |last=Stein |first=Walter J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGuGAAAAIAAJ |title=California and the Dust Bowl Migration |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=1973 |isbn=978-0-8371-6267-6 |access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref>
Tensions with Britain remained, however, leading to the ], which was fought to a draw.<ref name="Wait1999">{{cite book|author=Wait, Eugene M.|title=America and the War of 1812|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puuQ30N0EsIC&pg=PA78|year=1999|publisher=Nova Publishers|isbn=978-1-56072-644-9|page=78}}</ref>


] during ], the U.S. began ] to the ] in March 1941 and ] in December after the ]'s attack on ].<ref>The official WRA record from 1946 states that it was 120,000 people. See {{cite book |author=] |url=https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-282-5/ |title=The Evacuated People: A Quantitative Study |year=1946 |page=8}} This number does not include people held in other camps such as those run by the DoJ or U.S. Army. Other sources may give numbers slightly more or less than 120,000.</ref><ref name="Pearl Harbor2">{{cite web |last1=Yamasaki |first1=Mitch |title=Pearl Harbor and America's Entry into World War II: A Documentary History |url=https://www.hawaiiinternment.org/static/ush_yamasaki_documentary_history.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213122046/https://www.hawaiiinternment.org/static/ush_yamasaki_documentary_history.pdf |archive-date=December 13, 2014 |access-date=January 14, 2015 |publisher=World War II Internment in Hawaii}}</ref> The U.S. ] and ] in August 1945, ending the war.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Why did Japan surrender in World War II? |language=en |newspaper=The Japan Times |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/06/commentary/japan-surrender-world-war-ii/ |access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>Pacific War Research Society (2006). ''Japan's Longest Day''. New York: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-4-7700-2887-7}}.</ref> The United States was one of the "]" who met to plan the ], alongside the ], ], and ].{{sfn|Hoopes|Brinkley|1997|p=100}}{{sfn|Gaddis|1972|p=25}} The U.S. emerged relatively unscathed from the war, with even greater ] and ].<ref>Kennedy, Paul (1989). ''The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers''. New York: Vintage. p. 358. {{ISBN|978-0-679-72019-5}}</ref>
Although the federal government ] American participation in the Atlantic slave trade in 1807, after 1820, cultivation of the highly profitable cotton crop exploded in the ], and along with it, the slave population.<ref name="Cogliano2008">{{cite book|author=Cogliano, Francis D.|title=Thomas Jefferson: Reputation and Legacy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1f-wAfE0mpsC&pg=PA219|year=2008|publisher=University of Virginia Press|isbn=978-0-8139-2733-6|page=219}}</ref><ref>], p. 43</ref><ref>], pp. 27,29</ref> The ], especially in the period 1800–1840, converted millions to ] Protestantism. In the North, it energized multiple social reform movements, including ];<ref name="Clark2012iu">{{cite book|author=Clark, Mary Ann|title=Then We'll Sing a New Song: African Influences on America's Religious Landscape|url=https://archive.org/details/thenwellsingnews0000clar/page/47|date=May 2012|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-4422-0881-0|page= }}</ref> in the South, Methodists and Baptists proselytized among slave populations.<ref>Heinemann, Ronald L., et al., Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: a history of Virginia 1607–2007, 2007 {{ISBN|978-0-8139-2609-4}}, p. 197</ref>


=== Cold War (1945&ndash;1991) ===
Beginning in the late 18th century, American settlers began to ],<ref name="MD2007">{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/659807062 |title=Manifest destiny and the expansion of America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1-85109-834-7 |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |oclc=659807062|last1=Carlisle|first1=Rodney P.|last2=Golson|first2=J. Geoffrey|publisher=ABC-CLIO|series=Turning Points in History Series|page=238}}</ref> prompting a long series of ].<ref name="BillingtonRidge2001j">{{cite book|author1=Billington, Ray Allen|author2=Ridge, Martin|author-link2=Martin Ridge (historian)|title=Westward Expansion: A History of the American Frontier|url=https://archive.org/details/westwardexpansio00bill/page/22|year=2001|publisher=UNM Press|isbn=978-0-8263-1981-4|page= }}</ref>
{{Main|Cold War}}
] between 1783 and 1917]]
{{Further|History of the United States (1945&ndash;1964)|History of the United States (1964–1980)|History of the United States (1980–1991)}}
The 1803 ] almost doubled the nation's area,<ref>{{cite web|title=Louisiana Purchase|publisher=National Park Services|url=https://www.nps.gov/jeff/historyculture/upload/louisiana_purchase.pdf|access-date=March 1, 2011}}</ref> ] and other Gulf Coast territory in 1819,<ref name="KloseJones1994">{{cite book|author1=Klose, Nelson|author2=Jones, Robert F.|title=United States History to 1877|url=https://archive.org/details/unitedstateshist00klos_0/page/150|year=1994|publisher=Barron's Educational Series|isbn=978-0-8120-1834-9|page= }}</ref> the ] was ] in 1845 during a period of expansionism,<ref name="Morrison1999">{{cite book|author=Morrison, Michael A.|title=Slavery and the American West: The Eclipse of Manifest Destiny and the Coming of the Civil War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTaxzMlkVEMC&pg=PA13|date=April 28, 1997|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|isbn=978-0-8078-4796-1|pages=13–21}}</ref> and the 1846 ] with Britain led to U.S. control of the present-day ].<ref name="Kemp2010">{{cite book|author=Kemp, Roger L.|title=Documents of American Democracy: A Collection of Essential Works|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JHawgM-WnlUC&pg=PA180|year=2010|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-4210-2|page=180|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> Victory in the ] resulted in the 1848 ] of ] and much of the present-day ], making the U.S. span the continent.<ref name="MD2007" /><ref name="McIlwraithMuller2001">{{cite book|author1=McIlwraith, Thomas F.|author2=Muller, Edward K.|title=North America: The Historical Geography of a Changing Continent|url=https://archive.org/details/northamericahist00mcil/page/61|year=2001|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-7425-0019-8|page=|access-date=October 25, 2015 }}</ref>
] and ] sign the ] at the ] in 1987.]]
After World War II, the United States entered the Cold War, where geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union led the two countries to ].<ref name="Blakemore-20192">{{cite web |last=Blakemore |first=Erin |date=March 22, 2019 |title=What was the Cold War? |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/topics/reference/cold-war/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401192349/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/topics/reference/cold-war/ |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=August 28, 2020 |website=National Geographic |language=en}}</ref><ref>Mark Kramer, "The Soviet Bloc and the Cold War in Europe," in {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EyNcCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT174 |title=A Companion to Europe Since 1945 |publisher=Wiley |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-118-89024-0 |editor-last=Larresm |editor-first=Klaus |page=79}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sempa |first=Francis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Px4uDwAAQBAJ |title=Geopolitics: From the Cold War to the 21st Century |date=July 12, 2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-51768-3}}</ref> The U.S. utilized the policy of ] to limit the USSR's sphere of influence, and prevailed in the ], which culminated with the ] in 1969.<ref>], </ref><ref name="Proxy2">{{cite book |last=Collins |first=Michael |url=https://archive.org/details/liftoff00coll |title=Liftoff: The Story of America's Adventure in Space |publisher=Grove Press |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-8021-1011-4 |location=New York |author-link=Michael Collins (astronaut) |url-access=registration}}</ref> Domestically, the U.S. ], ], and ].{{sfn|Winchester|2013|pp=305–308}} The ] emerged, with ] becoming a prominent leader in the early 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Civil Rights Movement |url=https://www.pbs.org/johngardner/chapters/4b.html |access-date=January 5, 2019 |publisher=PBS}}</ref> The ] plan of President ]'s administration resulted in groundbreaking and broad-reaching laws, policies and a constitutional amendment to counteract some of the worst effects of lingering ].<ref>{{cite book|first= Alan|last=Brinkley|chapter= Great Society |title=The Reader's Companion to American History|date=January 24, 1991 |editor1=Eric Foner|editor2=John Arthur Garraty|isbn=0-395-51372-3|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Books|page=472}}</ref> The ] in the U.S. brought significant social changes, including the liberalization of attitudes toward ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2022 |title=Playboy: American Magazine |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Playboy |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=] |quote=...the so-called sexual revolution in the United States in the 1960s, marked by greatly more permissive attitudes toward sexual interest and activity than had been prevalent in earlier generations.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Svetlana Ter-Grigoryan |date=February 12, 2022 |title=The Sexual Revolution Origins and Impact |url=https://study.com/learn/lesson/sexual-liberation-movement-origin-timeline-impact-revolution.html |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=study.com}}</ref> It also encouraged ] (leading to the ] in 1973) and ] to ] (with the U.S. totally withdrawing in 1975).<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Levy |first=Daniel |date=January 19, 2018 |title=Behind the Protests Against the Vietnam War in 1968 |url=https://time.com/5106608/protest-1968/?amp=true |magazine=] |access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref> A ] was significantly responsible for the large increase in female paid labor participation during the 1970s, and by 1985 the majority of American women aged 16 and older were employed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Women in the Labor Force: A Databook|url=https://www.bls.gov/cps/wlf-databook-2012.pdf|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|access-date=March 21, 2014|page=11|year=2013}}</ref> The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the ] and the ], which marked the end of the Cold War and ].<ref name="Gaidar2">{{cite book |last=Gaĭdar |first=E.T. |url={{GBUrl|bDSfnxYjVwAC|pg=PA102}} |title=Collapse of an Empire: Lessons for Modern Russia |publisher=] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8157-3114-6 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=190–205}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Howell |first=Buddy Wayne |title=The Rhetoric of Presidential Summit Diplomacy: Ronald Reagan and the U.S.-Soviet Summits, 1985–1988 |publisher=Texas A&M University |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-549-41658-6 |page=352}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Kissinger |first=Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0IZboamhb5EC&pg=PA731 |title=Diplomacy |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4391-2631-8 |pages=781–784 |author-link=Henry Kissinger |access-date=October 25, 2015}} {{cite book |last=Mann |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BgZyXNIrvB4C&pg=PT12 |title=The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan: A History of the End of the Cold War |publisher=Penguin |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4406-8639-9 |page=432}}</ref><ref>]</ref>


=== Contemporary (1991&ndash;present) ===
The ] of 1848–1849 spurred migration to the Pacific coast, which led to the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/revealing-the-history-of-genocide-against-californias-native-americans|title=Revealing the history of genocide against California's Native Americans|last=Wolf|first=Jessica|website=UCLA Newsroom|language=en|access-date=July 8, 2018}}</ref> and the creation of additional western states.<ref name="Rawls1999">{{cite book|author=Rawls, James J.|title=A Golden State: Mining and Economic Development in Gold Rush California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UPUsIaHZTm0C&pg=PA20|year=1999|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-21771-3|page=20}}</ref> ] was spurred by giving vast quantities of land, nearly 10% of the total area of the United States, to white European settlers as part of the ], as well as making ] to private railroad companies and colleges.<ref>Paul Frymer, "Building an American Empire: The Era of Territorial and Political Expansion," (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2017)</ref> After the Civil War, new transcontinental ] made relocation easier for settlers, expanded internal trade, and increased conflicts with Native Americans.<ref name="Black2011kj">{{cite book|last=Black|first=Jeremy|author-link=Jeremy Black (historian)|title=Fighting for America: The Struggle for Mastery in North America, 1519–1871|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EIst_CSWOqIC&pg=PA275|year=2011|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-35660-4|page=275}}</ref>
{{Main|History of the United States (1991–2008)|History of the United States (2008–present)}}
] in New York City during the ] in 2001]]


The 1990s saw the ], a dramatic ], and ]. Throughout this decade, technological innovations such as the ], the evolution of the ] in accordance with ], rechargeable ], the first ] trial, and ] either emerged in the U.S. or were improved upon there. The ] was formally launched in 1990, while ] became the first stock market in the United States to trade online in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |last=((CFI Team)) |title=NASDAQ |url=https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career-map/sell-side/capital-markets/nasdaq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211163114/https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career-map/sell-side/capital-markets/nasdaq/ |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |website=Corporate Finance Institute |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Civil War and Reconstruction era===
{{main|American Civil War|Reconstruction era}}
[[File:US Secession map 1861.svg|thumb|{{center|'''Status of the states, 1861'''}} {{legend|#A40000| Slave states that seceded before April 15, 1861}} {{legend|#EF2929| Slave states that seceded after April 15, 1861}} {{legend|#FCE94F| Union states that permitted slavery (border states)}} {{legend|#204A87| Union states that banned slavery}}
{{legend|#D3D7CF| Territories}}|alt=Map of U.S. showing two kinds of Union states, two phases of secession and territories]]


In the ] of 1991, an ] expelled an ] invasion force that had occupied neighboring ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Holsti|first=Ole R.|author-link=Ole R. Holsti|title=American Public Opinion on the Iraq War|page=20|chapter=The United States and Iraq before the Iraq War|date=November 7, 2011|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-472-03480-2}}</ref> The ] on the United States in 2001 by the ] militant organization ] led to the ], and subsequent ] and ].<ref>{{cite news |author=Walsh, Kenneth T. |date=December 9, 2008 |title=The 'War on Terror' Is Critical to President George W. Bush's Legacy |newspaper=U.S. News & World Report |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/12/09/the-war-on-terror-is-critical-to-president-george-w-bushs-legacy |access-date=March 6, 2013}} {{cite book |last=Atkins |first=Stephen E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PDDIgWRN_HQC&pg=PA210 |title=The 9/11 Encyclopedia: Second Edition |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-59884-921-9 |page=872 |access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wong |first=Edward |date=February 15, 2008 |title=Overview: The Iraq War |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/ref/timestopics/topics_iraq.html |access-date=March 7, 2013}} {{cite book |last=Johnson |first=James Turner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SF7U27JsLC4C&q=iraq+invasion+removes+hussein |title=The War to Oust Saddam Hussein: Just War and the New Face of Conflict |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7425-4956-2 |page=159 |access-date=October 25, 2015}} {{cite news |author=Durando, Jessica |author2=Green, Shannon Rae |date=December 21, 2011 |title=Timeline: Key moments in the Iraq War |newspaper=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/story/2011-12-21/iraq-war-timeline/52147680/1 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904084312/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/story/2011-12-21/iraq-war-timeline/52147680/1 |archive-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref> The ] was profound and long-lasting.
Irreconcilable sectional conflict regarding ] of ] and ] ultimately ].<ref>{{cite book|author=Stuart Murray|title=Atlas of American Military History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_sy7mmmxQC&pg=PA76|year=2004|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-3025-5|page=76|access-date=October 25, 2015}}<br />{{cite book|author=Harold T. Lewis|title=Christian Social Witness|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kr-xNru5vZkC&pg=PA53|year=2001|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-56101-188-9|page=53}}</ref> With the ] of Republican ], conventions in thirteen slave states declared secession and formed the ] (the "South" or the "Confederacy"), while the federal government (the "]") maintained that secession was illegal.<ref>{{cite book|last1=O'Brien|first1=Patrick Karl|title=Atlas of World History|date=2002|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-19-521921-0|page=184|edition=Concise}}</ref> In order to bring about this secession, military action was initiated by the secessionists, and the Union responded in kind. The ensuing war would become the deadliest military conflict in American history, resulting in the deaths of approximately 620,000 soldiers as well as upwards of 50,000 civilians.<ref>{{cite book|last=Vinovskis|first=Maris|date=1990|title=Toward A Social History of the American Civil War: Exploratory Essays|page=4|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge; New York|isbn=978-0-521-39559-5}}</ref>


The ] culminated in 2007 with the ], the largest economic contraction since the Great Depression.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hilsenrath |first1=Jon |last2=Ng |first2=Serena |last3=Paletta |first3=Damian |date=September 18, 2008 |title=Worst Crisis Since '30s, With No End Yet in Sight |work=] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122169431617549947 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225040616/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122169431617549947 |archive-date=December 25, 2014 |issn=1042-9840 |oclc=781541372}}</ref> Coming to a head in the 2010s, ] increased between liberal and conservative factions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geiger |first=Abigail |date=June 12, 2014 |title=Political Polarization in the American Public |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/06/12/political-polarization-in-the-american-public/ |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Mark |last2=Marquez |first2=Alexandra |date=June 15, 2023 |title=Here's what's driving America's increasing political polarization|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/s-s-driving-americas-increasing-political-polarization-rcna89559 |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamid |first=Shadi |date=January 8, 2022 |title=The Forever Culture War |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/01/republicans-democrats-forever-culture-war/621184/ |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> This polarization was capitalized upon in the ],<ref name="Kleinfeld-2023">{{cite web |last1=Kleinfeld |first1=Rachel |title=Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/09/polarization-democracy-and-political-violence-in-the-united-states-what-the-research-says?lang=en |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |access-date=13 September 2024 |date=September 5, 2023}}</ref> when a mob of insurrectionists<ref name="Pape-2022">{{cite web |last1=Pape|first1=Robert|author1-link=Robert Pape|title=American Face of Insurrection: Analysis of Individuals Charged for Storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021|url=https://cpost.uchicago.edu/publications/american_face_of_insurrection/ |website=cpost.uchicago.edu |publisher=University of Chicago, Chicago Project on Security and Threats|access-date=13 September 2024 |date=January 5, 2022}}</ref> entered the ] and sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rutenberg |first1=Jim |last2=Becker |first2=Jo |last3=Lipton |first3=Eric |last4=Haberman |first4=Maggie |last5=Martin |first5=Jonathan |last6=Rosenberg |first6=Matthew |last7=Schmidt |first7=Michael S. |title=77 Days: Trump's Campaign to Subvert the Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/trump-election-lie.html |work=The New York Times |date=January 31, 2021 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20220618170015/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/trump-election-lie.html |archivedate=June 18, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> in an ].<ref name="Multiple Sources">{{multiref2|{{Cite book |last=Harvey |first=Michael |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003110361-1/introduction-michael-harvey |title=Donald Trump in Historical Perspective |date=2022 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-003-11036-1 |editor-last=Harvey |editor-first=Michael |chapter=Introduction: History's Rhymes |doi=10.4324/9781003110361-1 |quote = As with the Beer Hall Putsch, a would-be leader tried to take advantage of an already scheduled event (in Hitler's case, Kahr's speech; in Trump's, Congress's tallying of the electoral votes) to create a dramatic moment with himself at the center of attention, calling for bold action to upend the political order. Unlike Hitler's coup attempt, Trump already held top of office, so he was attempting to hold onto power, not seize it (the precise term for Trump's intended action is a 'self-coup' or 'autogolpe'). Thus, Trump was able to plan for the event well in advance, and with much greater control, including developing the legal arguments that could be used to justify rejecting the election's results. (p. 3)}}|{{cite journal |last1=Pion-Berlin |first1=David |last2=Bruneau |first2=Thomas |last3=Goetze |first3=Richard B. Jr.|date=2022-04-07 |title=The Trump self-coup attempt: comparisons and civil–military relations |journal=Government and Opposition |volume=FirstView |issue=4 |pages=789–806 |doi=10.1017/gov.2022.13 |s2cid=248033246 |doi-access=free }}|{{cite journal |author1-last=Castañeda |author1-first=Ernesto |author2-last=Jenks |author2-first=Daniel |date=April 17, 2023 |title=January 6th and De-Democratization in the United States |editor-last1=Costa |editor-first1=Bruno Ferreira |editor-last2=Parton|editor-first2=Nigel|journal=Social Sciences |publisher=] |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=238 |doi=10.3390/socsci12040238 |doi-access=free |issn=2076-0760|quote=What the United States went through on January 6th was an attempt at a self-coup, where Trump would use force to stay as head of state even if abandoning democratic practices in the U.S. Some advised Trump to declare martial law to create a state of emergency and use that as an excuse to stay in power.}}|{{Cite report |url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/trump-on-trial/ |title=Trump on Trial: A Guide to the January 6 Hearings and the Question of Criminality |last1=Eisen |first1=Norman |last2=Ayer |first2=Donald |date=2022-06-06 |publisher=Brookings Institution |language=en-US |quote= tried to delegitimize the election results by disseminating a series of far fetched and evidence-free claims of fraud. Meanwhile, with a ring of close confidants, Trump conceived and implemented unprecedented schemes to{{snd}}in his own words{{snd}}"overturn" the election outcome. Among the results of this "Big Lie" campaign were the terrible events of January 6, 2021{{snd}}an inflection point in what we now understand was nothing less than an attempted coup. |last3=Perry |first3=Joshua |last4=Bookbinder |first4=Noah |last5=Perry |first5=E. Danya |access-date=December 16, 2023}}|{{cite court|litigants=Eastman v Thompson, et al. |opinion= 8:22-cv-00099-DOC-DFM Document 260 |pinpoint=44 |court=S.D. Cal. |date=May 28, 2022 |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.841840/gov.uscourts.cacd.841840.260.0.pdf |access-date=December 16, 2023 |quote=Dr. Eastman and President Trump launched a campaign to overturn a democratic election, an action unprecedented in American history. Their campaign was not confined to the ivory tower{{snd}}it was a coup in search of a legal theory. The plan spurred violent attacks on the seat of our nation's government, led to the deaths of several law enforcement officers, and deepened public distrust in our political process... If Dr. Eastman and President Trump's plan had worked, it would have permanently ended the peaceful transition of power, undermining American democracy and the Constitution. If the country does not commit to investigating and pursuing accountability for those responsible, the Court fears January 6 will repeat itself.}}|{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=January 6, 2021 |title=This Is a Coup |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/attempted-coup/617570/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106224049/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/attempted-coup/617570/ |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=] }}|{{Cite web|last=Musgrave|first=Paul|date=January 6, 2021|title=This Is a Coup. Why Were Experts So Reluctant to See It Coming?|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/06/coup-america-capitol-electoral-college-2020-election/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106235812/https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/06/coup-america-capitol-electoral-college-2020-election/|archive-date=January 6, 2021|access-date=December 16, 2023|website=Foreign Policy}}|{{Cite web|last=Solnit|first=Rebecca|date=January 6, 2021|title=Call it what it was: a coup attempt|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/06/trump-mob-storm-capitol-washington-coup-attempt|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107000436/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/06/trump-mob-storm-capitol-washington-coup-attempt|archive-date=January 7, 2021|access-date=December 16, 2023|website=The Guardian}}|{{Cite web|last=Coleman|first=Justine|date=January 6, 2021|title=GOP lawmaker on violence at Capitol: 'This is a coup attempt'|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/532944-gop-lawmaker-on-violence-at-capitol-this-is-a-coup-attempt|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106212600/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/532944-gop-lawmaker-on-violence-at-capitol-this-is-a-coup-attempt|archive-date=January 6, 2021|access-date=December 16, 2023|website=] }}|{{Cite web|last=Jacobson|first=Louis|date=January 6, 2021|title=Is this a coup? Here's some history and context to help you decide|url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2021/jan/06/coup-heres-some-history-and-context-help-you-decid/|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=] |quote=A good case can be made that the storming of the Capitol qualifies as a coup. It's especially so because the rioters entered at precisely the moment when the incumbent's loss was to be formally sealed, and they succeeded in stopping the count.}}|{{Cite news|last1=Barry|first1=Dan|last2=Frenkel|first2=Sheera|date=January 7, 2021|title='Be There. Will Be Wild!': Trump All but Circled the Date|work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/us/politics/capitol-mob-trump-supporters.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/us/politics/capitol-mob-trump-supporters.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |access-date=December 16, 2023}}|{{cite encyclopedia |last=Duignan |first=Brian |date=2021-08-04 |title=January 6 U.S. Capitol attack |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/January-6-U-S-Capitol-attack |url-status=live |access-date=2021-09-22 |encyclopedia=] |quote=Because its object was to prevent a legitimate president-elect from assuming office, the attack was widely regarded as an insurrection or attempted coup d'état.|language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117232629/https://www.britannica.com/event/January-6-U-S-Capitol-attack |archive-date=2023-01-17}}
] began in earnest following the war. While President Lincoln attempted to foster friendship and forgiveness between the Union and the former Confederacy, ] on April&nbsp;14, 1865 drove a wedge between North and South again. Republicans in the federal government made it their goal to oversee the rebuilding of the South and to ensure the rights of African Americans. They persisted until the ] when the Republicans agreed to cease protecting the rights of African Americans in the South in order for Democrats to concede the ]. Southern white Democrats, calling themselves "]", took control of the South after the end of Reconstruction, beginning the ]. From 1890 to 1910, the Redeemers established so-called ], ] most blacks and some impoverished whites throughout the region. Blacks would face ] nationwide, especially in the South.<ref>{{cite book|author=Shearer Davis Bowman|title=Masters and Lords: Mid-19th-Century U.S. Planters and Prussian Junkers|url=https://archive.org/details/masterslordsmid10000bowm|url-access=registration|year=1993|publisher=Oxford UP|page=|isbn=978-0-19-536394-4 }}</ref> They also occasionally experienced vigilante violence, including ].<ref>{{cite book|author=Jason E. Pierce|title=Making the White Man's West: Whiteness and the Creation of the American West|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zJPgCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT256|year=2016|publisher=University Press of Colorado|page=256|isbn=978-1-60732-396-9 }}</ref>
}}</ref>

===Further immigration, expansion, and industrialization===
{{Main|Economic history of the United States| Immigration to the United States|Technological and industrial history of the United States}}
] showing immigrants disembarking at ] in ], which served as a major entry point for European ] into the U.S.<ref name="PriceBenton-Short2008">{{cite book|author1=Marie Price|author2=Lisa Benton-Short|title=Migrants to the Metropolis: The Rise of Immigrant Gateway Cities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Tb5HMB63xAC&pg=PA51|year=2008|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-8156-3186-6|page=51}}</ref>]]

In the North, ] and an unprecedented ] from ] and ] supplied a surplus of labor for the country's industrialization and transformed its culture.<ref name="Powell2009qwet">{{cite book|author=John Powell|title=Encyclopedia of North American Immigration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VNCX6UsdZYkC&pg=PA74|year=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-1012-7|page=74|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> National infrastructure, including ] and ], spurred economic growth and greater settlement and development of the ]. The later invention of ] and the ] would also affect communication and urban life.{{sfn|Winchester|2013|pp=351, 385}}

The United States fought Indian Wars west of the ] from 1810 to at least 1890.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850–1890|last=Michno|first=Gregory|date=2003|publisher=Mountain Press Publishing|isbn=978-0-87842-468-9}}</ref> Most of these conflicts ended with the cession of Native American territory and their confinement to ]s. Additionally, the ] in the 1830s exemplified the ] that forcibly resettled Indians. This further expanded acreage under mechanical cultivation, increasing surpluses for international markets. Mainland expansion also included the ] from ] in 1867.<ref>{{cite web|title=Purchase of Alaska, 1867|url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/alaska-purchase|publisher=U.S. Department of State|website=Office of the Historian|access-date=December 23, 2014}}</ref> In 1893, pro-American elements in Hawaii ] the ] and formed the ], which the U.S. ] in 1898. Puerto Rico, ], and the ] were ceded by Spain in the same year, following the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Spanish–American War, 1898|url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/spanish-american-war|publisher=U.S. Department of State|website=Office of the Historian|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> ] was acquired by the United States in 1900 after the end of the ].<ref>Ryden, George Herbert. ''The Foreign Policy of the United States in Relation to Samoa''. New York: Octagon Books, 1975.</ref> The ] were purchased from ] in 1917.<ref>{{cite web|title=Virgin Islands History|url=https://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/history/|publisher=Vinow.com|access-date=January 5, 2018}}</ref>

] during the late 19th and early 20th centuries fostered the rise of many prominent industrialists. ] like ], ], and ] led the nation's progress in the ], ], and ] industries. Banking became a major part of the economy, with ] playing a notable role. The American economy boomed, becoming the world's largest.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kirkland|first1=Edward|title=Industry Comes of Age: Business, Labor, and Public Policy|pages=400–405|edition=1961}}</ref> These dramatic changes were accompanied by growing inequality and social unrest, which prompted the rise of ] along with ], ], and ] movements.<ref>], pp. 321–357</ref> This period eventually ended with the advent of the ], which saw significant reforms including ], ], regulation of consumer goods, and greater ] to ensure competition and attention to worker conditions.<ref>Paige Meltzer, "The Pulse and Conscience of America" The General Federation and Women's Citizenship, 1945–1960,"&nbsp;''Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies''&nbsp;(2009), Vol. 30 Issue 3, pp. 52–76.</ref><ref>James Timberlake,&nbsp;''Prohibition and the Progressive Movement, 1900–1920''&nbsp;(Harvard UP, 1963)</ref><ref>George B. Tindall, "Business Progressivism: Southern Politics in the Twenties,"&nbsp;''South Atlantic Quarterly''&nbsp;62 (Winter 1963): 92–106.</ref>

===World War I, Great Depression, and World War II===
{{further|United States in World War I|Great Depression in the United States|Military history of the United States during World War II}}
] in ] in 1930; it replaced the ] (''in background'') as the world's tallest building, a status it held up until the 1973 opening of the ].]]
] formed by the ] in July 1945, part of the ], the first detonation of a ] in history]]

The United States remained neutral from the outbreak of ] in 1914 until 1917 when it joined the war as an "associated power" alongside the ], helping to turn the tide against the ]. In 1919, President ] took a leading diplomatic role at the ] and advocated strongly for the U.S. to join the ]. However, the Senate refused to approve this and did not ratify the ] that established the League of Nations.<ref name="autogenerated418">McDuffie, Jerome; Piggrem, Gary Wayne; Woodworth, Steven E. (2005). ''U.S. History Super Review''. Piscataway, NJ: Research & Education Association. p. 418. {{ISBN|978-0-7386-0070-3}}.</ref>

In 1920, the women's rights movement won passage of a ] granting ].<ref name="voris">{{cite book|last1=Voris|first1=Jacqueline Van|title=Carrie Chapman Catt: A Public Life|series=Women and Peace Series|year=1996|publisher=Feminist Press at CUNY|location=New York City|isbn=978-1-55861-139-9|page=vii|quote=Carrie Chapmann Catt led an army of voteless women in 1919 to pressure Congress to pass the constitutional amendment giving them the right to vote and convinced state legislatures to ratify it in 1920.&nbsp;... Catt was one of the best-known women in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century and was on all lists of famous American women.}}</ref> The 1920s and 1930s saw the rise of ] for ] and the invention of early ].{{sfn|Winchester|2013|pp=410–411}} The prosperity of the ] ended with the ] and the onset of the ]. The ] was the world’s tallest ] when it opened in 1931, during the Depression era. After his election as president in 1932, ] responded with the ].<ref>{{cite book|title=Social Welfare: A History of the American Response to Need|first1=June|last1=Axinn|first2=Mark J.|last2=Stern|isbn=978-0-205-52215-6|edition=7th|publisher=Allyn & Bacon|location=Boston|year=2007}}</ref> The ] of millions of African Americans out of the American South began before World War I and extended through the 1960s;<ref>{{cite book|last=Lemann|first=Nicholas|title=The Promised Land: The Great Black Migration and How It Changed America|page=6|year=1991|location=New York|publisher=Alfred A. Knopf|isbn=978-0-394-56004-5}}</ref> whereas the ] of the mid-1930s impoverished many farming communities and spurred a new wave of western migration.<ref>{{cite book|author=James Noble Gregory|title=American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture in California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qNdtGwnXYrIC|year=1991|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-507136-8|access-date=October 25, 2015}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/dustbowl-mass-exodus-plains/|title=Mass Exodus From the Plains|author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line. -->|year=2013|website=American Experience|publisher=WGBH Educational Foundation|access-date=October 5, 2014}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/afctshtml/tsme.html|title=The Migrant Experience|last1=Fanslow|first1=Robin A.|date=April 6, 1997|website=American Folklore Center|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=October 5, 2014}}<br />{{cite book|author=Walter J. Stein|title=California and the Dust Bowl Migration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGuGAAAAIAAJ|year=1973|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-8371-6267-6|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref>

At first ], the United States in March 1941 ] to the ]. On December&nbsp;7, 1941, the ] launched a surprise ], prompting the United States to join the Allies against the ], and in the following year, to ] about 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans.<ref>The official WRA record from 1946 state it was 120,000 people. See {{cite book|author=]|url=https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-282-5/|title=The Evacuated People: A Quantitative Study|year=1946|page=8}}. This number does not include people held in other camps such as those run by the DoJ or U.S. Army. Other sources may give numbers slightly more or less than 120,000.</ref><ref name="Pearl Harbor">{{cite web|last1=Yamasaki|first1=Mitch|title=Pearl Harbor and America's Entry into World War II: A Documentary History|url=https://www.hawaiiinternment.org/static/ush_yamasaki_documentary_history.pdf|publisher=World War II Internment in Hawaii|access-date=January 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213122046/https://www.hawaiiinternment.org/static/ush_yamasaki_documentary_history.pdf|archive-date=December 13, 2014}}</ref> The U.S. pursued a "]" defense policy,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stoler|first1=Mark A.|title=George C. Marshall and the "Europe-First" Strategy, 1939–1951: A Study in Diplomatic as well as Military History|url=https://marshallfoundation.org/marshall/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2014/04/EDStoler.pdf|access-date=April 4, 2016}}</ref> leaving ], an ], isolated and alone to fight Japan's ] until the U.S.-led ]. During the war, the United States was one of the "]"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iup.edu/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=37681|title=The Four Policemen and. Postwar Planning, 1943–1945: The Collision of Realist and. Idealist Perspectives|last=Kelly|first=Brian|access-date=June 21, 2014}}</ref> who met to plan the postwar world, along with Britain, the Soviet Union, and China.{{sfn|Hoopes|Brinkley|1997|p=100}}{{sfn|Gaddis|1972|p=25}} The United States emerged ] from the war, and with even greater economic and military influence.<ref>Kennedy, Paul (1989). ''The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers''. New York: Vintage. p. 358. {{ISBN|978-0-679-72019-5}}</ref>

The United States played a leading role in the ] and ] conferences, which signed agreements on new international financial institutions and Europe's postwar reorganization. As an ], a 1945 ] held in ] produced the ], which became active after the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/pubs/fs/55407.htm|title=The United States and the Founding of the United Nations, August 1941 – October 1945|date=October 2005|access-date=June 11, 2007|publisher=U.S. Dept. of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of the Historian}}</ref> The United States and Japan then fought each other in the largest naval battle in history, the ].<ref name="Woodward1947">{{cite book|title=The Battle for Leyte Gulf|last=Woodward|first=C. Vann|author-link=C. Vann Woodward|year=1947|publisher=Macmillan|location=New York|isbn=978-1-60239-194-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Largest Naval Battles in Military History: A Closer Look at the Largest and Most Influential Naval Battles in World History|url=https://militaryhistory.norwich.edu/largest-naval-sea-battles-in-military-history/|website=Military History|publisher=Norwich University|access-date=March 7, 2015}}</ref> The United States developed the ] and used them on Japan ] in August 1945; the Japanese ] on September 2, ending World War II.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/06/commentary/japan-surrender-world-war-ii/|title=Why did Japan surrender in World War II? {{!}} The Japan Times|newspaper=The Japan Times|access-date=February 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>Pacific War Research Society (2006). ''Japan's Longest Day''. New York: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-4-7700-2887-7}}.</ref>

===Cold War and late 20th century===
{{Main|History of the United States (1945–1964)|History of the United States (1964–1980)|History of the United States (1980–1991)|History of the United States (1991–2008)}}
] gives his famous "]" speech at the ] during the ], 1963.|alt=See caption|left]]
After World War II, the United States financed and implemented the ] to help rebuild western Europe; disbursements paid between 1948 and 1952 would total $13 billion ($115 billion in 2021).<ref>See {{harv|Frankenfeld|2012}}</ref> Also at this time, ] tensions between the United States and ] led to the ], driven by an ideological divide between ] and ].<ref name="WaggAndrews2012">{{cite book|last1=Wagg|first1=Stephen|last2=Andrews|first2=David|title=East Plays West: Sport and the Cold War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qmjLR5YyUhEC&pg=PR11|year=2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-24167-5|page=11}}</ref> They dominated the military affairs of Europe, with the U.S. and its ] allies on one side and the Soviet Union and its ] allies on the other.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|last=Blakemore|first=Erin|date=March 22, 2019|title=What was the Cold War?|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/topics/reference/cold-war/|access-date=August 28, 2020|website=National Geographic|language=en}}</ref> The U.S. often opposed ] movements that it viewed as Soviet-sponsored, sometimes pursuing direct action for ] against ] governments.<ref>], </ref> American troops fought the communist forces in the ] of 1950–1953,<ref name="Proxy">{{cite book |last=Collins |first=Michael |url=https://archive.org/details/liftoff00coll |title=Liftoff: The Story of America's Adventure in Space |publisher=Grove Press |year=1988 |isbn=9780802110114 |location=New York |author-link=Michael Collins (astronaut) |url-access=registration}}</ref> and the U.S. became increasingly involved in the ] (1955–1975), introducing combat forces in 1965.<ref>{{Citation |last=Chapman |first=Jessica M. |title=Origins of the Vietnam War |date=August 5, 2016 |url=https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-353 |encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.013.353 |isbn=978-0-19-932917-5 |access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref> Their competition to achieve superior ] capability led to the ], which culminated in the U.S. becoming the first nation to ] in 1969.<ref name="Proxy" /> While both countries engaged in ]s and developed powerful ]s, they avoided direct military conflict.<ref name=":3" />

At home, the U.S. had experienced ], ], and a ] and ] following World War II. After a surge in female labor participation around the 1970s, by 1985, the majority of women aged 16 and over were employed,<ref>{{cite web|title=Women in the Labor Force: A Databook|url=https://www.bls.gov/cps/wlf-databook-2012.pdf|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|access-date=March 21, 2014|page=11|year=2013}}</ref> and construction of an ] transformed the nation's transportation infrastructure in decades to come.{{sfn|Winchester|2013|pp=305–308}}<ref name="IntHighways">{{cite web|last1=Blas|first1=Elisheva|title=The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways|url=https://www.societyforhistoryeducation.org/pdfs/N10_NHD_Blas_Junior.pdf|website=societyforhistoryeducation.org|publisher=Society for History Education|access-date=January 19, 2015}}</ref> In 1959, the United States admitted ] and ] to become the 49th and 50th states, formally expanding beyond the ].<ref name="Lightner2004">{{cite book|author=Richard Lightner|title=Hawaiian History: An Annotated Bibliography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yei4fDrecWsC&pg=PA141|year=2004|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-28233-1|page=141}}</ref>

The growing ] used ] to confront ], with ] becoming a prominent leader and figurehead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/johngardner/chapters/4b.html|title=The Civil Rights Movement|website=PBS.org|access-date=January 5, 2019}}</ref> A combination of court decisions and legislation, culminating in the ], sought to end racial discrimination.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dallek|first=Robert|year=2004|title=Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President|page=|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-515920-2|url=https://archive.org/details/lyndonbjohnsonpo00dall/page/169 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=old&doc=97|title=Our Documents—Civil Rights Act (1964)|publisher=United States Department of Justice|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/Johnson/archives.hom/speeches.hom/651003.asp|title=Remarks at the Signing of the Immigration Bill, Liberty Island, New York|date=October 3, 1965|access-date=January 1, 2012|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160516063650/https://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/Johnson/archives.hom/speeches.hom/651003.asp|archive-date=May 16, 2016|url-status=live }}</ref> Meanwhile, a ] grew, which was fueled by ], the ], and the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/5106608/protest-1968/?amp=true|title=Behind the Protests Against the Vietnam War in 1968|last=Levy|first=Daniel|date=January 19, 2018|publisher=]|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref> The ] in the U.S. broadened the debate on women's rights and made ] a major social goal. The 1969 ] in New York City marked the beginning of the fledgling ] movement.<ref name=StonewallNYC1>{{cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/articles/why-new-york-city-is-a-major-destination-for-lgbt-travelers/|title=Why New York City Is a Major Destination for LGBT Travelers|author=Julia Goicichea|publisher=The Culture Trip|date=August 16, 2017|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uky.edu/~lbarr2/gws250spring11_files/Page1186.htm|title=Brief History of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement in the U.S|publisher=University of Kentucky|access-date=July 15, 2022}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/06/28/feature-how-the-stonewall-riots-started-the-gay-rights-movement/|title=Feature: How the Stonewall riots started the LGBT rights movement|author=Nell Frizzell|publisher=Pink News UK|date=June 28, 2013|access-date=July 15, 2022}}; {{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Stonewall-riots|title=Stonewall riots|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> The launch of a "]" expanded entitlements and welfare spending, leading to the creation of the ], ], along with national ] programs ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/lbjsm.html|title=Social Security|website=ssa.gov|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref>

] (left) and Soviet general secretary ] at the ] in 1985.]]

The 1970s and early 1980s saw the onset of ]. The United States supported ] during the ]; in response, the country faced an oil ] from ] nations, sparking the ]. After his election, President ] responded to economic stagnation with ] and initiated the more aggressive ] towards the Soviet Union.<ref>], p. 277</ref><ref>]</ref> The ] in 1991 ended the Cold War,<ref>{{cite book|last=Howell|first=Buddy Wayne|title=The Rhetoric of Presidential Summit Diplomacy: Ronald Reagan and the U.S.-Soviet Summits, 1985–1988|year=2006|publisher=Texas A&M University|isbn=978-0-549-41658-6|page=352 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kissinger|first=Henry|author-link=Henry Kissinger|title=Diplomacy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0IZboamhb5EC&pg=PA731|year=2011|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-4391-2631-8|pages=781–784|access-date=October 25, 2015}}<br />{{cite book|last=Mann|first=James|title=The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan: A History of the End of the Cold War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BgZyXNIrvB4C&pg=PT12|year=2009|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-1-4406-8639-9|page=432}}<br /></ref><ref>]</ref> ensuring a global ]<ref>], "The Unipolar Moment", ''Foreign Affairs'', 70/1, (Winter 1990/1), 23–33.</ref> in which the U.S. was unchallenged as the world's dominant ].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Judt|first1=Tony|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVDHAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA61|title=With Us Or Against Us: Studies in Global Anti-Americanism|last2=Lacorne|first2=Denis|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2005|isbn=978-1-4039-8085-4|page=61}}<br />{{cite book|author=Richard J. Samuels|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K751AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT666|title=Encyclopedia of United States National Security|publisher=Sage Publications|year=2005|isbn=978-1-4522-6535-3|page=666}}<br />{{cite book|author=Paul R. Pillar|url=https://archive.org/details/terrorismusforei00pill|title=Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy|publisher=Brookings Institution Press|year=2001|isbn=978-0-8157-0004-3|page=|url-access=registration}}<br />{{cite book|author=Gabe T. Wang|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CbPJ7KZ9FvIC&pg=PA179|title=China and the Taiwan Issue: Impending War at Taiwan Strait|publisher=University Press of America|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7618-3434-2|page=179}}<br />{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qgdmiw4VUHsC&pg=PA1|title=Understanding the "Victory Disease", From the Little Bighorn to Mogadishu and Beyond|publisher=Diane Publishing|year=2004|isbn=978-1-4289-1052-2|page=1}}<br />{{cite book|author1=Akis Kalaitzidis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tzwYzL9KcwEC&pg=PA313|title=U.S. Foreign Policy: A Documentary and Reference Guide|author2=Gregory W. Streich|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2011|isbn=978-0-313-38375-5|page=313}}<br />]</ref>

Due to the ], stable monetary policy, and ], the 1990s saw the ] in modern U.S. history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Did Clinton Do It, or Was He Lucky?|author=Dale, Reginald|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/18/business/worldbusiness/18iht-think.2.t_2.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 18, 2000|access-date=March 6, 2013}}<br />{{cite book|last=Mankiw|first=N. Gregory|title=Macroeconomics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=58KxPNa0hF4C&pg=PA463|year=2008|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-0-324-58999-3|page=559|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> Fearing the spread of instability from the ], in August 1991, President ] launched and led the ] against Iraq, expelling Iraqi forces and restoring the ].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Halliday|first=Fred|title=The Gulf War and Its Aftermath: First Reflections|volume=67|number=2|pages=223–234|date=April 1991|publisher=]|journal=]|doi=10.2307/2620827|jstor=2620827|s2cid=154565052 }}</ref> Beginning in 1994, the U.S. signed the ] (NAFTA), causing trade among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to soar.<ref>{{cite web|title=North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) {{!}} United States Trade Representative|url=https://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta|website=www.ustr.gov|access-date=January 11, 2015|archive-date=March 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317011855/https://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta|url-status=dead }}<br />{{cite book|author1=Thakur|author2=Manab Thakur Gene E Burton B N Srivastava|title=International Management: Concepts and Cases|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J2SbAuVzHBMC&pg=PA334|year=1997|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education|isbn=978-0-07-463395-3|pages=334–335|access-date=October 25, 2015 }}<br />{{cite book|author1=Akis Kalaitzidis|author2=Gregory W. Streich|title=U.S. Foreign Policy: A Documentary and Reference Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c9rhlt2Ke3gC&pg=PA201|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-38376-2|page=201 }}</ref>

===21st century===
{{Main|History of the United States (1991–2008)|History of the United States (2008–present)}}
] in ] during the ] by the ] group ] in 2001|alt=Dark smoke billows from the Twin Towers over Manhattan]]

On ], ] terrorist hijackers flew passenger planes into the ] in New York City and ] near Washington, D.C., killing nearly 3,000 people.<ref>{{cite AV media|date=September 9, 2011|title=Flashback 9/11: As It Happened|url=https://video.foxnews.com/v/1151859712001/flashback-911-as-it-happened/|access-date=March 6, 2013|work=Fox News}}<br />{{cite news|title=America remembers Sept. 11 attacks 11 years later|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57510234/america-remembers-sept-11-attacks-11-years-later/|work=CBS News|date=September 11, 2012|access-date=March 6, 2013|archive-date=October 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017215138/https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57510234/america-remembers-sept-11-attacks-11-years-later/|url-status=dead }}<br />{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/multimedia.day.html|title=Day of Terror Video Archive|year=2005|work=CNN|access-date=March 6, 2013 }}</ref> In response, President ] launched the ], which included a nearly 20-year ] from 2001 to 2021 and the 2003–2011 ].<ref>{{cite news|title=The 'War on Terror' Is Critical to President George W. Bush's Legacy|author=Walsh, Kenneth T.|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/12/09/the-war-on-terror-is-critical-to-president-george-w-bushs-legacy|newspaper=U.S. News & World Report|date=December 9, 2008|access-date=March 6, 2013}}<br />{{cite book|last=Atkins|first=Stephen E.|title=The 9/11 Encyclopedia: Second Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PDDIgWRN_HQC&pg=PA210|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-921-9|page=872|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Overview: The Iraq War|last=Wong|first=Edward|url=https://www.nytimes.com/ref/timestopics/topics_iraq.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 15, 2008|access-date=March 7, 2013 }}<br />{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=James Turner|title=The War to Oust Saddam Hussein: Just War and the New Face of Conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SF7U27JsLC4C&q=iraq+invasion+removes+hussein|year=2005|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-7425-4956-2|page=159|access-date=October 25, 2015 }}<br />{{cite news|title=Timeline: Key moments in the Iraq War|author=Durando, Jessica|author2=Green, Shannon Rae|agency=Associated Press|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/story/2011-12-21/iraq-war-timeline/52147680/1|newspaper=USA Today|date=December 21, 2011|access-date=March 7, 2013|archive-date=September 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904084312/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/story/2011-12-21/iraq-war-timeline/52147680/1|url-status=dead }}</ref> Government policy designed to promote affordable housing,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Hidden in Plain Sight: What Really Caused the World's Worst Financial Crisis and Why It Could Happen Again|last=Wallison|first=Peter|publisher=Encounter Books|year=2015|isbn=978-978-59407-7-0|author-link=Peter J. Wallison}}</ref> widespread failures in corporate and regulatory governance,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-FCIC/pdf/GPO-FCIC.pdf|title=Financial Crisis Inquiry Report|year=2011|author=Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission|isbn=978-1-60796-348-6|author-link=Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission }}</ref> and historically low interest rates set by the Federal Reserve<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Taylor|first=John B.|author-link=John B. Taylor|access-date=January 21, 2017|title=The Financial Crisis and the Policy Responses: An Empirical Analysis of What Went Wrong|url=https://www.nber.org/papers/w14631.pdf|journal=Hoover Institution Economics Paper Series|date=January 2009}}</ref> led to a ] in 2006. This culminated in the ] and the ], the nation's largest economic contraction since the Great Depression.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122169431617549947|title=Worst Crisis Since '30s, With No End Yet in Sight|last1=Hilsenrath|first1=Jon|last2=Ng|first2=Serena|last3=Paletta|first3=Damian|date=September 18, 2008|work=]| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

], the first ]<ref>{{cite news|author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line. -->|title=Barack Obama: Face Of New Multiracial Movement?|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96916824| work=]|date=November 12, 2008}}</ref> president, with ] ancestry ] amid the crisis.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|title=African-American Economic Gains Reversed By Great Recession|agency=]| last1=Washington| first1=Jesse| last2=Rugaber| first2=Chris|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3584442/economic-gains-for-blacks-reversed-in-great-recession|date=July 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616183529/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/10/black-recession-economy-african-americans_n_894046.html|archive-date=June 16, 2013}}</ref> After Obama served two terms, Republican ] was elected as the ] in ] and led the country through ] of the ] in the United States. His election is viewed as one of the biggest political upsets in American history.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Harrison|title=Donald Trump is elected president of the United States|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/donald-trump-is-elected-president-of-the-united-states/2016/11/09/58046db4-a684-11e6-ba59-a7d93165c6d4_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 27, 2020|date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> The ] in 2020 sparked widespread civil unrest in urban centers and a debate about ] nationwide. On January 6, 2021, supporters of outgoing Trump ] in an unsuccessful effort to disrupt the presidential Electoral College vote count that confirmed Democrat ] as 46th president.<ref>{{cite web |last=Peñaloza |first=Marisa |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Trump Supporters Storm U.S. Capitol, Clash with Police |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/congress-electoral-college-tally-live-updates/2021/01/06/953616207/diehard-trump-supporters-gather-in-the-nations-capital-to-protest-election-resul |access-date=January 16, 2021 |website=NPR |publisher=]}}</ref>


== Geography == == Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of the United States}} {{Main|Geography of the United States}}
] of the United States]] ] of the United States]]
The ] occupy a combined area of {{convert|3,119,885|sqmi|km2|abbr=}}. Of this area, {{convert|2,959,064|sqmi|km2|abbr=}} is contiguous land, composing 83.65% of total U.S. land area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/279.html#as|work=The World Factbook|publisher=cia.gov|title=Field Listing: Area|access-date=April 21, 2020|archive-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707180005/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/279.html#as|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="urlState Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates—Geography—U.S. Census Bureau">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2010/geo/state-area.html|title=State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates—Geography—U.S. Census Bureau|website=State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce|access-date=September 11, 2017}}</ref> About 15% is occupied by ], a state in northwestern North America, with the remainder in ], a state and ] in the central ], and the five populated but ] insular territories of ], ], ], the ], and the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Census Area|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-1.pdf|website=census.gov|publisher=]|page=41|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> Measured by only land area, the United States is third in size behind Russia and China, and just ahead of Canada.<ref name="CIA Factbook Area">{{cite web|title=Area|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2147.html|website=The World Factbook|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=January 15, 2015|archive-date=January 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131115000/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2147.html|url-status=dead }}</ref>


The United States is the world's ] by total area behind Russia and Canada.{{efn|name=largestcountry}}<ref name="CIA-2018" /><ref name="CIA Factbook Area">{{cite web|title=Area|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2147.html|website=The World Factbook|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=January 15, 2015|archive-date=January 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131115000/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2147.html|url-status=dead }}</ref> The 48 ] occupy a combined area of {{convert|3,119,885|sqmi|km2|abbr=}}.<ref name="CensusGov2010HTML"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/279.html#as|work=The World Factbook|publisher=cia.gov|title=Field Listing: Area|access-date=April 21, 2020|archive-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707180005/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/279.html#as|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="urlState Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates—Geography—U.S. Census Bureau">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2010/geo/state-area.html|title=State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates—Geography—U.S. Census Bureau|website=State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce|access-date=September 11, 2017}}</ref> ] of the ] seaboard gives way to inland forests and rolling hills in the ] plateau region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Geographic Regions of Georgia|url=https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/geography/article/geographic-regions-of-georgia|website=Georgia Info|publisher=Digital Library of Georgia|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref>
The United States is the world's ] nation by total area (land and water), ranking behind Russia and Canada and nearly equal to China. The ranking varies depending on how two territories disputed by China and India are counted, and how the total size of the United States is measured.{{efn|name=largestcountry}}<ref name="WF">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-states/|title=United States|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|website=The World Factbook|date=January 3, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref>


The ] of the ] seaboard gives way further inland to ] forests and the rolling hills of the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Geographic Regions of Georgia|url=https://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/geography/article/geographic-regions-of-georgia|website=Georgia Info|publisher=Digital Library of Georgia|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> The ] divide the eastern seaboard from the ] and the grasslands of the ].<ref name="NAU">{{cite web|last=Lew|first=Alan|title=PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE US|url=https://www.geog.nau.edu/courses/alew/gsp220/text/chapters/ch2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409112252/https://www.geog.nau.edu/courses/alew/gsp220/text/chapters/ch2.html|archive-date=April 9, 2016|website=GSP 220—Geography of the United States|publisher=North Arizona University|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> The ]–], the world's ], runs mainly north–south through the heart of the country. The flat, fertile ] of the ] stretches to the west, interrupted by ] in the southeast.<ref name="NAU" /> The ] and the ] massif separate the ] from the ] and the grasslands of ].<ref name="NAU">{{cite web|last=Lew|first=Alan|title=PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE US|url=https://www.geog.nau.edu/courses/alew/gsp220/text/chapters/ch2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409112252/https://www.geog.nau.edu/courses/alew/gsp220/text/chapters/ch2.html|archive-date=April 9, 2016|website=GSP 220—Geography of the United States|publisher=North Arizona University|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> The ], the world's ], runs predominantly north–south through the heart of the country. The flat and fertile ] of the ] stretches to the west, interrupted by ] in the southeast.<ref name="NAU" />


] in Arizona]]
The ], west of the Great Plains, extend north to south across the country, peaking around {{convert|14000|ft}} in ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Harms|first=Nicole|title=Facts About the Rocky Mountain Range|url=https://traveltips.usatoday.com/rocky-mountain-range-11967.html|website=Travel Tips|publisher=USA Today|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> Farther west are the rocky ] and deserts such as the ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Tinkham|first=Ernest R.|title=Biological, Taxonomic and Faunistic Studies on the Shield-Back Katydids of the North American Deserts|jstor=2421073|doi=10.2307/2421073|journal=]|volume=31|number=2|date=March 1944|pages=257–328|publisher=The ]}}</ref> The ] and ] mountain ranges run close to the ], both ranges reaching altitudes higher than {{convert|14000|ft}}. The ] in the contiguous United States are in the state of California,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mount Whitney, California|url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=2829|publisher=Peakbagger|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> and only about {{convert|84|mi|km}} apart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Find Distance and Azimuths Between 2 Sets of Coordinates (Badwater 36-15-01-N, 116-49-33-W and Mount Whitney 36-34-43-N, 118-17-31-W)|url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/distance?dlat=36&mlat=15&slat=01&ns=1&dlon=116&mlon=49&slon=33&ew=1&dlat2=36&mlat2=34&slat2=43&sn=1&dlon2=118&mlon2=17&slon2=31&we=1&iselec=1|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> At an elevation of {{convert|20310|ft|1}}, Alaska's ] is the highest peak in the country and in North America.<ref>{{cite web|last=Poppick|first=Laura|title=US Tallest Mountain's Surprising Location Explained|date=August 28, 2013|url=https://www.livescience.com/39245-us-tallest-mountain-location-explained.html|publisher=LiveScience|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> Active ]es are common throughout Alaska's ] and ], and Hawaii consists of volcanic islands. The ] underlying ] in the ] is the continent's largest volcanic feature.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Hanlon|first=Larry|title=America's Explosive Park|url=https://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/supervolcano/under/under.html|date=March 14, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050314034001/https://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/supervolcano/under/under.html|archive-date=March 14, 2005|publisher=Discovery Channel|access-date=April 5, 2016}}</ref>


The ], west of the Great Plains, extend north to south across the country, peaking at over {{convert|14000|ft}} in ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Harms|first=Nicole|title=Facts About the Rocky Mountain Range|url=https://traveltips.usatoday.com/rocky-mountain-range-11967.html|work=USA Today|access-date=December 24, 2014|archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212094150/https://traveltips.usatoday.com/rocky-mountain-range-11967.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Farther west are the rocky ] and ], ], and ] deserts.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Tinkham|first=Ernest R.|title=Biological, Taxonomic and Faunistic Studies on the Shield-Back Katydids of the North American Deserts|jstor=2421073|doi=10.2307/2421073|journal=]|volume=31|number=2|date=March 1944|pages=257–328|publisher=The ]}}</ref> In the northwest corner of ], carved by the ] over millions of years, is the ], a steep-sided canyon and popular tourist destination known for its overwhelming visual size and intricate, colorful landscape.
=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of the United States|Climate change in the United States}}
] of the U.S.]]


The ] and ] mountain ranges run close to the ]. The ] are in the State of California,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mount Whitney, California|url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=2829|publisher=Peakbagger|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> about {{convert|84|mi|km}} apart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Find Distance and Azimuths Between 2 Sets of Coordinates (Badwater 36-15-01-N, 116-49-33-W and Mount Whitney 36-34-43-N, 118-17-31-W)|url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/distance?dlat=36&mlat=15&slat=01&ns=1&dlon=116&mlon=49&slon=33&ew=1&dlat2=36&mlat2=34&slat2=43&sn=1&dlon2=118&mlon2=17&slon2=31&we=1&iselec=1|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> At an elevation of {{convert|20310|ft|1}}, Alaska's ] is the highest peak in the country and continent.<ref>{{cite web|last=Poppick|first=Laura|title=US Tallest Mountain's Surprising Location Explained|date=August 28, 2013|url=https://www.livescience.com/39245-us-tallest-mountain-location-explained.html|publisher=LiveScience|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> Active ] are common throughout Alaska's ] and ], and Hawaii consists of volcanic islands. The ] underlying ] in the Rocky Mountains, the ], is the continent's largest volcanic feature.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Hanlon|first=Larry|title=America's Explosive Park|url=https://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/supervolcano/under/under.html|date=March 14, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050314034001/https://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/supervolcano/under/under.html|archive-date=March 14, 2005|publisher=Discovery Channel|access-date=April 5, 2016}}</ref> In 2021, the United States had 8% of global permanent meadows and pastures and 10% of cropland.<ref name="Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations-2023">{{Cite book |title=World Food and Agriculture – Statistical Yearbook 2023 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |url=https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en?details=cc8166en |access-date=December 13, 2023 | date=2023 |language=en |doi=10.4060/cc8166en| isbn=978-92-5-138262-2 }}</ref>
The United States, with its large size and geographic variety, includes most climate types. To the east of the ], the climate ranges from ] in the north to ] in the south.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boyden|first=Jennifer|title=Climate Regions of the United States|url=https://traveltips.usatoday.com/climate-regions-united-states-21570.html|website=Travel Tips|publisher=USA Today|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref>


=== Climate ===
The Great Plains west of the 100th meridian are ]. Many mountainous areas of the American West have an ]. The climate is ] in the Great Basin, desert in the Southwest, ] in ], and ] in coastal ] and ] and southern Alaska. Most of Alaska is ] or ]. Hawaii and the southern tip of ] are ], as well as its territories in the ] and the Pacific.<ref>{{cite web|title=World Map of Köppen–Geiger Climate Classification|url=https://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/kottek_et_al_2006_A4.pdf|access-date=August 19, 2015}}</ref>
{{Main|Climate of the United States}}
{{See also|Climate change in the United States}}
] of the United States]]


With its large size and geographic variety, the United States includes most climate types. East of the ], the climate ranges from ] in the north to ] in the south.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boyden|first=Jennifer|title=Climate Regions of the United States|url=https://traveltips.usatoday.com/climate-regions-united-states-21570.html|work=USA Today|access-date=December 24, 2014|archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212094152/https://traveltips.usatoday.com/climate-regions-united-states-21570.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The western Great Plains are ].<ref>{{cite journal |author=McGranahan, Devan Allen; Wonkka, Carissa L. |title=Pyrogeography of the Western Great Plains: A 40-Year History of Fire in Semi-Arid Rangelands |journal=Fire |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=32 |year=2024 |url=https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/1/32}}</ref> Many mountainous areas of the American West have an ]. The climate is ] in the Southwest, ] in ], and ] in coastal ], ], and southern ]. Most of Alaska is ] or ]. ], the ] and U.S. territories in the ] and ] are ].<ref>{{cite web|title=World Map of Köppen–Geiger Climate Classification|url=https://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/kottek_et_al_2006_A4.pdf|access-date=August 19, 2015|archive-date=January 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126115149/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/kottek_et_al_2006_A4.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
States bordering the ] are prone to ], and most of the world's ]es occur in the country, mainly in ] areas in the Midwest and South.<ref>{{cite news|author=Perkins, Sid|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020511/bob9.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701131631/https://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020511/bob9.asp|archive-date=July 1, 2007|title=Tornado Alley, USA|access-date=September 20, 2006|date=May 11, 2002|work=Science News}}</ref> Overall, the United States receives more high-impact extreme weather incidents than any other country in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=USA has the world's most extreme weather|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/05/16/extreme-weather-north-america/2162501/|last=Rice|first=Doyle|website=USA Today|language=en|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>


States bordering the ] are prone to hurricanes, and most of the world's tornadoes ], mainly in ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Perkins, Sid|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020511/bob9.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701131631/https://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020511/bob9.asp|archive-date=July 1, 2007|title=Tornado Alley, USA|access-date=September 20, 2006|date=May 11, 2002|work=Science News}}</ref> Overall, the United States receives more high-impact extreme weather incidents than any other country.<ref>{{cite web|title=USA has the world's most extreme weather|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/05/16/extreme-weather-north-america/2162501/|last=Rice|first=Doyle|website=USA Today|language=en|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Borenstein |first=Seth |date=April 2, 2023 |title=Why the U.S. is leading the world in extreme weather catastrophes |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/why-the-u-s-is-leading-the-world-in-extreme-weather-catastrophes |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}</ref> Extreme weather became more frequent in the U.S. in the 21st century, with three times the number of reported ] as in the 1960s. In the ], droughts became more persistent and more severe.<ref>{{Cite web|last=US EPA|first=OAR|date=June 27, 2016|title=Climate Change Indicators: Weather and Climate|url=https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/weather-climate|access-date=June 19, 2022|website=Epa.gov|language=en}}</ref> The regions considered as the most attractive to the population are the most vulnerable.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Waldron |first1=Lucas |last2=Lustgarten |first2=Abrahm |title=Climate Change Will Make Parts of the U.S. Uninhabitable. Americans Are Still Moving There. |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/climate-change-will-make-parts-of-the-u-s-uninhabitable-americans-are-still-moving-there |website=Propublica |date=November 10, 2020 |publisher=Rhodium Group |access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref>
Extreme weather has become more frequent in the U.S., with three times the number of reported ] as in the 1960s. Of the ten warmest years ever recorded in the 48 contiguous states, eight have occurred since 1998. In the ], droughts have become more persistent and more severe.<ref>{{Cite web|last=US EPA|first=OAR|date=2016-06-27|title=Climate Change Indicators: Weather and Climate|url=https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/weather-climate|access-date=2022-06-19|website=www.epa.gov|language=en}}</ref>


=== Biodiversity and conservation === === Biodiversity and conservation ===
{{Main|Fauna of the United States|Flora of the United States}}
{{Anchor|Wildlife and conservation}} {{Anchor|Wildlife and conservation}}
], the ] since 1782<ref name="McDougall2004">{{cite book|first=Len|last=McDougall|title=The Encyclopedia of Tracks and Scats: A Comprehensive Guide to the Trackable Animals of the United States and Canada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9XOc2_u7z6cC&pg=PA325|year=2004|publisher=Lyons Press|isbn=978-1-59228-070-4|page=325}}</ref>]]
{{Main|Fauna of the United States|Flora of the United States}}
] has been the ] of the United States since 1782.<ref name="McDougall2004">{{cite book|author=Len McDougall|title=The Encyclopedia of Tracks and Scats: A Comprehensive Guide to the Trackable Animals of the United States and Canada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9XOc2_u7z6cC&pg=PA325|year=2004|publisher=Lyons Press|isbn=978-1-59228-070-4|page=325}}</ref>]]
The U.S. is one of 17 ] containing large numbers of ]: about 17,000 species of ]s occur in the contiguous United States and Alaska, and more than 1,800 species of ]s are found in Hawaii, few of which occur on the mainland.<ref>{{cite web|author=Morin, Nancy|url=https://www.fungaljungal.org/papers/National_Biological_Service.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724222726/https://www.fungaljungal.org/papers/National_Biological_Service.pdf|title=Vascular Plants of the United States|publisher=National Biological Service|website=Plants|access-date=October 27, 2008|archive-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref> The United States is home to 428 ] species, 784 ], 311 ], and 295 ],<ref name="Current Results # of native species in the US">{{cite web|last1=Osborn|first1=Liz|title=Number of Native Species in United States|url=https://www.currentresults.com/Environment-Facts/Plants-Animals/number-of-native-species-in-united-states.php|publisher=Current Results Nexus|access-date=January 15, 2015}}</ref> and 91,000 ] species.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/bugnos.htm|title=Numbers of Insects (Species and Individuals)|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|access-date=January 20, 2009}}</ref>

There are 63 ] and hundreds of other federally managed parks, forests, and ] areas, which are managed by the ].<ref>{{cite web|title= National Park FAQ|url=https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm/|last1=Park|first1=National|website=nps|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref> Altogether, the government owns about 28% of the country's land area,<ref name="NYTimes Federal Land">{{cite news|last1=Lipton|first1=Eric|last2=Krauss|first2=Clifford|title=Giving Reins to the States Over Drilling|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/us/romney-would-give-reins-to-states-on-drilling-on-federal-lands.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0|access-date=January 18, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 23, 2012}}</ref> mostly in the ].<ref name="AKLeg CRS Federal Land">{{Cite report|url=https://www.akleg.gov/basis/get_documents.asp?session=31&docid=47224|title=Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=March 3, 2017|access-date=June 18, 2020|last1=Vincent|first1=Carol H.|last2=Hanson|first2=Laura A.|last3=Argueta|first3=Carla N.|page=2}}</ref> Most of this land is ], though some is leased for oil and gas drilling, mining, logging, or cattle ranching, and about .86% is used for military purposes.<ref name="Federal Land Ownership">{{cite web|last1=Gorte|first1=Ross W.|last2=Vincent|first2=Carol Hardy.|last3=Hanson|first3=Laura A.|last4=Marc R.|first4=Rosenblum|title=Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42346.pdf|website=fas.org|publisher=Congressional Research Service|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Fed Land Uses">{{cite web|title=Chapter 6: Federal Programs to Promote Resource Use, Extraction, and Development|url=https://www.doi.gov/pmb/oepc/wetlands2/v2ch6.cfm|website=doi.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318005744/https://www.doi.gov/pmb/oepc/wetlands2/v2ch6.cfm|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref>


The U.S. is one of 17 ] containing large numbers of ]: about 17,000 species of ]s occur in the contiguous United States and Alaska, and over 1,800 species of ]s are found in Hawaii, few of which occur on the mainland.<ref>{{cite web|author=Morin, Nancy|url=https://www.fungaljungal.org/papers/National_Biological_Service.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724222726/https://www.fungaljungal.org/papers/National_Biological_Service.pdf|title=Vascular Plants of the United States|website=Plants|publisher=National Biological Service|access-date=October 27, 2008|archive-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref> The United States is home to 428 ] species, 784 birds, 311 reptiles, 295 ]s,<ref name="Current Results # of native species in the US">{{cite web|last1=Osborn|first1=Liz|title=Number of Native Species in United States|url=https://www.currentresults.com/Environment-Facts/Plants-Animals/number-of-native-species-in-united-states.php|publisher=Current Results Nexus|access-date=January 15, 2015}}</ref> and around 91,000 insect species.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/bugnos.htm|title=Numbers of Insects (Species and Individuals)|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|access-date=January 20, 2009}}</ref>
] include debates on oil and ], dealing with air and water pollution, the economic costs of protecting ], logging and ],<ref>{{cite web|author=The National Atlas of the United States of America|url=https://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/biology/a_forest.html|title=Forest Resources of the United States|publisher=Nationalatlas.gov|date=January 14, 2013|access-date=January 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507195541/https://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/biology/a_forest.html|archive-date=May 7, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/gtr587.pdf|title=Land Use Changes Involving Forestry in the United States: 1952 to 1997, With Projections to 2050|year=2003|access-date=January 13, 2014}}</ref> and ].<ref>], pp. 3, 72, 74–76, 78</ref><ref>Hays, Samuel P. (2000). ''A History of Environmental Politics since 1945''.</ref> The most prominent environmental agency is the ] (EPA), created by presidential order in 1970.<ref name="Collin2006">{{cite book|last=Collin|first=Robert W.|title=The Environmental Protection Agency: Cleaning Up America's Act|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVPoqXeTYTwC&pg=PA1|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-33341-5|page=1|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> The idea of wilderness has shaped the management of public lands since 1964, with the ].<ref>Turner, James Morton (2012). ''The Promise of Wilderness''</ref> The ] of 1973 is intended to protect threatened and endangered species and their habitats, which are monitored by the ].<ref name="Office">{{cite book|title=Endangered species Fish and Wildlife Service|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8BEuUPJb58C&pg=PA1|publisher=General Accounting Office, Diane Publishing|isbn=978-1-4289-3997-4|page=1|access-date=October 25, 2015|year=2003 }}</ref>


There are ], and ] parks, forests, and ], managed by the ] and other agencies.<ref>{{cite web|title= National Park FAQ|url=https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm/|website=nps|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref> About 28% of the country's land is publicly owned and federally managed,<ref name="NYTimes Federal Land">{{cite news|last1=Lipton|first1=Eric|last2=Krauss|first2=Clifford|title=Giving Reins to the States Over Drilling|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/us/romney-would-give-reins-to-states-on-drilling-on-federal-lands.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0|access-date=January 18, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 23, 2012}}</ref> primarily in the ].<ref name="AKLeg CRS Federal Land">{{Cite report|url=https://www.akleg.gov/basis/get_documents.asp?session=31&docid=47224|title=Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=March 3, 2017|access-date=June 18, 2020|last1=Vincent|first1=Carol H.|last2=Hanson|first2=Laura A.|last3=Argueta|first3=Carla N.|page=2}}</ref> ], though some is leased for commercial use, and less than one percent is used for military purposes.<ref name="Federal Land Ownership">{{cite web|last1=Gorte|first1=Ross W.|last2=Vincent|first2=Carol Hardy.|last3=Hanson|first3=Laura A.|last4=Marc R.|first4=Rosenblum|title=Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42346.pdf|website=fas.org|publisher=Congressional Research Service|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Fed Land Uses">{{cite web|title=Chapter 6: Federal Programs to Promote Resource Use, Extraction, and Development|url=https://www.doi.gov/pmb/oepc/wetlands2/v2ch6.cfm|website=doi.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318005744/https://www.doi.gov/pmb/oepc/wetlands2/v2ch6.cfm|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref>
As of 2020, the U.S. ranked 24th among nations in the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=What Is the Greenest Country in the World?|url=https://www.atlasandboots.com/greenest-country-in-the-world/|website=Atlas & Boots|date=June 6, 2020|publisher=Environmental Performance Index|access-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> The country joined the ] on climate change in 2016, and has many other environmental commitments.<ref>{{cite web|title=United States of America|url=https://climateaction.unfccc.int/views/country.html?country=US|website=Global Climate Action – NAZCA|publisher=United Nations|access-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> It ] from the Paris Agreement in 2020<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nugent|first1=Ciara|title=The U.S. Just Officially Left the Paris Agreement. Can it Be a Leader in the Climate Fight Again?|url=https://time.com/5907210/us-leaves-paris-agreement-2020-election/|access-date=November 18, 2020|agency=Times|date=November 4, 2020}}</ref> but rejoined it in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=Biden announces return to global climate accord, new curbs on U.S. oil industry|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-biden-climate-idINKBN29P12S|date=January 20, 2021|work=Reuters|department=Money News|access-date=February 9, 2021}}</ref>


] include debates on ]s and ], ], ], logging and ],<ref>{{cite web|author=The National Atlas of the United States of America|url=https://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/biology/a_forest.html|title=Forest Resources of the United States|publisher=Nationalatlas.gov|date=January 14, 2013|access-date=January 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507195541/https://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/biology/a_forest.html|archive-date=May 7, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/gtr587.pdf|title=Land Use Changes Involving Forestry in the United States: 1952 to 1997, With Projections to 2050|year=2003|access-date=January 13, 2014}}</ref> and ].<ref>], pp. 3, 72, 74–76, 78</ref><ref>Hays, Samuel P. (2000). ''A History of Environmental Politics since 1945''.</ref> The ] (EPA) is the federal agency charged with ].<ref name="Collin2006">{{cite book|last=Collin|first=Robert W.|title=The Environmental Protection Agency: Cleaning Up America's Act|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVPoqXeTYTwC&pg=PA1|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-33341-5|page=1|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> The ] has shaped the management of public lands since 1964, with the ].<ref>Turner, James Morton (2012). ''The Promise of Wilderness'', pp. 29&ndash;32</ref> The ] provides a way to protect threatened and endangered species and their habitats. The ] implements and enforces the Act.<ref name="Office">{{cite book|title=Endangered species Fish and Wildlife Service|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8BEuUPJb58C&pg=PA1|publisher=General Accounting Office, Diane Publishing|isbn=978-1-4289-3997-4|pages=1–3, 42|access-date=October 25, 2015|year=2003 }}</ref> In 2024, the U.S. ranked 35th among 180 countries in the ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Environmental Performance Index |url=https://epi.yale.edu/measure/2024/EPI |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=epi.yale.edu}}</ref> The country joined the ] on climate change in 2016.<ref>{{cite web
==Government and politics==
|url=https://treaties.un.org/pages/viewdetails.aspx?src=treaty&mtdsg_no=xxvii-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#7
{{Main|Federal government of the United States|Politics of the United States|State governments of the United States|Local government in the United States}}
|title=United Nations Treaty Collection-The Paris Agreement
{{Further|Political parties in the United States|Elections in the United States|Political ideologies in the United States|Taxation in the United States|United States federal budget}}
|access-date=2024-12-03}}</ref>
], where ] meets: the ], left; the ], right]]
], residence and workplace of the ]]]
], where the ] sits]]


== Government and politics ==
The United States is a federal republic of 50 ], a ], ] and several uninhabited ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Common Core Document of the United States of America|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/179780.htm|date=December 30, 2011|publisher=]|access-date=July 10, 2015}}</ref>{{sfn|The New York Times|2007|p=670}}{{sfn|Onuf|2010|p=xvii}} It is the world's oldest surviving ]. It is a ] and a ] "in which ] is tempered by ] protected by ]."<ref name="Scheb">Scheb, John M.; Scheb, John M. II (2002). ''An Introduction to the American Legal System''. Florence, KY: Delmar, p. 6. {{ISBN|978-0-7668-2759-2}}.</ref> In the ], citizens are subjected to ]: federal, state, and local. The government is regulated by a system of ] defined by the ], which serves as the country's supreme legal document.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm|title=Constitution of the United States|author=Killian, Johnny H.|publisher=The Office of the Secretary of the Senate|access-date=February 11, 2012}}</ref> The Constitution establishes the structure and responsibilities of the federal government and its relationship with the individual states. The Constitution has been amended 27 times;<ref>], p. 9</ref> the first ten amendments (]) and the ] form the central basis of Americans' individual rights. All laws and governmental procedures are subject to ], and any law can be voided if the courts determine that it violates the Constitution. The principle of judicial review, not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, was established by the Supreme Court in '']'' (1803).<ref>], pp. 164, 453, 503</ref>
{{Main|Politics of the United States}}
{{Further|Elections in the United States|Political ideologies in the United States|Americanism (ideology)|}}
], the seat of legislative government, is home to both chambers of the ]: the ] (in left wing of building) and the ] (right wing).]]
], the residence and workplace of the U.S. president and the offices of ]]]
], which houses the ]]]


The United States is a ] of 50 ] and a separate federal capital district, ] It also asserts sovereignty over five ] and ].<ref name="HRI-2012"/>{{sfn|Onuf|2010|p=xvii}} The U.S. is the world's oldest surviving federation,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desjardins |first=Jeff |date=August 8, 2019 |title=Mapped: The world's oldest democracies |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/08/countries-are-the-worlds-oldest-democracies/ |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> and its ] has been adopted, in whole or in part, by many newly independent states worldwide following their ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ryan |first1=David |editor-first1=David |editor-first2=Victor |editor-last1=Ryan |editor-last2=Pungong |title=The United States and Decolonization |year=2000 |publisher=Springer |doi=10.1057/9780333977958 |hdl=1887/72726 |isbn=978-1-349-40644-9 |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9780333977958}}</ref> It is a liberal ] "in which ] by ] protected ]".<ref name="Scheb">Scheb, John M.; Scheb, John M. II (2002). ''An Introduction to the American Legal System''. Florence, Kentucky: Delmar, p. 6. {{ISBN|978-0-7668-2759-2}}.</ref> The ] serves as ], also establishing the structure and responsibilities of the national federal government and its relationship with the individual states. The U.S. Constitution is the world's oldest national constitution still in effect (from March 4, 1789).
The federal government comprises three branches:
* ]: The ], made up of the ] and the ], makes ], ], approves treaties, has the ],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Legislative Branch|publisher=United States Diplomatic Mission to Germany|url=https://usa.usembassy.de/government-legislative.htm|access-date=August 20, 2012}}</ref> and has the power of ], by which it can remove sitting members of the federal government.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Process for impeachment|publisher=ThinkQuest|url=https://library.thinkquest.org/25673/process.htm|access-date=August 20, 2012|archive-date=April 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408102119/https://library.thinkquest.org/25673/process.htm|url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ]: ] is the ] of the military, can veto ] before they become law (subject to congressional override), and appoints the ] (subject to Senate approval) and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Executive Branch|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-executive-branch/|website=The White House|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref>
* ]: The ] and lower ], whose judges are appointed by the president with Senate approval, interpret laws and overturn those they find ].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kermit L. Hall|author2=Kevin T. McGuire|title=Institutions of American Democracy: The Judicial Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6rWCaMAdUzgC|year=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-988374-5}}<br />{{cite book|author=U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services|title=Learn about the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8X1CzvBXHksC&pg=PA4|date=2013|publisher=Government Printing Office|isbn=978-0-16-091708-0|page=4}}<br />{{cite book|author=Bryon Giddens-White|title=The Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mbZw3bJsWtUC|year=2005|publisher=Heinemann Library|isbn=978-1-4034-6608-2}}<br />{{cite book|author=Charles L. Zelden|title=The Judicial Branch of Federal Government: People, Process, and Politics|url=https://archive.org/details/judicialbranchof0000zeld|url-access=registration|year=2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-702-9|access-date=October 25, 2015}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts.aspx|title=Federal Courts|author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line. -->|publisher=United States Courts|access-date=October 19, 2014}}</ref>


=== National government ===
The ], the ], has 435 voting members, each representing a ] for a two-year term. House seats are ] among the states by population. Each state then draws single-member districts to conform with the census apportionment. The District of Columbia and the five major U.S. territories each have ]—these members are not allowed to vote.<ref name="Territories1" />
{{Main|Federal government of the United States}}
Composed of three branches, all headquartered in Washington, D.C., the federal government is the national government of the United States. It is regulated by a strong system of ].<ref>{{cite web |author=Killian, Johnny H. Ed|title=Constitution of the United States |url=https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm |access-date=February 11, 2012 |publisher=The Office of the Secretary of the Senate}}</ref>
* The ], a ] made up of the ] and the ], makes ], ], approves treaties, has the ],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Legislative Branch|publisher=United States Diplomatic Mission to Germany|url=https://usa.usembassy.de/government-legislative.htm|access-date=August 20, 2012}}</ref> and has ].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Process for impeachment|publisher=ThinkQuest|url=https://library.thinkquest.org/25673/process.htm|access-date=August 20, 2012|archive-date=April 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408102119/https://library.thinkquest.org/25673/process.htm|url-status=dead }}</ref> The Senate has 100 members (2 from each state), elected for a six-year term. The House of Representatives has 435 members, each elected for a two-year term; all representatives serve one ] of equivalent population. Congressional districts are drawn by each state legislature and are contiguous within the state.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Senate and the House of Representatives: lesson overview (article) |url=https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-government-and-civics/us-gov-interactions-among-branches/us-gov-congress-the-senate-and-the-house-of-representatives/a/lesson-summary-the-senate-and-the-house-of-representatives |website=Khan Academy |language=en}}</ref> The Congress also organizes a collection of ], each of which handles a specific task or duty. One of Congress's foremost non-legislative functions is the power to ] and oversee the executive branch.<ref name="tws2010Sep11t11">{{cite news |author=Broder |first=David S. |date=March 18, 2007 |title=Congress's Oversight Offensive |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/16/AR2007031601989.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501115602/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/16/AR2007031601989.html |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=September 11, 2010 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> ] is usually delegated to committees and is facilitated by Congress's subpoena power.<ref name="tws2010Sep11t13">{{cite news |author=Ferraro |first=Thomas |date=April 25, 2007 |title=House committee subpoenas Rice on Iraq |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2518728220070425 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114214442/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2518728220070425 |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=September 11, 2010 |work=Reuters}}</ref> Appointment to a committee enables a member to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under its purview. The various committees monitor ongoing governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to the U.S. Congress, including but not limited to new legislation. The two major political parties have appointment power in deciding each committee's membership. Committee chairs are assigned to a member of the majority party.
* The U.S. president is the ], ] of the military, chief executive of the federal government, and has the ability to veto ] from the U.S. Congress before they become law. However, ] can be overridden by a two-thirds ] vote in both chambers of Congress. The president appoints the ], subject to Senate approval, and names other officials who administer and enforce federal laws through ].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Executive Branch|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-executive-branch/|website=The White House|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> The president also has clemency power for federal crimes and ]. Finally, the president has the right to issue expansive "]", subject to ], in a number of policy areas. Candidates for president campaign with a vice-presidential ]. Both candidates are elected together, or defeated together, in a presidential election. Unlike other votes in American politics, this is technically an ] in which the winner will be determined by the ]. There, votes are officially cast by individual electors selected by ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Interpretation: Article II, Section 1, Clauses 2 and 3 {{!}} Constitution Center |url=https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-ii/clauses/350 |website=National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org |language=en}}</ref> In practice, however, each of the 50 states chooses a group of presidential electors who are required to confirm the winner of their state's popular vote. Each state is allocated two electors plus one additional elector for each ], which in effect combines to equal the number of elected officials that state sends to Congress. The District of Columbia, with no representatives or senators, is allocated three electoral votes. Both the president and the vice president serve a four-year term, and the president may be ], for one additional four-year term.{{efn|Per the ], proposed by the U.S. Congress on June 16, 1960, and ratified by the States on March 29, 1961}}
* The ], whose judges are all appointed for life by the president with Senate approval, consists primarily of the ], the ], and the ]. The U.S. Supreme Court interprets laws and ].<ref name=FedJud>{{multiref2
|{{cite book|first1=Kermit L.|last1=Hall|first2=Kevin T.|last2=McGuire|title=Institutions of American Democracy: The Judicial Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6rWCaMAdUzgC|year=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-988374-5}}
|{{cite book|author=U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services|title=Learn about the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8X1CzvBXHksC&pg=PA4|date=2013|publisher=Government Printing Office|isbn=978-0-16-091708-0|page=4}}
|{{cite book|first=Bryon|last=Giddens-White|title=The Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mbZw3bJsWtUC|year=2005|publisher=Heinemann Library|isbn=978-1-4034-6608-2}}
|{{cite book|first=Charles L.|last=Zelden|title=The Judicial Branch of Federal Government: People, Process, and Politics|url=https://archive.org/details/judicialbranchof0000zeld|url-access=registration|year=2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-702-9|access-date=October 25, 2015}}
|{{cite web|url=https://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts.aspx|title=Federal Courts|author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line. -->|publisher=United States Courts|access-date=October 19, 2014}} }}</ref> The Supreme Court has nine members led by the ]. The members are appointed by the sitting president when a vacancy becomes available.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beyond politics: Why Supreme Court justices are appointed for life|first=Roger|last=Cossack|url=https://archives.cnn.com/2000/LAW/07/columns/cossack.scotus.07.12/|publisher=CNN|date=July 13, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712085825/https://archives.cnn.com/2000/LAW/07/columns/cossack.scotus.07.12|archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref> In a number of ways the federal court system operates differently than state courts. For ]s that is apparent in the types of cases that can be heard in the federal system. Their ] restricts them to cases authorized by the United States Constitution or ]s. In criminal cases, states may only bring criminal prosecutions in state courts, and the federal government may only bring criminal prosecutions in federal court. The first level in the federal courts is ] for any case under "]", such as federal statutes, the Constitution, or ]. There are twelve ]s that divide the country into different regions for federal appeals courts. After a federal district court has decided a case, it can then be ] to a United States court of appeal. The next and highest court in the system is the Supreme Court of the United States. It has the power to decide appeals on all cases brought in federal court or those brought in state court but dealing with federal law. Unlike circuit court appeals, however, the Supreme Court is usually not required to hear the appeal. A "]" may be submitted to the court, asking it to hear the case. If it is granted, the Supreme Court will take ] and conduct ]s. If it is not granted, the opinion of the lower court stands. Certiorari is not often granted, and less than 1% of appeals to the Supreme Court are actually heard by it. Usually, the Court only hears cases when there are conflicting decisions across the nation on a particular issue, or when there is an obvious error in a case.


The three-branch system is known as the ], in contrast to the ], where the executive is part of the legislative body. Many countries around the world imitated this aspect of the 1789 ], especially in the Americas.<ref name="Sundquist">{{Cite book |last=Sundquist |first=James L. |title=Designs for Democratic Stability: Studies in Viable Constitutionalism |publisher=] |year=1997 |isbn=0765600528 |editor-last=Baaklini |editor-first=Abdo I. |pages=53–72 |language=en |chapter=The U.S. Presidential System as a Model for the World |editor-last2=Desfosses |editor-first2=Helen}}</ref>
The ], the ], has 100 members with each state having two senators, elected ] to six-year terms; one-third of Senate seats are up for election every two years. The District of Columbia and the five major U.S. territories do not have senators.<ref name="Territories1" /> The Senate is unique among upper houses in being the most prestigious and powerful portion of the country's ]; political scientists have frequently labeled it the "most powerful upper house" of any government.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Shell |first1=Donald |title=Second Chambers |last2=Baldwin |first2=Nicholas |publisher=] |year=2013 |isbn=9781136337000 |pages=43 |quote=The United States Senate is frequently characterised as the most powerful upper house in the world.}}</ref>


=== Political parties ===
The president serves a four-year term and may be elected to the office ]. The president is ], but by an indirect ] system in which the determining votes are apportioned to the states and the District of Columbia.<ref name="Avaliktos2004">{{cite book |last=Avaliktos |first=Neal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XR21acqXy28C&pg=PA111 |title=The Election Process Revisited |publisher=Nova Publishers |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-59454-054-7 |page=111}}</ref> The Supreme Court, led by the ], has nine members, who serve for life.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beyond politics: Why Supreme Court justices are appointed for life|first=Roger|last=Cossack|url=https://archives.cnn.com/2000/LAW/07/columns/cossack.scotus.07.12/|work=CNN|date=July 13, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712085825/https://archives.cnn.com/2000/LAW/07/columns/cossack.scotus.07.12|archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref>
{{main|Political parties in the United States|List of political parties in the United States}}
{{See also|Political party strength in U.S. states}}
] (governor and legislature) by party control, {{as of|2024|lc=y}}:
{{legend|#33f|] control}}
{{legend|#f33|] control}}
{{legend|#829|Split control}}]]


The Constitution is silent on political parties. However, they developed independently in the 18th century with the ] and ] parties.<ref name="Hofstadter-1969-iv">{{cite book |last1=Hofstadter |first1=Richard |title=The Idea of a Party System : The Rise of Legitimate Opposition in the United States, 1780-1840 |date=1969 |publisher=University of California Press |page=iv |isbn=9780520013896 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wG5rCKm8SmAC&q=%E2%80%9Cdid+not+believe+in+parties+as+such,+scorned+those+that+they+were+conscious+of+as+historical+models%22 |access-date=October 5, 2022}}</ref> Since then, the United States has operated as a de facto ], though the parties in that system have been different at different times.<ref name="Blake-2021">{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=Why are there only two parties in American politics? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/04/27/why-are-there-only-two-parties-in-american-politics/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=November 25, 2021}}</ref> The two main national parties are presently the ] and the ]. The former is perceived as ] in its ] while the latter is perceived as ].<ref>], ''The Partisan Sort: How Liberals Became Democrats and Conservatives Became Republicans'' (U Chicago Press, 2009)</ref>
The United States has operated under a ] for most of its history.<ref name="twsNovGe">{{cite news|author1=Etheridge, Eric|author2=Deleith, Asger|title=A Republic or a Democracy?|newspaper=The New York Times blogs|quote=The US system seems essentially a two-party system.&nbsp;...|date=August 19, 2009|url=https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/a-republic-or-a-democracy/|access-date=November 7, 2010}}</ref> In American ], the ] Republican Party is considered "]" and the ] Democratic Party is considered "]".<ref>{{cite book|author1=David Mosler|author2=Robert Catley|title=America and Americans in Australia|date=1998|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|page=83|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YungugjvIaQC&pg=PA83|access-date=April 11, 2016|isbn=978-0-275-96252-4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Grigsby|first=Ellen|title=Analyzing Politics: An Introduction to Political Science|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2008|isbn=978-0-495-50112-1|pages=106–107}}</ref> On ]'s 2019 ], its ] position deteriorated from a score of 76 in 2015 to 69 in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2019 |url=https://files.transparency.org/content/download/2428/14734/file/2019_CPI_Report_EN.pdf |access-date=February 7, 2020 |website=transparency.org |publisher=] |page=12 & 13}}</ref> In 2021, the U.S. ranked 26th on the ], and is described as a "flawed democracy".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Francis |first=Ellen |date=2022-02-10 |title=Global freedoms have hit a 'dismal' record low, with pandemic restrictions making things worse, report says |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/10/global-democracy-index-2021-pandemic/ |access-date=2022-02-18 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>


===Political divisions=== === Subdivisions ===
{{Main|Political divisions of the United States|U.S. state|Territories of the United States}} {{Main|U.S. state|County (United States)}}
{{Further|Territorial evolution of the United States|List of states and territories of the United States|Indian reservation}} {{See also|State governments of the United States| Local government in the United States}}
{{Further|List of states and territories of the United States|Indian reservation|Territories of the United States|Territorial evolution of the United States}}
Each of the 50 states holds jurisdiction over a geographic territory, where it shares ] with the federal government. They are subdivided into ], and further divided into ]. The District of Columbia is a ] that contains the capital of the United States, the ].<ref>{{usc|8|1101}}(a)(36) and {{usc|8|1101}}(a)(38) U.S. Federal Code, Immigration and Nationality Act. {{USC|8|1101a}}</ref> Each state has the amount ] equal to the number of their representatives plus senators in Congress, and District of Columbia has three electors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Electoral College Fast Facts {{!}} U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives|url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Electoral-College/Electoral-College/|website=history.house.gov|access-date=August 21, 2015}}</ref> Territories of the United States do not have presidential electors, therefore people there cannot vote for the president.<ref name="Territories1">{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3736845/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-voting-rights/|title=Watch John Oliver Cast His Ballot for Voting Rights for U.S. Territories|last=Locker|first=Melissa|date=March 9, 2015|magazine=Time|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref>


In the ], sovereign powers are shared between two levels of elected government: national and state. People in the states are also represented by ], which are administrative divisions of the states.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levy |first1=Robert A. |title=Rights, Powers, Dual Sovereignty, and Federalism |url=https://www.cato.org/policy-report/september/october-2011/rights-powers-dual-sovereignty-federalism# |website=Cato Institute |access-date=January 13, 2024 |date=October 2011}}</ref> States are subdivided into ], and ]. The District of Columbia is a ] containing the U.S. capital, ]<ref>{{usc|8|1101}}(a)(36) and {{usc|8|1101}}(a)(38) U.S. Federal Code, Immigration and Nationality Act. {{USC|8|1101a}}</ref> The federal district is an administrative division of the federal government.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Feldstein |first=Martin |date=March 2017 |title=Why is Growth Better in the United States Than in Other Industrial Countries? |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3386/w23221 |journal=] |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |doi=10.3386/w23221}}</ref> ] govern 326 ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a federal Indian reservation? |url=https://www.bia.gov/faqs/what-federal-indian-reservation#:~:text=There%20are%20approximately%20326%20Indian,%2C%20communities%2C%20etc.). |access-date=August 26, 2023 |website=bia.gov | date=August 19, 2017 |publisher=]}}</ref>
], the District of Columbia, and all major U.S. territories except American Samoa.{{efn|People born in American Samoa are non-citizen U.S. nationals, unless one of their parents is a U.S. citizen.<ref name="AS_citizenship"/> In 2019, a court ruled that American Samoans are U.S. citizens, but the litigation is onging.<ref>{{cite news|last=Alvarez|first=Priscilla|title=Federal judge rules American Samoans are US citizens by birth|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/12/politics/american-samoa-citizenship/index.html|date=December 12, 2019|website=CNN|access-date=October 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Romboy|first=Dennis|title=Judge puts citizenship ruling for American Samoans on hold|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/46690822|date=December 13, 2019|website=KSL.com|access-date=October 6, 2020}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Keating |first=Joshua |date=June 5, 2015 |title=How Come American Samoans Still Don't Have U.S. Citizenship at Birth? |url=https://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/06/05/american_samoa_the_only_place_in_the_u_s_where_citizenship_isn_t_granted.html |via=Slate}}</ref><ref name="AS_citizenship">{{cite web |title=American Samoa and the Citizenship Clause: A Study in Insular Cases Revisionism |url=https://harvardlawreview.org/2017/04/american-samoa-and-the-citizenship-clause/ |access-date=January 5, 2018 |website=harvardlawreview.org}}</ref> The United States observes limited ] of the American Indian nations, like states' sovereignty. American Indians are U.S. citizens and tribal lands are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress and the federal courts. Like the states, tribes have some autonomy restrictions. They are prohibited from making war, engaging in their own foreign relations, and printing or issuing independent currency.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions|url=https://www.bia.gov/FAQs/|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs|access-date=January 16, 2016}}</ref> ] are usually contained within one state, but there are 12 reservations that cross state boundaries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/tribal/tribes-organizations-health/tribes/geography.html|title=Tribal Geography in Relation to State Boundaries}}</ref>
{{USA image map}} {{USA image map}}


===Foreign relations=== === Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of the United States|Foreign policy of the United States}} {{Main|Foreign relations of the United States|Foreign policy of the United States}}
] has been situated along the ] in ] since 1952. The United States is a founding member of the UN.|alt=see caption|left]] ] has been situated along the ] in ] since 1952; in 1945, the United States was a ].|alt=see caption]]


The United States has an established structure of foreign relations, and it had the world's second-largest diplomatic corps in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globaldiplomacyindex.lowyinstitute.org/country_rank.html |title=Global Diplomacy Index&nbsp;– Country Rank|publisher=]|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> It is a ] of the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/current-members|title=Current Members|work=]|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> and home to the ].<ref>{{cite journal|title=United Nations Headquarters Agreement|journal=The American Journal of International Law |volume=42|number=2|date=April 1948|pages=445–447|publisher=]|doi=10.2307/2193692|jstor=2193692|s2cid=246008694 }}</ref> The United States is also a member of the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/where-g7-headed|title=Where is the G7 Headed?|work=]|location=New York City|date=28 June 2022}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-and-g20-building-a-more-peaceful-stable-and-prosperous-world-together/|title=The United States and G20: Building a More Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous World Together|date=6 July 2022|work=]|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> and ] intergovernmental organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/about/members-and-partners/|title=Our global reach|work=]|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> Almost all countries have ] and many have ] (official representatives) in the country. Likewise, nearly all nations host formal ] with United States, except ],<ref>{{cite report |last1=Fialho |first1=Livia Pontes |last2=Wallin |first2=Matthew |title=Reaching for an Audience: U.S. Public Diplomacy Towards Iran |date=1 August 2013 |publisher=American Security Project |jstor=resrep06070}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42351336|title=Which are the countries still talking to North Korea?|newspaper=]|location=London|date=December 19, 2017|access-date=July 15, 2022|last1=Oliver|first1=Alex|last2=Graham|first2=Euan|quote=The United States has never established diplomatic relations with North Korea.}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/the-case-for-a-stronger-bhutanese-american-relationship/|title=The Case for Stronger Bhutanese-American Ties|newspaper=]|date=December 22, 2014|last=Ferraro|first=Matthew F.|quote=While Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971, it does not have diplomatic relations with any of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, including the United States and China.|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> Though ] does not have formal diplomatic relations with the U.S., it maintains close, if unofficial, relations. The United States also regularly supplies Taiwan with ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/09/22/915818283/formal-ties-with-u-s-not-for-now-says-taiwan-foreign-minister|title=Formal Ties With U.S.? Not For Now, Says Taiwan Foreign Minister|newspaper=]|date=September 22, 2020|last=Ruwitch|first=John|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> The United States has an established structure of foreign relations, and it has the world's ] {{As of|2024|lc=y}}. It is a ],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/current-members|title=Current Members|work=]|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> and home to the ].<ref>{{cite journal|title=United Nations Headquarters Agreement|journal=The American Journal of International Law |volume=42|number=2|date=April 1948|pages=445–447|publisher=]|doi=10.2307/2193692|jstor=2193692|s2cid=246008694 }}</ref> The United States is a member of the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/where-g7-headed|title=Where is the G7 Headed?|work=]|location=New York City|date=June 28, 2022}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-and-g20-building-a-more-peaceful-stable-and-prosperous-world-together/|title=The United States and G20: Building a More Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous World Together|date=July 6, 2022|work=]|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> and ] intergovernmental organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/about/members-and-partners/|title=Our global reach|work=]|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> Almost all countries have ] and many have ] (official representatives) in the country. Likewise, nearly all countries host formal ]s with the United States, except ],<ref>{{cite report |last1=Fialho |first1=Livia Pontes |last2=Wallin |first2=Matthew |title=Reaching for an Audience: U.S. Public Diplomacy Towards Iran |date=August 1, 2013 |publisher=American Security Project |jstor=resrep06070}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42351336|title=Which are the countries still talking to North Korea?|newspaper=]|location=London|date=December 19, 2017|access-date=July 15, 2022|last1=Oliver|first1=Alex|last2=Graham|first2=Euan}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/the-case-for-a-stronger-bhutanese-american-relationship/|title=The Case for Stronger Bhutanese-American Ties|newspaper=]|date=December 22, 2014|last=Ferraro|first=Matthew F.|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> Though ] does not have formal diplomatic relations with the U.S., it maintains close unofficial relations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2022 |title=US will continue to strengthen 'unofficial ties' with Taiwan, says Harris |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3194126/us-will-continue-strengthen-unofficial-ties-taiwan-vice |access-date=September 28, 2022 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> The United States regularly ] to deter potential Chinese aggression.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/09/22/915818283/formal-ties-with-u-s-not-for-now-says-taiwan-foreign-minister|title=Formal Ties With U.S.? Not For Now, Says Taiwan Foreign Minister|publisher=]|date=September 22, 2020|last=Ruwitch|first=John|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref> Its geopolitical attention also turned to the ] when the United States joined the ] with Australia, India, and Japan.<ref name="kobara">{{cite news |last1=Kobara |first1=Junnosuke |last2=Moriyasu |first2=Ken |date=March 27, 2021 |title=Japan will turn to Quad in 'nealsow Cold War': Defense Ministry think tank |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-will-turn-to-Quad-in-new-Cold-War-Defense-Ministry-think-tank |access-date=April 13, 2021 |work=Nikkei Asia}}</ref>


The United States has a "]" with the ]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jLy-NKnQitIC&q=uk+us+special+relationship&pg=PA45|title=America's 'Special Relationships': Foreign and Domestic Aspects of the Politics of Alliance|page=45|first1=John|first2=Axel|last2=Schäfer|last1=Dumbrell|year=2009|isbn=978-0-203-87270-3|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> and strong ties with ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/96-397.pdf|title=Canada–U.S. Relations|author1=Ek, Carl|author2=Ian F. Fergusson|name-list-style=amp|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=September 3, 2010|access-date=August 28, 2011}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite book|title=Australia: Background and U.S. Relations|author=Vaughn, Bruce|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=August 8, 2008|oclc = 70208969}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32876.pdf|title=New Zealand: Background and Bilateral Relations with the United States|author=Vaughn, Bruce|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=May 27, 2011|access-date=August 28, 2011}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33233.pdf|title=The Republic of the Philippines and U.S. Interests|author=Lum, Thomas|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=January 3, 2011|access-date=August 3, 2011}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33436.pdf|title=Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress|author=Chanlett-Avery, Emma|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=June 8, 2011|access-date=August 28, 2011|display-authors=etal}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41481.pdf|title=U.S.–South Korea Relations: Issues for Congress|author=Mark E. Manyin|author2=Emma Chanlett-Avery|author3=Mary Beth Nikitin|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=July 8, 2011|access-date=August 28, 2011}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33476.pdf|title=Israel: Background and U.S. Relations|author=Zanotti, Jim|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=July 31, 2014|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> and several ] countries (], ], ], ], and ]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-poland/|title=U.S. Relations With Poland}}</ref> The U.S. works closely with its ] allies on military and ] issues, and with nations in the Americas through the ] and the ]. In ], ] is traditionally considered to be the closest ally of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Untapped Potential of the US-Colombia Partnership|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/untapped-potential-us-colombia-partnership/|date=September 26, 2019|website=Atlantic Council|language=en|access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Relations With Colombia|url=https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-colombia/|website=United States Department of State|language=en|access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref> The U.S. exercises full international defense authority and responsibility for ], the ] and ] through the ].<ref>{{cite book |author=Charles L. Zelden |url=https://archive.org/details/judicialbranchof0000zeld |title=The Judicial Branch of Federal Government: People, Process, and Politics |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85109-702-9 |page= |access-date=October 25, 2015 |url-access=registration}}<br />{{cite book |author1=Loren Yager |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TfoBd7_KsZMC&pg=PA7 |title=Foreign Relations: Migration from Micronesian Nations Has Had Significant Impact on Guam, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands |author2=Emil Friberg |author3=Leslie Holen |date=2003 |publisher=Diane Publishing |isbn=978-0-7567-3394-0 |page=7}}</ref> In the 21st century, U.S. relations with ] and ] have deteriorated significantly.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rumer|first1=Eugene|last2=Sokolsky|first2=Richard|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/06/20/thirty-years-of-u.s.-policy-toward-russia-can-vicious-circle-be-broken-pub-79323|title=Thirty Years of U.S. Policy Toward Russia: Can the Vicious Circle Be Broken?|publisher=]|location=Washington, D.C.|date=20 June 2019|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last=Meidan |first=Michal |title=US-China: The Great Decoupling |date=1 July 2019 |publisher=] |jstor=resrep33982}}</ref> The United States has a "]" ]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jLy-NKnQitIC&q=uk+us+special+relationship&pg=PA45|title=America's 'Special Relationships': Foreign and Domestic Aspects of the Politics of Alliance|page=45|first1=John|first2=Axel|last2=Schäfer|last1=Dumbrell|year=2009|publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-203-87270-3|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> and strong ties ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/96-397.pdf|title=Canada–U.S. Relations|author1=Ek, Carl|first2=Ian F.|last2=Fergusson|name-list-style=amp|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=September 3, 2010|access-date=August 28, 2011}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite book|title=Australia: Background and U.S. Relations|author=Vaughn, Bruce|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=August 8, 2008|oclc = 70208969}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32876.pdf|title=New Zealand: Background and Bilateral Relations with the United States|author=Vaughn, Bruce|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=May 27, 2011|access-date=August 28, 2011}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33233.pdf|title=The Republic of the Philippines and U.S. Interests|author=Lum, Thomas|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=January 3, 2011|access-date=August 3, 2011}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33436.pdf|title=Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress|author=Chanlett-Avery, Emma|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=June 8, 2011|access-date=August 28, 2011|display-authors=etal}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41481.pdf|title=U.S.–South Korea Relations: Issues for Congress|first1=Mark E.|last1=Manyin|first2=Emma|last2=Chanlett-Avery|first3=Mary Beth|last3=Nikitin|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=July 8, 2011|access-date=August 28, 2011}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33476.pdf|title=Israel: Background and U.S. Relations|author=Zanotti, Jim|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=July 31, 2014|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> and several ] (], ], ], ], and ]).<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 20, 2021|url=https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-poland/|title=U.S. Relations With Poland|website=State.gov|access-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref> The U.S. works closely with its ] allies on military and ] issues, and with countries in the Americas through the ] and the ]. In South America, ] is traditionally considered to be the closest ally of the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Untapped Potential of the US-Colombia Partnership|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/untapped-potential-us-colombia-partnership/|date=September 26, 2019|website=Atlantic Council|language=en|access-date=May 30, 2020|last1=Kimer |first1=James }}</ref> The U.S. exercises full international defense authority and responsibility for ], the ], and ] through the ].<ref name=FedJud/> It has increasingly conducted strategic cooperation ],<ref>{{cite web |title=INDO- PACIFIC STRATEGY OF THE UNITED STATES |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/U.S.-Indo-Pacific-Strategy.pdf |publisher=White House |access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> but ] have steadily deteriorated.<ref>{{cite report |last=Meidan |first=Michal |title=US-China: The Great Decoupling |date=July 1, 2019 |publisher=] |jstor=resrep33982}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bala |first=Sumathi |title=U.S.-China relations are going downhill with 'no trust' on either side, Stephen Roach says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/28/us-china-ties-on-dangerous-path-with-no-trust-on-both-sides-roach-cohen.html |access-date=May 7, 2023 |publisher=CNBC |date=March 28, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Since 2014, the U.S. has ];<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rumer|first1=Eugene|last2=Sokolsky|first2=Richard|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/06/20/thirty-years-of-u.s.-policy-toward-russia-can-vicious-circle-be-broken-pub-79323|title=Thirty Years of U.S. Policy Toward Russia: Can the Vicious Circle Be Broken?|newspaper=]|location=Washington, D.C.|date=June 20, 2019|access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref> it has also provided the country with significant military equipment and other support in response to ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Macias |first=Amanda |title=Here's a look at the $5.6 billion in firepower the U.S. has committed to Ukraine in its fight against Russia |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/17/russia-ukraine-war-summary-of-weapons-us-has-given-to-ukraine.html |access-date=September 28, 2022 |publisher=CNBC |date=June 17, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


===Military=== === Military ===
{{Main|United States Armed Forces}} {{Main|United States Armed Forces}}
{{See also|Military history of the United States}}
], near Washington, D.C., is home to the ].]]
], the headquarters of the ] in ], is one of the world's largest office buildings with over {{convert|6.5|e6ft2|m2}} of ].]]
The president is the ] of the United States Armed Forces and appoints its leaders, the ] and the ]. The ], which is headquartered at ] near Washington, D.C., administers five of the six service branches, which are made up of the ], ], ], ], and ]. The ] is administered by the ] in peacetime and can be transferred to the ] in wartime.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfr.org/blog/happy-231st-birthday-united-states-coast-guard|title=Happy 231st Birthday to the United States Coast Guard!|last=Lindsay|first=James M.|publisher=]|location=New York City|date=4 August 2021|access-date=16 July 2022|quote=During peacetime it is part of the Department of Homeland Security. During wartime, or when the president or Congress so direct, it becomes part of the Department of Defense and is included in the Department of the Navy.}}</ref> The United States spent $649 billion on its military in 2019, 36% of global military spending. At 4.7% of GDP, the percentage was the second-highest among all countries, after ].<ref name="StockSpending">{{cite web|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=April 19, 2019|title=World military expenditure grows to $1.8 trillion in 2018|url=https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2019/world-military-expenditure-grows-18-trillion-2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://conifer.rhizome.org/mossypiglet/wikipedia-citations/20200923191410/https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2019/world-military-expenditure-grows-18-trillion-2018|archive-date=September 23, 2020|access-date=September 23, 2020|website=sipri.org|publisher=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute}}</ref> It also has ], the second-largest after Russia.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reichmann|first=Kelsey|date=June 16, 2019|title=Here's how many nuclear warheads exist, and which countries own them|url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/2019/06/16/heres-how-many-nuclear-warheads-exist-and-which-countries-own-them/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://conifer.rhizome.org/mossypiglet/wikipedia-citations/20200923183006/https://www.defensenews.com/global/2019/06/16/heres-how-many-nuclear-warheads-exist-and-which-countries-own-them/|archive-date=September 23, 2020|access-date=September 23, 2020|website=defensenews.com|publisher=Sightline Media Group}}</ref>
The president is the ] of the United States Armed Forces and appoints its leaders, the ] and the ]. The ], which is headquartered at ] near Washington, D.C., administers five of the six service branches, which are made up of the ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/about/our-forces|title=Our Forces|publisher=]|access-date=July 12, 2024}}</ref> The ] is administered by the ] in peacetime and can be transferred to the ] in wartime.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfr.org/blog/happy-231st-birthday-united-states-coast-guard|title=Happy 231st Birthday to the United States Coast Guard!|last=Lindsay|first=James M.|publisher=]|location=New York City|date=August 4, 2021|access-date=July 16, 2022|quote=During peacetime it is part of the Department of Homeland Security. During wartime, or when the president or Congress so direct, it becomes part of the Department of Defense and is included in the Department of the Navy.}}</ref>


The United States ] in 2023, which is by far the ], making up 37% of global military spending and accounting for 3.4% of the country's GDP.'''''<ref name="SIPRI-2020">{{Cite web |date=April 2024 |title=Trends in Military Expenditure 2023 |url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/2404_fs_milex_2023.pdf#page=2 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |publisher=]}}</ref>'''''<ref>{{cite web| url=https://sipri.org/sites/default/files/Data%20for%20all%20countries%20from%201988%E2%80%932020%20in%20constant%20%282019%29%20USD%20%28pdf%29.pdf| title=Data for all countries from 1988–2020 in constant (2019) USD (pdf)| publisher=SIPRI| access-date=April 28, 2021| archive-date=April 28, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428180002/https://sipri.org/sites/default/files/Data%20for%20all%20countries%20from%201988%E2%80%932020%20in%20constant%20(2019)%20USD%20(pdf).pdf| url-status=live}}</ref> The U.S. ]—the second-largest share after Russia.<ref name="Stockholm International Peace Research Institute-2024">{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2024 |title=Role of nuclear weapons grows as geopolitical relations deteriorate—new SIPRI Yearbook out now {{!}} SIPRI |url=https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2024/role-nuclear-weapons-grows-geopolitical-relations-deteriorate-new-sipri-yearbook-out-now |access-date=June 18, 2024 |website=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute |language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, all six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces reported 1.4&nbsp;million personnel on active duty.<ref name="IISS">{{cite book|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=The Military Balance 2019|url=https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/the-military-balance-2019|location=London|publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies|page=47|date=2019|isbn=978-1-85743-988-5|url-status=live|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://conifer.rhizome.org/mossypiglet/wikipedia-citations/20200923020721/https://www.iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/the-military-balance-2019}}</ref> The ] and ] brought the total number of troops to 2.3&nbsp;million.<ref name="IISS" /> The Department of Defense also employed about 700,000 civilians, not including ].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/20/politics/james-mattis-resignation-letter-doc/index.html| title=READ: James Mattis' resignation letter| date=December 21, 2018| work=]| access-date=January 8, 2020| url-status=live|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://conifer.rhizome.org/mossypiglet/wikipedia-citations/20200923022320/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/20/politics/james-mattis-resignation-letter-doc/index.html}}</ref> Military service in the United States is voluntary, although ] may occur in wartime through the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sss.gov/what.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915102215/https://www.sss.gov/what.htm|title=What does Selective Service provide for America?|publisher=Selective Service System|access-date=February 11, 2012|archive-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref> The United States has the third-largest combined armed forces in the world, behind the ] and ].<ref>], pp. 46</ref>


Today, American forces can be rapidly deployed by the Air Force's large fleet of ], the Navy's 11 active ]s, and ]s at sea with the Navy, and Army's ] and ] deployed by Air Force transport aircraft. The Air Force can strike targets across the globe through its fleet of ]s, maintains the ] across the United States, and provides ] to Army and Marine Corps ground forces.<ref>{{cite web|title=Noble Eagle Without End|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0205eagle/|access-date=February 1, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Ups and Downs of Close Air Support|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/article/the-ups-and-downs-of-close-air-support/|access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref> The Space Force operates the ], operates the ] and ]s for all space launches, and operates the United States' ] and ] networks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/article/building-the-space-range-of-the-future/|title=Building the Space Range of the Future|access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.schriever.spaceforce.mil/GPS/#:~:text=The+GPS-dedicated+ground+system+consists+of+six+U.S.,passively+track+the+navigation+signals+on+all+satellites|title=Global Positioning System|website=www.schriever.spaceforce.mil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Space surveillance technologies a top need for U.S. military|date=November 22, 2020|url=https://spacenews.com/space-surveillance-technologies-a-top-need-for-u-s-military/|access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref> The military operates about 800 bases and facilities abroad,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2015/5/18/8600659/military-bases-united-states|title=Why does the US have 800 military bases around the world?|last=Harris|first=Johnny|date=May 18, 2015|website=Vox|access-date=September 23, 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://conifer.rhizome.org/mossypiglet/wikipedia-citations/20200923190617/https://www.vox.com/2015/5/18/8600659/military-bases-united-states}}</ref> and maintains ] in 25 foreign countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/history/hst1003.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724211511/https://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/history/hst1003.pdf|title=Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area and by Country (309A)|publisher=Department of Defense|date=March 31, 2010|access-date=October 7, 2010|archive-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref> The United States has the ] in the world, behind the ] and ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hackett |first1=James |title=The military balance. 2023 |date=2023 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-1032508955}}</ref> The military operates about 800 bases and facilities abroad,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2015/5/18/8600659/military-bases-united-states|title=Why does the US have 800 military bases around the world?|last=Harris|first=Johnny|date=May 18, 2015|website=Vox|access-date=September 23, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924114313/https://www.vox.com/2015/5/18/8600659/military-bases-united-states}}</ref> and maintains ] in 25 foreign countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/history/hst1003.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724211511/https://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/history/hst1003.pdf|title=Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area and by Country (309A)|publisher=Department of Defense|date=March 31, 2010|access-date=October 7, 2010|archive-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref>


] (SDFs) are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government. SDFs are authorized by state and federal law but are under the command of ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statedefenseforce.com/|title=StateDefenseForce.com|date=September 17, 2024|website=StateDefenseForce.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sgaus.org/|title=State Guard Association of the United States – Supporting the State Defense Forces of the United States|website=sgaus.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=32 U.S. Code § 109 – Maintenance of other troops |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/32/109}}</ref>
===Law enforcement and crime===
They are distinct from the state's ] units in that they cannot become federalized entities. A state's National Guard personnel, however, may be federalized under the ], which created the Guard and provides for the integration of ] units and personnel into the U.S. Army and (since 1947) the U.S. Air Force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arng.army.mil/aboutus/history/Pages/ConstitutionalCharteroftheGuard.aspx |title=Legal Basis of the National Guard |publisher=Army National Guard |year=2013 |access-date=17 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521130934/http://www.arng.army.mil/aboutus/history/Pages/ConstitutionalCharteroftheGuard.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2013 }}</ref>
{{Main|Law enforcement in the United States|Crime in the United States}}
] in the United States by year (1920–2014)|alt=Chart depicting a steep increase in the number of incarcerated Americans from the 1980s to the 2000s]]
There are about 18,000 U.S. police agencies from local to federal level in the United States.<ref>, '']'', Charles Ramsey, July 10, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2021.</ref> Law in the United States is mainly ] by local police departments and ]'s offices. The ] provides broader services, and ] such as the ] (FBI) and the ] have specialized duties, such as protecting ], ] and enforcing ]' rulings and federal laws.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Agencies, Who Governs & What They Do|publisher=Chiff.com|url=https://www.chiff.com/police/federal-police-agencies.htm|access-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210040432/https://www.chiff.com/police/federal-police-agencies.htm|archive-date=February 10, 2014|url-status= }}</ref> ]s conduct most civil and criminal trials,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Manweller|first1=Mathew|editor1-last=Hogan|editor1-first=Sean O.|title=The Judicial Branch of State Government: People, Process, and Politics|date=2006|publisher=]|location=]|isbn=978-1-851-09751-7|pages=37–96|chapter-url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Judicial_Branch_of_State_Government/ong5k8n97P4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&&pg=PA55&printsec=frontcover|access-date=5 October 2020|chapter=Chapter 2, The Roles, Functions, and Powers of State Courts}}</ref> and federal courts handle designated crimes and appeals from the state criminal courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/justice-101/federal-courts|title=Introduction To The Federal Court System|work=]|date=November 7, 2014 |publisher=]|access-date=14 July 2022|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>


=== Law enforcement and criminal justice ===
{{as of|2020}}, the United States has an ] of 7 per 100,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/VC.IHR.PSRC.P5?locations=US|title=Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) - United States|work=]|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref> A cross-sectional analysis of the ] Mortality Database from 2010 showed that United States homicide rates "were 7.0 times higher than in other high-income countries, driven by a gun homicide rate that was 25.2 times higher."<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Grinshteyn|first1=Erin|last2=Hemenway|first2=David|date=March 2016|title=Violent Death Rates: The US Compared with Other High-income OECD Countries, 2010|url=https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(15)01030-X/fulltext|journal=]|volume=129|issue=3|pages=226–273|doi=10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.10.025|pmid=26551975|access-date=June 18, 2017|doi-access=free}}</ref>
{{Main|Law of the United States|Law enforcement in the United States|Crime in the United States}}
{{See also|Censorship in the United States|Race and crime in the United States}}
], the headquarters of the ] (FBI), in ]]]
There are about 18,000 U.S. police agencies from local to national level in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Banks |first1=Duren |last2=Hendrix |first2=Joshua |last3=Hickman |first3=Mathhew |date=October 4, 2016 |title=National Sources of Law Enforcement Employment Data |url=https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/nsleed.pdf |journal=] |pages=1}}</ref> Law in the United States is mainly enforced by local police departments and ] in their municipal or county jurisdictions. ] departments ], and ] such as the ] (FBI) and the ] have national jurisdiction and specialized duties, such as protecting ], ] and enforcing ]' rulings and federal laws.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Agencies, Who Governs & What They Do|publisher=Chiff.com|url=https://www.chiff.com/police/federal-police-agencies.htm|access-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210040432/https://www.chiff.com/police/federal-police-agencies.htm|archive-date=February 10, 2014|url-status= }}</ref> ] conduct most civil and criminal trials,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Manweller|first1=Mathew|editor1-last=Hogan|editor1-first=Sean O.|title=The Judicial Branch of State Government: People, Process, and Politics|date=2006|publisher=]|location=]|isbn=978-1-85109-751-7|pages=37–96|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ong5k8n97P4C&pg=PA55|access-date=October 5, 2020|chapter=Chapter 2, The Roles, Functions, and Powers of State Courts}}</ref> and federal courts handle designated crimes and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/justice-101/federal-courts|title=Introduction To The Federal Court System|work=]|date=November 7, 2014 |publisher=]|access-date=July 14, 2022|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>


There is no unified "criminal justice system" in the United States. The ] is largely heterogenous, with thousands of relatively independent systems operating across federal, state, local, and tribal levels. In 2023, "these systems almost 2 million people in 1,566 state prisons, 98 federal prisons, 3,116 local jails, 1,323 juvenile correctional facilities, 181 immigration detention facilities, and 80 Indian country jails, as well as in ], civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and prisons in the U.S. territories."<ref name="Sawyer-2023">{{Cite web |last1=Sawyer |first1=Wendy |last2=Wagner |first2=Peter |title=Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023 |url=https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2023.html |date=July 6, 2023 |access-date=August 23, 2024| website=Prison Policy Initiative |language=en}}</ref> Despite disparate systems of confinement, four main institutions dominate: ], ], local jails, and ].<ref name="National Academies Press-2014">{{Cite book |url=http://www.nap.edu/catalog/18613 |title=The Growth of Incarceration in the United States: Exploring Causes and Consequences |date=April 24, 2014 |publisher=National Academies Press |isbn=978-0-309-29801-8 |location=Washington, D.C.|doi=10.17226/18613 }}</ref> Federal prisons are run by the ] and hold people who have been convicted of federal crimes, including pretrial detainees.<ref name="National Academies Press-2014" /> State prisons, run by the official department of correction of each state, hold sentenced people serving prison time (usually longer than one year) for felony offenses.<ref name="National Academies Press-2014" /> Local jails are county or municipal facilities that incarcerate defendants prior to trial; they also hold those serving short sentences (typically under a year).<ref name="National Academies Press-2014" /> Juvenile correctional facilities are operated by local or state governments and serve as longer-term placements for any minor adjudicated as delinquent and ordered by a judge to be confined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=The Annie E. Casey |date=November 14, 2020 |title=Juvenile Detention Explained |url=https://www.aecf.org/blog/what-is-juvenile-detention |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=The Annie E. Casey Foundation |language=en}}</ref>
The United States has the ] and ] in the world.<ref>], </ref> In 2019, the total prison population for those sentenced to more than a year is 1,430,800, corresponding to a ratio of 419 per 100,000 residents and the lowest since 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/p19_pr.pdf|title=US Department of Justice, Oct. 22, 2020}}</ref> Some estimates place that number higher, such ]'s 2.3 million.<ref name="WholePie2020">{{cite report|url=https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2020.html|title=Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2020|last1=Sawyer|first1=Wendy|last2=Wagner|first2=Peter|date=March 24, 2020|publisher=Prison Policy Initiative|issue=|doi=|volume=|pmid=|access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref> Various states have attempted to ] via government policies and grassroots initiatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/decarceration-strategies-5-states-achieved-substantial-prison-population-reductions/|title=Decarceration Strategies: How 5 States Achieved Substantial Prison Population Reductions|date=5 September 2018|access-date=16 July 2022|last1=Schrantz|first1=Dennis|last2=DeBor|first2=Stephen|last3=Mauer|first3=Marc|publisher=]|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>


As of January 2023, the United States has the ] in the world&mdash;531 people per 100,000 inhabitants&mdash;and the largest prison and jail population in the world, with ].<ref name="Sawyer-2023" /><ref>. ].</ref><ref name="WorldPrisonBrief">. ] (WPB). Use the dropdown menu to choose lists of countries by region or the whole world. Use the menu to select highest-to-lowest lists of prison population totals, prison population rates, percentage of pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners, percentage of female prisoners, percentage of foreign prisoners, and occupancy rate. Column headings in WPB tables can be clicked to reorder columns lowest to highest, or alphabetically. For detailed information for each country click on any country name in lists. See the and click on the map links or the sidebar links to get to the region and country desired.</ref> An analysis of the ] Mortality Database from 2010 showed U.S. homicide rates "were 7 times higher than in other high-income countries, driven by ] that was 25 times higher".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Grinshteyn|first1=Erin|last2=Hemenway|first2=David|date=March 2016|title=Violent Death Rates: The US Compared with Other High-income OECD Countries, 2010|url=https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(15)01030-X/fulltext|journal=]|volume=129|issue=3|pages=226–273|doi=10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.10.025|pmid=26551975|access-date=June 18, 2017|doi-access=free}}</ref>
Although most nations have abolished ],<ref name="Arthur2020">{{cite book|author=Mikaila Mariel Lemonik Arthur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4bvEDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA179|title=Law and Justice around the World: A Comparative Approach|publisher=Univ of California Press|year=2020|isbn=978-0-520-30001-9|pages=179–180}}</ref> it is sanctioned in the United States for certain federal and military crimes, and at the state level in 28 states, though three states have ] on carrying out the penalty imposed by their governors.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Connor|first1=Tracy|last2=Chuck|first2=Elizabeth|date=May 28, 2015|title=Nebraska's Death Penalty Repealed With Veto Override|work=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nebraskas-death-penalty-repealed-veto-override-n365456|access-date=June 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Simpson|first=Ian|date=May 2, 2013|title=Maryland becomes latest U.S. state to abolish death penalty|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-maryland-deathpenalty-idUSBRE9410TQ20130502|access-date=April 6, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=State by State|url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-and-federal-info/state-by-state|access-date=October 6, 2020|website=Death Penalty Information Center|language=en}}</ref> Since 1977, there have been more than 1,500 executions,<ref>{{cite web|title=Searchable Execution Database|url=https://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/views-executions|access-date=October 10, 2012|publisher=]}}</ref> giving the U.S. the sixth-highest number of executions in the world, following ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|year=2019|title=Death Sentences and Executions 2019|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act50/1847/2020/en/|access-date=May 30, 2020|publisher=Amnesty International USA}}</ref> However, the number is trended down nationally, with ] recently abolishing the penalty.<ref name=":0" /><ref>, '']'', Robert Durham, February 18, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref>


==Economy== == Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of the United States}} {{Main|Economy of the United States}}
{{Further|Economic history of the United States}} {{further|Economic history of the United States|Tourism in the United States}}
] (featuring ]) is the currency most used in ] and is the world's foremost ].<ref name="federalreserve.gov"/>]] ], the most-used currency ] and the world's foremost ]<ref name="federalreserve.gov">{{cite web |title=The Implementation of Monetary Policy – The Federal Reserve in the International Sphere |url=http://www.federalreserve.gov/pf/pdf/pf_4.pdf |access-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref>]]
] on ], the world's largest stock exchange by ] of its listed companies<ref name=NYSEhighestcap>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/nyse-new-york-stock-exchange/|title=NYSE: What Is The New York Stock Exchange|author= Kat Tretina and Benjamin Curry|work=Forbes|date=April 9, 2021|access-date=July 24, 2022}}</ref>]]
According to the ], the U.S. ] (GDP) of $22.7&nbsp;trillion constitutes 24% of the ] at market exchange rates and over 16% of the gross world product at ] (PPP).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2021/April/weo-report?c=111,&s=NGDP_R,NGDP_RPCH,NGDP,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDP_D,NGDPRPC,NGDPRPPPPC,NGDPPC,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,NGAP_NPGDP,PPPSH,PPPEX,NID_NGDP,NGSD_NGDP,PCPI,PCPIPCH,PCPIE,PCPIEPCH,FLIBOR6,TM_RPCH,TMG_RPCH,TX_RPCH,TXG_RPCH,LUR,LE,LP,GGR,GGR_NGDP,GGX,GGX_NGDP,GGXCNL,GGXCNL_NGDP,GGSB,GGSB_NPGDP,GGXONLB,GGXONLB_NGDP,GGXWDN,GGXWDN_NGDP,GGXWDG,GGXWDG_NGDP,NGDP_FY,BCA,BCA_NGDPD,&sy=2019&ey=2021&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|website=www.imf.org}}</ref><ref name="IMF.WEO.US" /> From 1983 to 2008, U.S. real compounded annual GDP growth was 3.3%, compared to a 2.3% weighted average for the rest of the G7.<ref name="Hagopian">{{cite journal |author=Hagopian |first=Kip |last2=Ohanian |first2=Lee |date=August 1, 2012 |title=The Mismeasure of Inequality |url=https://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/123566 |url-status=dead |journal=Policy Review |volume= |issue=174 |pages= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012353/https://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/123566 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |via=}}</ref> The country ranks fifth in the world in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=United Nations Statistics Division—National Accounts |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/snaama/selbasicFast.asp |access-date=June 1, 2018 |website=unstats.un.org}}</ref> and seventh in ].<ref name="IMF.WEO.US" /> The country has been the ] since at least 1900.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fordham |first=Benjamin |date=October 2017 |title=Protectionist Empire: Trade, Tariffs, and United States Foreign Policy, 1890–1914 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0898588x17000116 |journal=Studies in American Political Development |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=170–192 |doi=10.1017/s0898588x17000116 |s2cid=148917255 |issn=0898-588X}}</ref>


The U.S. has been the world's ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fordham |first=Benjamin |date=October 2017 |title=Protectionist Empire: Trade, Tariffs, and United States Foreign Policy, 1890–1914 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0898588x17000116 |journal=Studies in American Political Development |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=170–192 |doi=10.1017/s0898588x17000116 |s2cid=148917255 |issn=0898-588X}}</ref> The 2023 nominal U.S. ] (GDP) of more than $27&nbsp;trillion was the highest in the world, constituting over 25% of the global economy or 15% at ] (PPP).<ref name="IMFWEO.US" /><ref name="IMF-2023">{{cite web |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/April/weo-report?c=111,&s=NGDP_R,NGDP_RPCH,NGDP,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDP_D,NGDPRPC,NGDPRPPPPC,NGDPPC,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,NGAP_NPGDP,PPPSH,PPPEX,NID_NGDP,NGSD_NGDP,PCPI,PCPIPCH,PCPIE,PCPIEPCH,FLIBOR6,TM_RPCH,TMG_RPCH,TX_RPCH,TXG_RPCH,LUR,LE,LP,GGR,GGR_NGDP,GGX,GGX_NGDP,GGXCNL,GGXCNL_NGDP,GGSB,GGSB_NPGDP,GGXONLB,GGXONLB_NGDP,GGXWDN,GGXWDN_NGDP,GGXWDG,GGXWDG_NGDP,NGDP_FY,BCA,BCA_NGDPD,&sy=2021&ey=2023&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |website=Imf.org}}</ref> From 1983 to 2008, U.S. real compounded annual GDP growth was 3.3%, compared to a 2.3% weighted average for the rest of the ].<ref name="Hagopian">{{cite journal |author=Hagopian |first1=Kip |last2=Ohanian |first2=Lee |date=August 1, 2012 |title=The Mismeasure of Inequality |url=https://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/123566 |url-status=dead |journal=Policy Review |issue=174 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012353/https://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/123566 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=January 23, 2020 }}</ref> The country ranks ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bea.gov/news/2023/gross-domestic-product-fourth-quarter-and-year-2022-third-estimate-gdp-industry-and|title=Gross Domestic Product, Fourth Quarter and Year 2022 (Third Estimate), GDP by Industry, and Corporate Profits|publisher=]}}</ref> ] (PPP),<ref name="IMFWEO.US" /> and ].<ref name="IMFWEO.US" /> It possesses the ] among ] countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Household disposable income |url=https://data.oecd.org/hha/household-disposable-income.htm |website=OECD Data |language=en}}</ref> As of February 2024, the total ] was $34.4 trillion.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=Michelle|date=March 1, 2024|title=The U.S. national debt is rising by $1 trillion about every 100 days|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/01/the-us-national-debt-is-rising-by-1-trillion-about-every-100-days.html}}</ref>
The United States is the most ] powerful and ] nation, especially in ], ], ], and ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-states/ |title=United States reference resource |work=] ] |access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref> The nation's economy is fueled by abundant ]s, a well-developed infrastructure, and high productivity.<ref name="Wright, Gavin 2007 p. 185">Wright, Gavin, and Jesse Czelusta, "Resource-Based Growth Past and Present", in ''Natural Resources: Neither Curse Nor Destiny'', ed. Daniel Lederman and William Maloney (World Bank, 2007), p. 185. {{ISBN|0821365452}}.</ref> It has the second-highest total-estimated value of natural resources, valued at ] 44.98{{nbs}}trillion in 2019, although sources differ on their estimates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets-economy/090516/10-countries-most-natural-resources.asp|title=10 Countries With The Most Natural Resources|date=September 12, 2016|last=Anthony|first=Craig|website=]}}</ref> Americans have the highest average ] and ] income among ] member states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/income/|title=Income|work=Better Life Index|publisher=OECD|access-date=September 28, 2019|quote=In the United States, the average household net adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 45 284 a year, much higher than the OECD average of USD 33 604 and the highest figure in the OECD.}}</ref> In 2013, they had the sixth-highest ], down from fourth-highest in 2010.<ref name="Household Income">{{cite journal|title=Household Income|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/society-at-a-glance-2014_soc_glance-2014-en|journal=Society at a Glance 2014: OECD Social Indicators|publisher=OECD Publishing|access-date=May 29, 2014|doi=10.1787/soc_glance-2014-en |date=March 18, 2014|series=Society at a Glance|isbn=9789264200722|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite web |title=OECD Better Life Index |url= http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |publisher=OECD |access-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref>
], the world's ],<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2024 |title=Microsoft back as most valuable listed company as Nvidia slips |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8884389l35o |access-date=August 6, 2024 |website=] |language=en-GB}}</ref> has its global headquarters in ], north of Seattle.]]
Of the world's ], ] as of 2023,<ref name="Fortune-2022">{{Cite web |title=Global 500 |url=https://fortune.com/ranking/global500/ |access-date=August 3, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> which is the highest number of any country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hyam |first=Benji |date=November 29, 2023 |title=Most Profitable Companies: U.S. vs. Rest of the World, 2023 |url=https://www.growandconvert.com/research/most-profitable-fortune-500-companies-in-2023/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=www.growandconvert.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The ] is the currency most used ] and is the world's foremost ], backed by the country's dominant economy, ], the ] system, and its linked ] and large ].<ref name="federalreserve.gov" /> ], and in others it is the ].<ref name="Benjamin J. Cohen 2006, p. 17">Benjamin J. Cohen, ''The Future of Money'', Princeton University Press, 2006, {{ISBN|0691116660}}; ''cf''. "the dollar is the de facto currency in Cambodia", Charles Agar, ''] Vietnam'', 2006, {{ISBN|0471798169}}, p. 17.</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 31, 2014 |title=US GDP Growth Rate by Year |url=http://www.multpl.com/us-gdp-growth-rate/table/by-year |access-date=June 18, 2014 |website=multpl.com |publisher=US Bureau of Economic Analysis}}</ref> It has ] with ], including the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=United States free trade agreements |url=https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements |access-date=May 31, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> The U.S. ranked second in the ] in 2019, after Singapore.<ref name="World Economic Forum">{{cite web |title=Rankings: Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR2013-14/GCR_Rankings_2013-14.pdf |access-date=June 1, 2014 |publisher=World Economic Forum}}</ref> Although the United States has reached a ]<ref name="Collins-2023">{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Michael |date=August 11, 2023 |title=The Post-Industrial Service Economy Isn't Working for the Middle Class |url=https://www.industryweek.com/the-economy/data-and-statistics/article/21271497/the-post-industrial-service-economy-isnt-working |access-date=August 10, 2024 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> and is often described as having a ],<ref name="Collins-2023" /><ref name="Econ">{{cite web |title=USA Economy in Brief |url=https://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/economy-in-brief/page3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312123609/https://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/economy-in-brief/page3.html |archive-date=March 12, 2008 |publisher=U.S. Dept. of State, International Information Programs}}</ref> it ].<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2010 |title=The State of Manufacturing in the United States |url=http://trade.gov/manufactureamerica/facts/tg_mana_003019.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226011512/http://trade.gov/manufactureamerica/facts/tg_mana_003019.asp |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |publisher=International Trade Administration }}</ref> {{As of|2021}}, the U.S. is the ] after China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manufacturing, Value Added (Current US$) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.IND.MANF.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107135049/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.IND.MANF.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true |archive-date=January 7, 2020 |access-date=July 14, 2021 |publisher=]}}</ref>
] on ], the world's ]<ref name=NYSEhighestcap>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/nyse-new-york-stock-exchange/|title=NYSE: What Is The New York Stock Exchange|author= Kat Tretina and Benjamin Curry|work=Forbes|date=April 9, 2021|access-date=July 24, 2022}}</ref>]]
] is the world's principal ]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Huw |date=March 24, 2022 |title=New York widens lead over London in top finance centres index |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/new-york-widens-lead-over-london-top-finance-centres-index-2022-03-24/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |website=]}}</ref><ref name=NYCFintechAndFinancialCapitalWorld>{{cite web |url = https://www.longfinance.net/publications/long-finance-reports/the-global-financial-centres-index-35/|title = The Global Financial Centres Index 35|date = March 21, 2024|publisher = Long Finance|access-date = May 1, 2024}}</ref> and the epicenter of the world's ].<ref name="NYCEpicenterUSMetroEconomy">{{cite web |author=Ghosh |first=Iman |date=September 24, 2020 |title=This 3D map shows the U.S. cities with the highest economic output |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/09/united-states-america-economic-output-new-york-la/ |access-date=March 5, 2023 |publisher=World Economic Forum |quote=The New York metro area dwarfs all other cities for economic output by a large margin.}}</ref> The ] and ], both located in New York City, are the world's two ] by ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Monthly Reports – World Federation of Exchanges |url=https://www.world-exchanges.org/our-work/statistics |publisher=WFE}}</ref><ref name="sfc.hk">. Securities and Exchange Commission (China).</ref> The United States is at or near the forefront of ] and ]<ref>{{Cite book |last=WIPO |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2022/index.html |title=Global Innovation Index 2022, 15th Edition |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |year=2022 |isbn=9789280534320 |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |access-date=February 25, 2023}}</ref> in many economic fields, especially in ]; ] and ]s; ]; and medical, ] and ].<ref name="CIA-2018" /> The country's economy is fueled by abundant ]s, a well-developed ], and ].<ref name="Wright, Gavin 2007 p. 185">Wright, Gavin, and Jesse Czelusta, "Resource-Based Growth Past and Present", in ''Natural Resources: Neither Curse Nor Destiny'', ed. Daniel Lederman and William Maloney (World Bank, 2007), p. 185. {{ISBN|0821365452}}.</ref> The ] are the ], Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, India, and Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 2022 |title=Top Trading Partners – October 2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top1612yr.html |access-date=May 12, 2023 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The United States is the world's ] and the ].{{efn|A country's total exports are usually understood to be goods and services. Based on this, the U.S. is the world's second-largest exporter, after China.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Trade Statistical Review 2019 |url=https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/wts2019_e/wts2019_e.pdf |access-date=May 31, 2019 |work=] |page=100}}</ref> However, if primary income is included, the U.S. is the world's largest exporter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exports of goods, services and primary income (BoP, current US$) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.TOTL.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref>}} It is by far the world's ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service exports (BoP, current US$) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.NFSV.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true&year_high_desc=false |access-date=August 4, 2023 |publisher=World Bank}}</ref>


Americans have the highest average ] and ] among ] member states,<ref>{{cite web |title=Income |url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/income/ |access-date=September 28, 2019 |work=Better Life Index |publisher=OECD |quote=In the United States, the average household net adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 45 284 a year, much higher than the OECD average of USD 33 604 and the highest figure in the OECD.}}</ref> and the fourth-highest ] as of 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Median Income by Country 2023 |url=https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/median-income-by-country/ |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=Wisevoter |language=en-US}}</ref> up from sixth-highest in 2013.<ref name="Household Income">{{cite journal |date=March 18, 2014 |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/society-at-a-glance-2014_soc_glance-2014-en |journal=Society at a Glance 2014: OECD Social Indicators |publisher=OECD Publishing |doi=10.1787/soc_glance-2014-en |isbn=9789264200722 |access-date=May 29, 2014 |doi-access=free |title=Society at a Glance 2014 }}</ref> With personal ] of over $18.5 trillion in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2024 |title=Personal Consumption Expenditures |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PCECA |access-date=July 24, 2024 |website=fred.stlouisfed.org |language=en}}</ref> the U.S. has a heavily ] and is by far the world's ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rocha |first=Laura |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Playing To Win In The U.S. Market |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeseq/2023/08/18/playing-to-win-in-the-us-market/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> ] is ]; the richest 10% of the adult population own 72% of the country's household wealth, while the bottom 50% own just 2%.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Piketty|first1=Thomas|title=Capital in the Twenty-First Century|title-link=Capital in the Twenty-First Century|date=2014|publisher=Belknap Press|page=|author-link1=Thomas Piketty}} {{ISBN|978-0-674-43000-6}}</ref> ] remains at record highs,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/26/income-inequality-america-highest-its-been-since-census-started-tracking-it-data-show/ |title=Income inequality in America is the highest it's been since Census Bureau started tracking it, data shows |newspaper=] |access-date=July 27, 2020}}</ref> with the top fifth of earners taking home more than half of all income<ref>{{Cite news|last=Long|first=Heather|date=September 12, 2017|title=U.S. middle-class incomes reached highest-ever level in 2016, Census Bureau says|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-middle-class-incomes-reached-highest-ever-level-in-2016-census-bureau-says/2017/09/12/7226905e-97de-11e7-b569-3360011663b4_story.html|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> and giving the U.S. one of the widest income distributions among OECD members.<ref name="Sme">{{cite journal |last1=Smeeding |first1=T. M. |year=2005 |title=Public Policy: Economic Inequality and Poverty: The United States in Comparative Perspective |journal=Social Science Quarterly |volume=86 |pages=955–983 |doi=10.1111/j.0038-4941.2005.00331.x |s2cid=154642286}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hopkin|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Hopkin|date=2020 |title=Anti-System Politics: The Crisis of Market Liberalism in Rich Democracies|chapter=American Nightmare: How Neoliberalism Broke US Democracy|url=|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IyXTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA87|location= |publisher=]|pages=87–88 |isbn=978-0190699765|doi=10.1093/oso/9780190699765.003.0004}}</ref> The U.S. ] and ], with 735 billionaires and nearly 22 million millionaires as of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Here's How Many Billionaires And Millionaires Live In The U.S. – Forbes Advisor |url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/retirement/how-many-billionaires-and-millionaires-live-in-the-u-s/#:~:text=As%20of%202023,%20there%20are,your%20own%20definition%20of%20wealth. |access-date=November 20, 2023 |website=Forbes| date=October 20, 2023 }}</ref> There were about 582,500 sheltered and unsheltered ] in 2022, with 60% staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf|title=The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress|date= December 2022|website= |publisher=The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development|access-date=June 16, 2023 }}</ref> In 2022, 6.4 million children experienced food insecurity.<ref name="ers.usda.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics.aspx|title=USDA ERS – Key Statistics & Graphics|website= ers.usda.gov|access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref> ] estimates that around one in five, or approximately 13 million, ] and do not know where they will get their next meal or when.<ref name="FactsAbout">{{Cite web|title= Facts About Child Hunger in America {{!}} Feeding America|url= https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/child-hunger-facts| access-date=December 4, 2019|website= feedingamerica.org}}</ref> {{as of|2022|post=,}} 37.9&nbsp;million people, or 11.5% of the U.S. population, were ].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=National Poverty in America Awareness Month: January 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/poverty-awareness-month.html |website=Census.gov}}</ref>
The ] is the currency most used in ] and is the world's foremost ], backed by its economy, its ], the ] and its linked ] and large ].<ref name="federalreserve.gov">{{cite web|url=http://www.federalreserve.gov/pf/pdf/pf_4.pdf |title=The Implementation of Monetary Policy – The Federal Reserve in the International Sphere|access-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Zaw Thiha Tun|title=How Petrodollars Affect The U.S. Dollar |url=http://www.investopedia.com/articles/forex/072915/how-petrodollars-affect-us-dollar.asp|date=July 29, 2015|access-date=October 14, 2016}}</ref> Several countries ] and in others it is the ].<ref name="Benjamin J. Cohen 2006, p. 17">Benjamin J. Cohen, ''The Future of Money'', Princeton University Press, 2006, {{ISBN|0691116660}}; ''cf.'' "the dollar is the de facto currency in Cambodia", Charles Agar, ''] Vietnam'', 2006, {{ISBN|0471798169}}, p. 17</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.multpl.com/us-gdp-growth-rate/table/by-year|title = US GDP Growth Rate by Year |date=March 31, 2014 |access-date=June 18, 2014 |website = multpl.com|publisher = US Bureau of Economic Analysis}}</ref> The ] and ] are the world's ] by ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.world-exchanges.org/our-work/statistics|title=Monthly Reports - World Federation of Exchanges|publisher=WFE}}</ref><ref name="sfc.hk">. Securities and Exchange Commission (China).</ref>


The United States has a smaller ] and redistributes less income through government action than most other ].<ref>{{cite web|first1=Isabelle|last1=Joumard|first2=Mauro|last2=Pisu|first3=Debbie|last3=Bloch|title=Tackling income inequality The role of taxes and transfers|url=https://www.oecd.org/eco/public-finance/TacklingincomeinequalityTheroleoftaxesandtransfers.pdf|publisher=OECD|access-date=May 21, 2015|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Rank|first=Mark Robert |author-link=Mark Robert Rank|date=2023|title=The Poverty Paradox: Understanding Economic Hardship Amid American Prosperity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGewEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA116|location= |publisher=]|pages=116–117 |isbn= 978-0190212636}}</ref> It is the only ] that does not ] nationally<ref>{{cite news |last=Min |first=Sarah |date=May 24, 2019 |title=1 in 4 workers in U.S. don't get any paid vacation time or holidays|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-in-four-workers-in-us-dont-get-any-paid-vacation-time-or-holidays/|publisher=CBS News |access-date=July 15, 2022|quote=The United States is the only advanced economy that does not federally mandate any paid vacation days or holidays. }}</ref> and is one of a few countries in the world without federal ] as a legal right.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bernard |first=Tara Siegel |date=February 22, 2013 |title=In Paid Family Leave, U.S. Trails Most of the Globe |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/your-money/us-trails-much-of-the-world-in-providing-paid-family-leave.html |access-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref> The United States has a higher percentage of low-income ] than almost any other developed country, largely because of a weak ] system and lack of government support for at-risk workers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Van Dam|first=Andrew|date=July 4, 2018|title=Is it great to be a worker in the U.S.? Not compared with the rest of the developed world.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/07/04/is-it-great-to-be-a-worker-in-the-u-s-not-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-developed-world/?noredirect=on|access-date=July 12, 2018}}</ref>
The ] are ], the ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], and ].<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top1612yr.html|title = Top Trading Partners |date=December 2016 |access-date=July 8, 2017 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The U.S. is the world's ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/wts2019_e/wts2019_e.pdf |title=World Trade Statistical Review 2019 |work=] |page=100 |access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref> It has ] with ], including the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements |title=United States free trade agreements |work=] |access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref> The U.S. ranked second in the ] in 2019, after ].<ref name="World Economic Forum">{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR2013-14/GCR_Rankings_2013-14.pdf |title=Rankings: Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014 |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=June 1, 2014}}</ref> Of the world's ], 121 are headquartered in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/global500/list/filtered?hqcountry=U.S.|title=Global 500 2016 |work=Fortune}} Number of companies data taken from the "Country" filter.</ref>


=== Science, technology, spaceflight and energy ===
While its economy has reached a ] level of development, the United States remains an industrial power.<ref name="Econ">{{cite web|title=USA Economy in Brief|url=https://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/economy-in-brief/page3.html|publisher=U.S. Dept. of State, International Information Programs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312123609/https://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/economy-in-brief/page3.html|archive-date=March 12, 2008}}</ref> It has a smaller ] and redistributes less income through government action than most other ] countries.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Isabelle Joumard|author2=Mauro Pisu|author3=Debbie Bloch|title=Tackling income inequality The role of taxes and transfers|url=https://www.oecd.org/eco/public-finance/TacklingincomeinequalityTheroleoftaxesandtransfers.pdf|publisher=OECD|access-date=May 21, 2015|date=2012}}</ref> The United States ranked the 41st highest in ] among 156 countries in 2017,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2172rank.html#us |title=''CIA World Factbook'' "Distribution of Family Income" |access-date=June 17, 2018 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604005151/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2007/06/12/afx3810988.html#us |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the highest compared to the rest of the ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Sarah |date=June 4, 2018 |title=Trump Policies Highlighted in Scathing U.N. Report On U.S. Poverty|url=http://fortune.com/2018/06/04/trump-policies-u-n-report-u-s-poverty/|work=]|access-date=September 13, 2018|quote="The United States has the highest rate of income inequality among Western countries", the report states.}}</ref> On February 2, 2022, the United States had a ] of $30 trillion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |date=2022-02-01 |title=U.S. National Debt Tops $30 Trillion as Borrowing Surged Amid Pandemic |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/us/politics/national-debt-30-trillion.html |access-date=2022-02-02 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
{{Main|Science and technology in the United States|Space policy of the United States|Energy in the United States}}
{{See also|Communications in the United States}}
The United States ] and scientific research since the mid-20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mowery |first=David |title=Technological Change and the Evolution of the U.S. "National Innovation System", 1880-1990 |url=https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/articles/technological-change-and-the-evolution-of-the-u-s-national-innovation-system-1880-1990/ |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=OpenMind |language=en-US}}</ref> Methods for producing ] and the establishment of a ] industry enabled ] of U.S. consumer products in the late 19th century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Goodfriend |first1=Marvin |last2=McDermott |first2=John |date=February 24, 2021 |title=The American System of economic growth |url= |journal=Journal of Economic Growth |language=en |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages= 31–75|doi=10.1007/s10887-021-09186-x |issn=1573-7020 |pmc=7902180 |pmid=33642936}}</ref> By the early 20th century, factory ], the introduction of the ], and other ] created the system of ].<ref>{{Hounshell1984}}</ref> The United States is widely considered to be the leading country in the development of ] technology.<ref>{{cite web |year=2021 |title=Measuring trends in AI |url=https://aiindex.stanford.edu/report |website=Artificial Intelligence Index |publisher=Stanford University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Espinel |first=Victoria |title=America leads the world in AI–but we could fall behind on AI regulation by the end of 2023 |url=https://fortune.com/europe/2023/09/11/america-leads-world-artificial-intelligence-fall-behind-ai-regulation-2023-tech-victoria-espinel/ |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=Fortune Europe |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Radu |first=Sintia |date=August 19, 2019 |title=Despite Chinese Efforts, the U.S. Still Leads in AI |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2019-08-19/the-us-is-still-the-global-leader-in-artificial-intelligence |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> In 2022, the United States was (after China) the country with the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=SJR – International Science Ranking |url=https://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?order=itp&ord=desc&year=2020 |access-date=February 5, 2022 |website=Scimagojr.com |language=en-uk}}</ref> In 2021, the U.S. ranked second (also after China) by the number of patent applications, and third by trademark and industrial design applications (after China and Germany), according to ].<ref>{{cite book |author1=World Intellectual Property Organization. |url=https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4571&plang=EN |title=World Intellectual Property Indicators 2021 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) |year=2021 |isbn=9789280533293 |series=World IP Indicators (WIPI) |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.44461 |access-date=April 27, 2022}}</ref> In 2023 and 2024, the United States ranked third (after Switzerland and Sweden) in the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Innovation Index 2024 : Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=www.wipo.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=WIPO |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |title=Global Innovation Index 2023, 15th Edition |date=December 28, 2023 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |isbn=9789280534320 |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |access-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref> The U.S. has the ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desjardins |first=Jeff |date=December 18, 2018 |title=Innovators wanted: these countries spend the most on R&D |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/12/how-much-countries-spend-on-r-d/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=www.weforum.org}}</ref> and ranks ninth as a percentage of GDP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Sean |date=November 16, 2020 |title=These countries spend the most on research and development |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/countries-spending-research-development-gdp/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=www.weforum.org}}</ref> In 2023, the United States was ranked the second most technologically advanced country in the world (after South Korea) by ] magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Getzoff |first=Marc |date=December 1, 2023 |title=Most Technologically Advanced Countries In The World 2023 |url=https://gfmag.com/data/non-economic-data/most-advanced-countries-in-the-world/ |access-date=July 29, 2024 |website=Global Finance Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
] saluting the ] on the ] during the 1969 ] mission; the United States is the only country that has ].]]
The United States has maintained a space program since the late 1950s, beginning with the establishment of the ] (NASA) in 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-26 |title=65 Years Ago: The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 Creates NASA – NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/history/65-years-ago-the-national-aeronautics-and-space-act-of-1958-creates-nasa/#:~:text=President%20Eisenhower%20signed%20the%20National,of%20the%20International%20Geophysical%20Year. |access-date=2024-09-06 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-04 |title=National Aeronautics and Space Administration {{!}} US Space Agency & Exploration Achievements {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/NASA |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> NASA's ] (1961&ndash;1972) achieved the first crewed ] with the 1969 ] mission; it remains one of the agency's most significant milestones.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=Apollo {{!}} History, Missions, Significance, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/Apollo-space-program |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-04 |title=The Apollo Missions |url=https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/the-apollo-missions/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=The Apollo Missions |language=en-US}}</ref> Other major endeavors by NASA include the ] (1981–2011),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Space Shuttle – NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/space-shuttle/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> the ] (1972&ndash;present), the ] and ] ]s (launched in 1990 and 2021, respectively),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quick Facts |url=https://hubblesite.org/quick-facts |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=HubbleSite |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Quick Facts |url=https://webbtelescope.org/quick-facts |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Webb |language=en}}</ref> and the multi-mission ] ('']'' and '']'', ''],'' and '']'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mars Exploration – NASA Science |url=https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-science/programs/mars-exploration/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=science.nasa.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> NASA is one of five agencies collaborating on the ] (ISS);<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Space Station Facts and Figures – NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/space-station-facts-and-figures/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> U.S. contributions to the ISS include several modules, including '']'' (2001), '']'' (2007), and '']'' (2010), as well as ongoing logistical and operational support.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howell |first=Elizabeth |date=2022-08-24 |title=International Space Station: Facts, History & Tracking |url=https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=Space.com |language=en |edition=updated, last}}</ref> The United States ] dominates the global ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-01-11 |title=Analysis {{!}} Companies are commercializing outer space. Do government programs still matter? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/01/11/companies-are-commercializing-outer-space-do-government-programs-still-matter/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Prominent American spaceflight contractors include ], ], ], ], and ]. NASA programs such as the ], ], ], and ] have facilitated growing private-sector involvement in American spaceflight.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commercial Space – NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/commercial-space/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |language=en-US}}</ref><!-- Info needed about the Artemis program as it is a major component of contemporary American space policy -->


{{as of|2023}}, the United States receives approximately 84% of its energy from fossil fuel, and the largest source of the country's energy came from ] (38%), followed by ] (36%), ] (9%), ] (9%), and ] (9%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. energy facts explained – consumption and production – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |url=https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/ |access-date=November 21, 2023 |website=eia.gov}}</ref><ref name="visu">{{cite web |date= March 2022|title=Energy Flow Charts: Charting the Complex Relationships among Energy, Water, and Carbon |url=https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref><!--Numbers do not add up to 100 due to rounding errors. --> The United States constitutes less than 4% of the ], but consumes around 16% of the world's energy.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 5, 2021 |title=What is the United States' share of world energy consumption? |work=] |url=https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=87&t=1}}</ref> The U.S. ranks as the ].<ref>{{cite web |last=US Environmental Protection Agency |first=OAR |date=February 8, 2017 |title=Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks |url=https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks |access-date=December 3, 2020 |website=US EPA |language=en}}</ref>
=== Income and poverty ===
{{Main|Income in the United States|Poverty in the United States}}
{{Further|Affluence in the United States|Income inequality in the United States}}
] |access-date=November 29, 2016}}</ref>|left]]


=== Transportation ===
Accounting for 4.24% of the ], Americans collectively ] of the world's total wealth as of 2021, the largest percentage of any country.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Shorrocks|first1=Anthony|url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/media/assets/corporate/docs/about-us/research/publications/global-wealth-databook-2021.pdf|title=Global wealth databook 2021|last2=Davies|first2=James|last3=Lluberas|first3=Rodrigo|publisher=] Research Institute|year=2021}}</ref> The U.S. also ranks first in the number of dollar ]s and ]s in the world, with 724 billionaires (as of 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Sarah |title=These 20 countries and territories are home to most of the world's 2,755 billionaires |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/these-20-countries-are-home-to-the-most-billionaires-forbes-2021-10 |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> and nearly 22 million millionaires (2021).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/22/heres-how-22-million-americans-became-millionaires.html|title=Nearly 22 million Americans are millionaires. Here's how they got wealthy|last=Jr.|first=Robert Exley|date=22 December 2021|access-date=16 July 2022|work=]}}</ref> ] is ]; the richest 10% of the adult population own 72% of the country's household wealth, while the bottom 50% own just 2%.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Piketty|first1=Thomas|title=Capital in the Twenty-First Century|title-link=Capital in the Twenty-First Century|date=2014|publisher=Belknap Press|page=|author-link1=Thomas Piketty}} {{ISBN|978-0-674-43000-6}}</ref> ] in the U.S. remains at record highs,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/26/income-inequality-america-highest-its-been-since-census-started-tracking-it-data-show/ |title=Income inequality in America is the highest it's been since Census Bureau started tracking it, data shows |newspaper=] |access-date=July 27, 2020}}</ref> with the top fifth of earners taking home more than half of all income<ref>{{Cite news|last=Long|first=Heather|date=September 12, 2017|title=U.S. middle-class incomes reached highest-ever level in 2016, Census Bureau says|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-middle-class-incomes-reached-highest-ever-level-in-2016-census-bureau-says/2017/09/12/7226905e-97de-11e7-b569-3360011663b4_story.html|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> and giving the U.S. one of the widest income distributions among OECD members.<ref name="Sme">{{cite journal|last1=Smeeding|first1=T.M.|year=2005|title=Public Policy: Economic Inequality and Poverty: The United States in Comparative Perspective|url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/81b4d972c7a40d051d9ee3ced2ab2ddfc221fbf9|journal=Social Science Quarterly|volume=86|pages=955–983|doi=10.1111/j.0038-4941.2005.00331.x|s2cid=154642286}}</ref>
{{Main|Transportation in the United States}}
], serving the ], is the world's ] with over 75 million passengers in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-busiest-airports-2021/index.html|title=This US airport has reclaimed its title as the world's busiest|publisher=CNN|first=Marnie|last=Hunter|date=April 11, 2022}}</ref>]]


The ] and its divisions provide regulation, supervision, and funding for all aspects of transportation except for customs, immigration, and security. (The latter remain the responsibility of the ].) Each U.S. state has ], which builds and maintains state highways. Depending upon the state, this department might also directly operate or supervise other modes of transportation.
The United States is the only ] that does not ]<ref>{{cite news |last=Min |first=Sarah |date=May 24, 2019 |title=1 in 4 workers in U.S. don't get any paid vacation time or holidays|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-in-four-workers-in-us-dont-get-any-paid-vacation-time-or-holidays/|work=CBS News |location= |access-date=July 15, 2022|quote=The United States is the only advanced economy that does not federally mandate any paid vacation days or holidays. }}</ref> and is one of a few countries in the world without ] as a legal right.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bernard |first=Tara Siegel |date=February 22, 2013 |title=In Paid Family Leave, U.S. Trails Most of the Globe |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/your-money/us-trails-much-of-the-world-in-providing-paid-family-leave.html |access-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref> The United States also has a higher percentage of low-income workers than almost any other developed nation, largely because of a weak ] system and lack of government support for at-risk workers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Van Dam|first=Andrew|date=July 4, 2018|title=Is it great to be a worker in the U.S.? Not compared with the rest of the developed world.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/07/04/is-it-great-to-be-a-worker-in-the-u-s-not-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-developed-world/?noredirect=on|access-date=July 12, 2018}}</ref>


] is almost entirely the jurisdiction of the federal government; the ] regulates all aspects of ], ], certification and compliance, and ]. Vehicle traffic laws, however, are enacted and enforced by state and local authorities, with the exception of roads located on federal property (national parks, military bases) or in the ]. The ] is the primary enforcer of law and security on U.S. waterways, inland as well as coastal, but economic jurisdiction over coastal ] is shared between state and federal governments. The ] are the world's ], totaling {{convert|41009|km|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/waterways/country-comparison |title=Waterways – The World Factbook |work=] |publisher=] |access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref>
There were about 567,715 sheltered and unsheltered ] in January 2019, with almost two-thirds staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program.<ref name="Culp2013">{{cite book| editor = Anne McDonald Culp| date = 25 June 2013| title = Child and Family Advocacy: Bridging the Gaps Between Research, Practice, and Policy| publisher = Springer Science & Business Media| pages = 77–| isbn = 978-1-4614-7456-2| oclc = 1026456872| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GZBDAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA77}}</ref> Attempts to combat homelessness include the ] housing voucher program and implementation of the ] strategy across all levels of government.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Solving Homelessness from a Complex Systems Perspective: Insights for Prevention Responses|journal=Annual Review of Public Health|date=2019|volume=40|pmid=30601718|last1=Fowler|first1=P. J.|last2=Hovmand|first2=P. S.|last3=Marcal|first3=K. E.|last4=Das|first4=S.|pages=465–486|doi=10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-013553|pmc=6445694 }}</ref> In 2011, ], about 35% more than 2007 levels, though only 845,000 U.S. children (1.1%) saw reduced food intake or disrupted eating patterns at some point during the year, and most cases were not chronic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Household Food Security in the United States in 2011|url=https://www.ers.usda.gov/media/884525/err141.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007231515/https://www.ers.usda.gov/media/884525/err141.pdf|archive-date=October 7, 2012|publisher=USDA|access-date=April 8, 2013|date=September 2012}}</ref> {{as of|2018|June|post=,}} 40&nbsp;million people, roughly 12.7% of the U.S. population, were living in poverty, including 13.3&nbsp;million children. Of those impoverished, 18.5&nbsp;million live in "deep poverty", family income below one-half of the federal government's poverty threshold.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2018/06/contempt-poor-us-drives-cruel-policies-says-un-expert|title="Contempt for the poor in US drives cruel policies," says UN expert|date=June 4, 2018|work=]|access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref>


Passenger and freight rail systems, bus systems, water ferries, and dams may be under either public or private ownership and operation. U.S. civilian airlines are all privately owned. Most U.S. airports are owned and operated by local government authorities, and there are also some private airports. The ] has provided security at most major airports since 2001.
=== Science, technology, and energy ===
{{Main|Science and technology in the United States|Science policy of the United States|Energy in the United States}}
] saluting the ] on the ], 1969]]


] and ] in ]]]
The United States has been a leader in technological ] since the late 19th century and scientific research since the mid-20th century. Methods for producing ] and the establishment of a ] industry enabled the ] of sewing machines, bicycles, and other items in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, factory ], introduction of the ] and other labor-saving techniques created the system of ].<ref>{{Hounshell1984}}</ref> In the 21st century, approximately two-thirds of research and development funding comes from the private sector.<ref>{{cite web|title=Research and Development (R&D) Expenditures by Source and Objective: 1970 to 2004|url=https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008/tables/08s0775.xls|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120210170338/https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008/tables/08s0775.xls|archive-date=February 10, 2012|access-date=June 19, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, the United States was the country with the ] number of published scientific papers<ref>{{Cite web|title=SJR - International Science Ranking|url=https://www.scimagojr.com/countryrank.php?order=itp&ord=desc&year=2020|access-date=2022-07-03|website=www.scimagojr.com}}</ref> and second most patents granted,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Szmigiera|first=M.|date=2021-11-26|title=Ranking of the 20 countries with most patent grants|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/257152/ranking-of-the-20-countries-with-the-most-patent-grants/|access-date=2022-07-03|website=Statista|language=en}}</ref> both after China. In 2021, the United States launched a total of 51 ]. (China reported 55.)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hines |first1=R. Lincoln |last2=Ben-Itzhak |first2=Svetla |title=NASA's head warned that China may try to claim the Moon – two space scholars explain why that's unlikely to happen |url=http://theconversation.com/nasas-head-warned-that-china-may-try-to-claim-the-moon-two-space-scholars-explain-why-thats-unlikely-to-happen-186614 |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref> The U.S. had 2,944 active ] in space in December 2021, the highest number of any country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Satellite Database|url=https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/satellite-database|access-date=14 July 2022|website=]}}</ref>
Commercial railroads and trains were the dominant ] in the U.S. until the mid-twentieth century. The introduction of jet airplanes and airports serving the same major routes accelerated a decline in demand for interstate and intercity rail passenger service by the 1960s. The completion of the ] also hastened the sharp curtailment of passenger service by the railroads. These significant developments led to the creation of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, now called ], by the ] in 1971. Amtrak helps to maintain limited intercity rail passenger service in most parts of the country. It serves most major U.S. cities, but outside the ], ], and ] it typically runs only a few trains per day. More frequent Amtrak service is available in regional corridors between certain major cities, particularly the ] between ], ], ] and ]; between New York City and ]; in metropolitan ]; and in parts of California and the ]. Amtrak does not serve several major U.S. destinations, including ] and ].


The ] is entirely owned by corporations and has been largely ], while ] are publicly owned.<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Chris|date=July 12, 2020|title=Privatization|url=https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/privatization|access-date=January 23, 2021|website=Downsizing the Federal Government|publisher=Cato Institute|language=en}}</ref> The three largest airlines in the world by passengers carried are U.S.-based; ] is number one after its 2013 acquisition by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iata.org/publications/pages/wats-passenger-carried.aspx|title=Scheduled Passengers Carried|publisher=International Air Transport Association (IATA)|year=2011|access-date=February 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102034843/https://www.iata.org/publications/pages/wats-passenger-carried.aspx|archive-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref> Of the world's ], 16 are in the United States, including the top five and the busiest, ].<ref name="PANYNJ 2021 report">{{cite web|url=https://www.panynj.gov/content/dam/airports/statistics/statistics-general-info/annual-atr/ATR_2021.pdf|title=2021 Airport Traffic Report|work=Port Authority of New York and New Jersey|date=April 2022|page=32}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aci.aero/News/Releases/Most-Recent/2014/03/31/Preliminary-World-Airport-Traffic-and-Rankings-2013--High-Growth-Dubai-Moves-Up-to-7th-Busiest-Airport-|title=Preliminary World Airport Traffic and Rankings 2013—High Growth Dubai Moves Up to 7th Busiest Airport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401052319/https://www.aci.aero/News/Releases/Most-Recent/2014/03/31/Preliminary-World-Airport-Traffic-and-Rankings-2013--High-Growth-Dubai-Moves-Up-to-7th-Busiest-Airport-|archive-date=April 1, 2014|date=March 31, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, there are 19,969 airports in the U.S., of which 5,193 are designated as "public use", including for ] and other activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Number of U.S. Airports |url=https://www.bts.gov/content/number-us-airportsa |publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref>
In 1876, ] was awarded the first U.S. ]. ]'s ] developed the ], the first ], and the first viable ].<ref name="Edison">{{cite web|title=Thomas Edison's Most Famous Inventions|url=https://www.thomasedison.org/index.php/education/inventions/|website=Thomas A Edison Innovation Foundation|access-date=January 21, 2015|archive-date=March 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316154517/https://www.thomasedison.org/index.php/education/inventions/|url-status=dead }}</ref> The ] in 1903 made the ], and the automobile companies of ] and ] popularized the assembly line in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web|author=Benedetti, François|url=https://www.fai.org/news_archives/fai/000295.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912065254/https://www.fai.org/news_archives/fai/000295.asp|archive-date=September 12, 2007|title=100 Years Ago, the Dream of Icarus Became Reality|publisher=Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)|date=December 17, 2003|access-date=August 15, 2007}}</ref> The rise of ] and ] in the 1920s and 30s led many European scientists, such as ], ], and ], to immigrate to the United States.<ref name="fraser">{{cite book|last1=Fraser|first1=Gordon|title=The Quantum Exodus: Jewish Fugitives, the Atomic Bomb, and the Holocaust|date=2012|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-19-959215-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-NYknwEACAAJ}}</ref> During World War II, the Manhattan Project developed nuclear weapons, ushering in the ]. During the Cold War, competition for superior missile capability ushered in the ] between the U.S. and Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qYZmj7Us3m8C&q=Space+Race++rapid+advances+in+rocketry,+materials+science,+and+computers&pg=PA68|title=10 Little Americans|via=Google Books|access-date=September 15, 2014|isbn=978-0-615-14052-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2525898/app-development/nasa-s-apollo-technology-has-changed-history.html|title=NASA's Apollo technology has changed the history|date=July 20, 2009|publisher=Sharon Gaudin|access-date=September 15, 2014}}</ref> The invention of the ] in the 1950s, a key component in almost all modern ], led to the development of ], ], ] and the ].<ref name="Sawyer2012">{{cite book|last=Sawyer|first=Robert Keith|title=Explaining Creativity: The Science of Human Innovation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QyJjyZ_YBAkC&pg=PA256|year=2012|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-973757-4|page=256}}</ref>


The overwhelming majority of roads in the United States are owned and maintained by state and local governments. Roads maintained only by the U.S. federal government are generally only found on ] (such as ]) or at federal facilities (like military bases). The ], with its large, open ] linking the states, is partly funded by the federal government but owned and maintained by the state government hosting its section of the interstate. Some states fund and build their own large expressways&mdash;often called "]" or "]"&mdash;that generally use tolls to pay for construction and maintenance. Likewise, some privately owned roads may use tolls for this purpose.
{{asof|2019}}, the United States receives approximately 80% of its energy from fossil fuels.<ref name="visu">{{cite web |date=6 May 2020 |title=Visualizing America's Energy Use, in One Giant Chart |url=https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-americas-energy-use-in-one-giant-chart/ |access-date=7 May 2020 |publisher=Visual Capitalist}}</ref> In 2019, the largest source of the country's energy came from ] (36.6%), followed by ] (32%), ] (11.4%), renewable sources (11.4%) and ] (8.4%).<ref name="visu" /><!--(numbers do not add up to 100 due to rounding errors) --> Americans constitute less than 5% of the ], but consume 17% of the ].<ref>{{cite news |date=November 5, 2021 |title=What is the United States' share of world energy consumption? |work=] |url=https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=87&t=1}}</ref> They account for about 25% of the world's ], while producing only 6% of the world's annual petroleum supply.<ref name="EIA">{{cite web |title=EIA – Petroleum Basic Data |url=https://www.eia.doe.gov/basics/quickoil.html |access-date=2012-03-30 |publisher=Eia.doe.gov}}</ref> The U.S. ranks as second-highest emitter of greenhouse gases, exceeded only by China.<ref>{{cite web |last=US EPA |first=OAR |date=February 8, 2017 |title=Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks |url=https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks |access-date=December 3, 2020 |website=US EPA |language=en}}</ref>


] includes ], ], ], and sometimes ] service. Public transit systems serve areas of higher population density where demand is greatest. Many U.S. cities, towns, and suburbs are car-dependent, however, and suburban public transit is less common and service far less frequent. Most U.S. urban areas have some form of public transit, notably city buses, while the largest (e.g. New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon) operate extensive systems that also include ] or ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Urban mass transportation planning|author=Black, Alan|date=1995|publisher=McGraw-Hill|isbn=978-0070055575|location=New York|oclc=31045097}}</ref> Most public transit service in the United States is run by local governments, but national and regional commuter lines serve major U.S. urban corridors.
===Transportation===
{{Main|Transportation in the United States}}
] in the ], which extends {{convert|46876|mi|km}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Interstate FAQ (Question #3)|publisher=Federal Highway Administration|year=2006|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/faq.htm#question3|access-date=March 4, 2009}}</ref>|alt=Map of the Interstate Highway System crisscrossing the U.S.]]
The United States' ], nearly all ], is the ], and exceeds {{convert|293564|km|mi|-2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/railways/country-comparison|title=Railways – The World Factbook|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref> It handles mostly freight, with intercity passenger service provided by ] to all but four states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/osea/seasonaladjustment/?PageVar=RAIL_PM|title=Seasonally Adjusted Transportation Data|publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics|location=Washington, D.C.|date=2021|access-date=February 16, 2021}}</ref> The country's ]s are the world's ], and total {{convert|41009|km|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/waterways/country-comparison |title=Waterways – The World Factbook |work=] |publisher=] |access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref>


Personal transportation is dominated by automobiles, which operate on a network of {{convert|4|e6mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} of public roads.<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Road and Street Mileage in the United States by Type of Surface|url=https://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_04.html|website=United States Department of Transportation|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-date=January 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102141414/https://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_04.html|url-status=dead }}</ref> The United States has the world's second-largest automobile market,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/jan/08/china-us-car-sales-overtakes|title=China overtakes US in car sales|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 8, 2010|access-date=July 10, 2011|location=London}}</ref> and has the highest vehicle ownership per capita in the world, with 816.4 vehicles per 1,000 Americans (2014).<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=January 30, 2017|title=Fact #962: Vehicles per Capita: Other Regions/Countries Compared to the United States|url=https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/fact-962-january-30-2017-vehicles-capita-other-regionscountries-compared-united-states|access-date=January 23, 2021|website=Energy.gov|language=en}}</ref> In 2017, there were 255 million non-two wheel motor vehicles, or about 910 vehicles per 1,000 people.<ref name="USBTS">{{cite web|url=https://capitol-tires.com/how-many-cars-per-capita-in-the-us.html|title=Vehicle Statistics: Cars Per Capita|publisher=Capitol Tires}}</ref> Personal transportation in the United States is ],<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 19, 2022 |title=Cars still dominate the American commute |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/commute-america-sustainability-cars/ |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Humes |first=Edward |date=April 12, 2016 |title=The Absurd Primacy of the Automobile in American Life |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/04/absurd-primacy-of-the-car-in-american-life/476346/ |access-date=July 12, 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> which operate on a network of {{convert|4|e6mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} of public roads, making it the ] in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roadways – The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/roadways/country-comparison |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712201909/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/roadways/country-comparison |archive-date=July 12, 2021 |access-date=July 15, 2021 |website=Cia.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Public Road and Street Mileage in the United States by Type of Surface|url=https://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_04.html|website=United States Department of Transportation|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-date=January 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102141414/https://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_04.html|url-status =dead }}</ref> The ], also the ] in the world at {{cvt|293564.2|km|order=flip}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/railways/country-comparison|title=Railways – The World Factbook|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref> handles mostly ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/osea/seasonaladjustment/?PageVar=RAIL_PM|title=Seasonally Adjusted Transportation Data|publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics|location=Washington, D.C.|year=2021|access-date=February 16, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422132507/https://www.transtats.bts.gov/osea/seasonaladjustment/?PageVar=RAIL_PM|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Fitzsimmons |first=Emma G. |date=April 24, 2017 |title=Amtrak at a Junction: Invest in Improvements, or Risk Worsening Problems |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/nyregion/amtrak-infrastructure-crisis.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 16, 2023}}</ref> Of the ], four are located in the United States. The busiest in the U.S. is the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldshipping.org/top-50-ports|title=The Top 50 Container Ports|work=]|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=July 14, 2022}}</ref>


The ] and the ], both American cars, are considered the first mass-produced<ref>{{Cite news |date= January 26, 1986 |title=SOME MILESTONES OF THE AUTO AGE |language= en-US |work=The New York Times |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/26/automobiles/some-milestones-of-the-auto-age.html |access-date=June 1, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and mass-affordable<ref>{{Cite news |date =September 1, 2002|title=1926 Ford Model T Sports Touring Car |language= en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2002/09/01/1926-ford-model-t-sports-touring-car/810e313f-4370-44b7-bb76-3282f9de945e/ |access-date=June 1, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> cars, respectively. As of 2023, the United States is the ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 production statistics |url=https://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2023-statistics/ |access-date=July 1, 2024 |website=International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers}}</ref> and is home to ], the world's most valuable car company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klebnikov | first=Sergei |title=Tesla Is Now The World's Most Valuable Car Company With A $208 Billion Valuation |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/sergeiklebnikov/2020/07/01/tesla-is-now-the-worlds-most-valuable-car-company-with-a-valuation-of-208-billion/ |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> American automotive company ] held the title of the world's best-selling automaker from 1931 to 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bunkley |first=Nick |date=January 21, 2009 |title=Toyota Ahead of G.M. in 2008 Sales |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/business/22auto.html |access-date=April 14, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The ] is the world's second-largest automobile market by sales, having been overtaken by China in 2010,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/jan/08/china-us-car-sales-overtakes|title=China overtakes US in car sales|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 8, 2010|access-date=July 10, 2011|location=London}}</ref> and the U.S. has the ] in the world,<ref>{{cite web|date=January 30, 2017|title=Fact #962: Vehicles per Capita: Other Regions/Countries Compared to the United States|url=https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/fact-962-january-30-2017-vehicles-capita-other-regionscountries-compared-united-states|access-date=January 23, 2021|website=Energy.gov|language=en}}</ref> with 910 vehicles per 1000 people.<ref name="USBTS">{{cite web|url=https://capitol-tires.com/how-many-cars-per-capita-in-the-us.html|title=Vehicle Statistics: Cars Per Capita|date=August 2017 |publisher=Capitol Tires}}</ref> By value, the U.S. was the world's largest importer and third-largest exporter of cars in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cars |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/cars |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=]}}</ref>
The ] is entirely privately owned and has been largely ], while ] are publicly owned.<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Chris|date=July 12, 2020|title=Privatization|url=https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/privatization|access-date=January 23, 2021|website=Downsizing the Federal Government|publisher=Cato Institute|language=en}}</ref> The three largest airlines in the world by passengers carried are U.S.-based; ] is number one after its 2013 acquisition by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iata.org/publications/pages/wats-passenger-carried.aspx|title=Scheduled Passengers Carried|publisher=International Air Transport Association (IATA)|year=2011|access-date=February 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102034843/https://www.iata.org/publications/pages/wats-passenger-carried.aspx|archive-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref> Of the ], 16 are in the United States, including the busiest, ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aci.aero/News/Releases/Most-Recent/2014/03/31/Preliminary-World-Airport-Traffic-and-Rankings-2013--High-Growth-Dubai-Moves-Up-to-7th-Busiest-Airport-|title=Preliminary World Airport Traffic and Rankings 2013—High Growth Dubai Moves Up to 7th Busiest Airport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401052319/https://www.aci.aero/News/Releases/Most-Recent/2014/03/31/Preliminary-World-Airport-Traffic-and-Rankings-2013--High-Growth-Dubai-Moves-Up-to-7th-Busiest-Airport-|archive-date=April 1, 2014|date=March 31, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref> Of the ], four are located in the United States, of which the busiest is the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldshipping.org/top-50-ports|title=The Top 50 Container Ports|work=]|location=]|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref>


== Demographics == == Demographics ==
{{Main|Americans|Demographics of the United States|Race and ethnicity in the United States|Family structure in the United States}} {{Main|Demographics of the United States}}


===Population=== === Population ===
<!--As prose text is preferred, overly detailed statistical charts and diagrams such as economic trends, weather boxes, historical population charts, past elections results, etc. should be reserved for main sub articles on the topic as per WP:DETAIL as outlined at WP:NOTSTATS.-->
{{Main|Americans|Race and ethnicity in the United States}}
{{See also|List of U.S. states by population}} {{See also|List of U.S. states by population}}
{{Pie chart {{Bar chart
|thumb = right | float = right
| title = The 10 most populous U.S. states <br> (2024 estimates){{efn|These population figures are official 2024 annual estimates (rounded off) from the U.S. Census Bureau.}}<ref name="CensusEst2024">{{cite web |title=Annual and cumulative estimates of residential population change for the United States, regions, states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2024/national-state-population-estimates.html|website=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
|caption = Racial and ethnic groups in the United States (2020 Census)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/08/13/1014710483/2020-census-data-us-race-ethnicity-diversity |title=What The New Census Data Shows About Race Depends On How You Look At It |first1=Connie Hanzhang |last1=Jin |first2=Ruth |last2=Talbot |first3=Hansi |last3=Lo Wang |date=August 13, 2021 |website=NPR}}</ref>
| label_type = State
|label1 = ]
| data_type = Population (millions)
|value1 = 57.8
| bar_width = 10
|color1 = #1f77b4
| width_units = em
|label2 = ]
| data_max = 40
|value2 = 18.7
| label1 = ]
|color2 = #2ca02c
| data1 = 39.4
|label3 = ]
| label2 = ]
|value3 = 12.1
| data2 = 31.3
|color3 = #ff7f0e
|label4 = ] | label3 = ]
|value4 = 5.9 | data3 = 23.4
| label4 = ]
|color4 = Yellow
| data4 = 19.9
|label5 = ]
| label5 = ]
|value5 = 4.1
| data5 = 13.1
|color5 = #8c564b
| label6 = ]
|label6 = ]
|value6 = 0.7 | data6 = 12.7
| label7 = ]
|color6 = #98df8a
| data7 = 11.9
|label7 = ]
| label8 = ]
|value7 = 0.5
| data8 = 11.2
|color7 = #9467bd
|label8 = ] | label9 = ]
|value8 = 0.2 | data9 = 11.0
| label10 = ]
|color8 = #d62728
| data10 = 10.1
}} }}
The ] reported 331,449,281 residents as of April 1, 2020,<ref name=2020CENSUS>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/2020-census-apportionment-results.htmlpid=2020CENSUS&src=pt|title=Census Bureau's 2020 Population Count|work=]|access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref>{{efn|This figure, like most official data for the United States as a whole, excludes the five unincorporated territories (], ], the ], ], and the ]) and minor island possessions.}} making the United States the ] nation in the world, after China and India.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=The World Factbook: United States|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-states/|access-date=November 10, 2018|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> According to the Bureau's ], on January&nbsp;28, 2021, the U.S. population had a net gain of one person every 100 seconds, or about 864 people per day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Population Clock|url=https://www.census.gov/popclock/|website=www.census.gov}}</ref> In 2018, 52% of Americans age 15 and over were married, 6% were widowed, 10% were divorced, and 32% had never been married.<ref>{{cite web|title=Table MS-1. Marital Status of the Population 15 Years Old and Over, by Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: 1950 to Present|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/families/marital.html|access-date=September 11, 2019|website=Historical Marital Status Tables|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> In 2020, the U.S. had a ] stood at 1.64 children per woman<ref>{{Cite report|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr012-508.pdf|title=Births: Provisional data for 2020|last1=Hamilton|first1=Brady E.|last2=Martin|first2=Joyce A.|date=May 2021|publisher=National Center for Health Statistics|issue=12|doi=10.15620/cdc:104993|location=Hyattsville, MD|volume=Vital Statistics Rapid Release|last3=Osterman|first3=Michelle J.K.|doi-access=free}}</ref> and the world's highest rate (23%) of children living in ] households.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. has world's highest rate of children living in single-parent households|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/12/u-s-children-more-likely-than-children-in-other-countries-to-live-with-just-one-parent/|access-date=March 17, 2020|website=Pew Research Center|language=en}}</ref>


The ] reported 331,449,281 residents as of April 1, 2020,{{efn|This figure, like most official data for the United States as a whole, excludes the five unincorporated territories (], ], the ], ], and the ]) and minor island possessions.}}<ref name=2020CENSUS>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/2020-census-apportionment-results.htmlpid=2020CENSUS&src=pt|title=Census Bureau's 2020 Population Count|work=]|access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref> making the United States the ] in the world, after China and India.<ref name="CIA-2018">{{cite web|title=The World Factbook: United States|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-states/|access-date=November 10, 2018|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> The Census Bureau's official 2024 population estimate was 340,110,988, an increase of 2.6% since the 2020 census.<ref name="Vintage 2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-national-total.html | title=National Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024}}</ref> According to the Bureau's ], on July 1, 2024, the U.S. population had a net gain of one person every 16 seconds, or about 5400 people per day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Population Clock|url=https://www.census.gov/popclock/|website=Census.gov}}</ref> In 2023, 51% of Americans age 15 and over were married, 6% were ], 10% were divorced, and 34% had never been married.<ref>{{cite web|title=Table MS-1. Marital Status of the Population 15 Years Old and Over, by Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: 1950 to Present|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/families/marital.html|access-date=September 11, 2019|website=Historical Marital Status Tables|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> In 2023, the ] for the U.S. stood at 1.6 children per woman,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saric |first=Ivana |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Births dropped in 2023, ending pandemic baby boom |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/04/25/us-births-drop-2023 |access-date=July 1, 2024 |publisher=Axios |language=en}}</ref> and, at 23%, it had the world's highest rate of children living in ] households in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. has world's highest rate of children living in single-parent households|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/12/u-s-children-more-likely-than-children-in-other-countries-to-live-with-just-one-parent/|access-date=March 17, 2020|website=Pew Research Center|date=December 12, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
The United States of America has a diverse population; 37 ] have more than one million members.<ref name="An2000">{{cite web|title=Ancestry 2000|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf|date=June 2004|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|url-status=live|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20041204015245/https://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf|archive-date=December 4, 2004|access-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> ] of European ancestry form the largest ] and ] at 57.8% of the United States population.<ref>{{cite web|title=Table 52. Population by Selected Ancestry Group and Region: 2009|url=https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0052.pdf|date=2009|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225031832/https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0052.pdf|archive-date=December 25, 2012|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> ] form the second-largest group and are 18.7% of the United States population. ] constitute the nation's third-largest ancestry group and are 12.1% of the total United States population.<ref name="An2000" /> ] are the country's fourth-largest group, composing 5.9% of the United States population, while the country's 3.7 million ] account for about 1%.<ref name="An2000" /> In 2020, the ] of the United States population was 38.5 years.<ref name=":2" />


The United States has a diverse population; 37 ] have more than one million members.<ref name="An2000">{{cite web|title=Ancestry 2000|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf|date=June 2004|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|url-status=live|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20041204015245/https://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf|archive-date=December 4, 2004|access-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> ] with ancestry from Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa form the largest ] and ] at 57.8% of the United States population.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/2020-united-states-population-more-racially-ethnically-diverse-than-2010.html | title=The Chance That Two People Chosen at Random Are of Different Race or Ethnicity Groups Has Increased Since 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Table 52. Population by Selected Ancestry Group and Region: 2009|url=https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0052.pdf|year=2009|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225031832/https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0052.pdf|archive-date=December 25, 2012|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> ] form the second-largest group and are 18.7% of the United States population. ] constitute the country's third-largest ancestry group and are 12.1% of the total U.S. population.<ref name="An2000" /> Asian Americans are the country's fourth-largest group, composing 5.9% of the United States population. The country's 3.7 million Native Americans account for about 1%,<ref name="An2000" /> and some 574 native tribes are recognized by the federal government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Native entities {{!}} USAGov |url=https://www.usa.gov/indian-tribes-alaska-native |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=www.usa.gov |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, the ] of the United States population was 38.9 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2023 |title=America Is Getting Older |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/population-estimates-characteristics.html |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>
In 2018, there were almost 90 million immigrants and ] in the United States, accounting for 28% of the overall U.S. population.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 14, 2019|title=Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States|work=]|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states}}</ref> In 2017, out of the U.S. foreign-born population, some 45% (20.7&nbsp;million) were naturalized citizens, 27% (12.3&nbsp;million) were lawful permanent residents, 6% (2.2&nbsp;million) were temporary lawful residents, and 23% (10.5&nbsp;million) were unauthorized immigrants.<ref name="KeyFindings">{{cite web|date=June 17, 2019|title=Key findings about U.S. immigrants|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/17/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> The United States led the world in ] for decades, admitting more refugees than the rest of the world combined.<ref name="PewRefugees">{{cite web|title=Key facts about refugees to the U.S.|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/07/key-facts-about-refugees-to-the-u-s/|author=Jens Manuel Krogstad|date=October 7, 2019|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref>


===Language=== === Language ===
{{Main|Languages of the United States}} {{Main|Languages of the United States}}
]
While many languages are spoken in the United States, ] is by far the most commonly spoken and written.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaur |first=Harmeet |date=May 20, 2018 |title=FYI: English isn't the official language of the United States |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/20/us/english-us-official-language-trnd/index.html |access-date=May 11, 2023 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Although there is no ] at the federal level, some laws, such as ], standardize English, and most states have declared it the official language.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 12, 2014|title=States Where English Is the Official Language|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/12/states-where-english-is-the-official-language/|access-date=September 12, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Three states and four U.S. territories have recognized local or indigenous languages in addition to English, including Hawaii (]),<ref>{{cite web|date=November 7, 1978|title=The Constitution of the State of Hawaii, Article XV, Section 4|url=https://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/con/conart15.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724231656/https://hawaii.gov/lrb/con/conart15.html|archive-date=July 24, 2013|access-date=June 19, 2007|publisher=Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau}}</ref> Alaska (]),{{efn|], ], ], ], ] (Aleut), ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]}}<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chapel|first1=Bill|date=April 21, 2014|title=Alaska OKs Bill Making Native Languages Official|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/04/21/305688602/alaska-oks-bill-making-native-languages-official|publisher=NPR}}</ref> South Dakota (]),<ref name="LakotaCommon">{{cite web|title=South Dakota recognizes official indigenous language|url=https://eu.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/22/south-dakota-recognizes-official-indigenous-language-governor-noem/3245113002/|access-date=March 26, 2019|publisher=]}}</ref> American Samoa (]), Puerto Rico (]), Guam (]), and the Northern Mariana Islands (] and Chamorro). In total, 169 Native American languages are spoken in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Siebens |first1=Julie |last2=Julian |first2=Tiffany |date=December 2011 |title=Native North American Languages Spoken at Home in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2006–2010 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2011/acs/acsbr10-10.pdf |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> In Puerto Rico, Spanish is more widely spoken than English.<ref name="PuertoRicoTranslation">{{cite web|title=Translation in Puerto Rico|url=https://www.puertorico.com/translation/|access-date=December 29, 2013|website=Puerto Rico Channel|archive-date=December 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233259/http://www.puertorico.com/translation/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


According to the ] (2020),<ref name="ACS2021">{{cite web |title=ACS B16001 |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=B16001:+LANGUAGE+SPOKEN+AT+HOME+BY+ABILITY+TO+SPEAK+ENGLISH+FOR+THE+POPULATION+5+YEARS+AND+OVER&g=0100000US&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B16001&moe=true |website=ACS B16001 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> some 245.4 million people out of the total U.S. population of 334 million spoke only English at home. About 41.2 million spoke Spanish at home, making it the second most commonly used language. Other languages spoken at home by one million people or more include ] (3.40 million), ] (1.71 million), ] (1.52 million), ] (1.39 million), ] (1.18 million), ] (1.07 million), and ] (1.04 million). ], spoken by 1 million people at home in 2010, fell to 857,000 total speakers in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=American FactFinder—Results |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B16001&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212213140/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B16001&prodType=table |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=May 29, 2017}}</ref>
English (specifically, ]) is the de facto ] of the United States. Although there is no ] at the federal level, some laws—such as ]—standardize English, and most states have declared English as the official language.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 12, 2014|title=States Where English Is the Official Language|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/12/states-where-english-is-the-official-language/|access-date=September 12, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Three states and four U.S. territories have recognized local or indigenous languages in addition to English, including Hawaii (]),<ref>{{cite web|date=November 7, 1978|title=The Constitution of the State of Hawaii, Article XV, Section 4|url=https://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/con/conart15.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724231656/https://hawaii.gov/lrb/con/conart15.html|archive-date=July 24, 2013|access-date=June 19, 2007|publisher=Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau}}</ref> Alaska (]),{{efn|], ], ], ], ] (Aleut), ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].}}<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chapel|first1=Bill|date=April 21, 2014|title=Alaska OKs Bill Making Native Languages Official|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/04/21/305688602/alaska-oks-bill-making-native-languages-official|newspaper=NPR}}</ref> South Dakota (]),<ref name="LakotaCommon">{{cite web|title=South Dakota recognizes official indigenous language|url=https://eu.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/22/south-dakota-recognizes-official-indigenous-language-governor-noem/3245113002/|access-date=March 26, 2019|publisher=]}}</ref> American Samoa (]), Puerto Rico (]), Guam (]), and the Northern Mariana Islands (] and Chamorro). In Puerto Rico, Spanish is more widely spoken than English.<ref name="PuertoRicoTranslation">{{cite web|title=Translation in Puerto Rico|url=https://www.puertorico.com/translation/|access-date=December 29, 2013|website=Puerto Rico Channel}}</ref>


=== Immigration ===
According to the ], in 2010 some 229 million people (out of the total U.S. population of 308 million) spoke only English at home. More than 37 million spoke ] at home, making it the second most commonly used language in the United States. Other languages spoken at home by one million people or more include ] (2.8 million), ] (1.6 million), ] (1.4 million), ] (1.3 million), ] (1.1 million), and ] (1 million).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B16001&prodType=table|title=American FactFinder—Results|first=U.S. Census|last=Bureau|access-date=May 29, 2017|archive-date=February 12, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212213140/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B16001&prodType=table|url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{Main|Immigration to the United States}}
{{See also|United States Border Patrol}}
] between ] (left) and ] (right)]]
America's immigrant population is by far the world's ].<ref name="UNdef">{{Cite web |author=((United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division)) |title=International Migrant Stock 2019 Documentation |url= https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/docs/MigrationStockDocumentation_2019.pdf |date=August 2019 |publisher=United Nations |access-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/data/UN_MigrantStockTotal_2019.xlsx|title=UN Migrant Stock Total 2019|publisher=United Nations|access-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref> In 2022, there were 87.7 million immigrants and ] in the United States, accounting for nearly 27% of the overall U.S. population.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 14, 2019|title=Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States|work=]|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states}}</ref> In 2017, out of the U.S. foreign-born population, some 45% (20.7&nbsp;million) were naturalized citizens, 27% (12.3&nbsp;million) were lawful permanent residents, 6% (2.2&nbsp;million) were temporary lawful residents, and 23% (10.5&nbsp;million) were unauthorized immigrants.<ref name="KeyFindings">{{cite web|date=June 17, 2019|title= Key findings about U.S. immigrants| url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/17/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref> In 2019, the top countries of origin for immigrants were Mexico (24% of immigrants), India (6%), China (5%), the Philippines (4.5%), and El Salvador (3%).<ref>{{Cite web |date= September 21, 2021|title=Immigrants in the United States |url= https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/immigrants_in_the_united_states_0.pdf |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website =americanimmigrationcouncil.org}}</ref> In fiscal year 2022, over one million immigrants (most of whom entered through ]) were granted ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Are America's Immigrants? |url=https://www.prb.org/articles/who-are-americas-immigrants/ |work=] |date=May 22, 2024}}</ref> The United States led the world in ] for decades, admitting more refugees than the rest of the world combined.<ref name="PewRefugees">{{cite web |author=Krogstad |first=Jens Manuel |date=October 7, 2019 |title=Key facts about refugees to the U.S. |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/07/key-facts-about-refugees-to-the-u-s/ |publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref>


=== Religion ===
The ] in the United States, in terms of enrollment numbers from kindergarten through university ], are Spanish (around 7.2&nbsp;million students), French (1.5&nbsp;million), and ] (500,000). Other commonly taught languages include ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/ReportSummary2011.pdf|title=Foreign Language Enrollments in K–12 Public Schools|date=February 2011|publisher=American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)|access-date=October 17, 2015|archive-date=April 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408184754/https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/ReportSummary2011.pdf|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mla.org/pdf/2013_enrollment_survey.pdf|title=Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in United States Institutions of Higher Education, Fall 2013|last1=Goldberg|first1=David|last2=Looney|first2=Dennis|last3=Lusin|first3=Natalia|date=February 2015|publisher=Modern Language Association|access-date=May 20, 2015}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in the United States}} {{Main|Religion in the United States}}
{{See also|List of religious movements that began in the United States}}
Pew forum</ref>|alt=Map of the U.S. depicting greater religiosity in the Southern United States]]
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religious affiliation in the U.S., according to a 2023 ] poll:<ref name="Staff-2007"/>
| label1 = ]
| value1 = 33
| color1 = DarkBlue
| label2 = ]
| value2 = 22
| color2 = Blue
| label3 = ]
| value3 = 11
| color3 = SkyBlue
| label4 = ]
| value4 = 2
| color4 = Pink
| label5 = ]
| value5 = 1
| color5 = #468fEA
| label6 = Other religion
| value6 = 6
| color6 = Green
| label7 = ]
| value7 = 22
| color7 = White
| label8 = Unanswered
| value8 = 3
| color8 = Black
}}
The ] guarantees the ] and forbids Congress from passing laws respecting ].<ref name="Donadio-2021">{{Cite web |last=Donadio |first=Rachel |date=November 22, 2021 |title=Why Is France So Afraid of God? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/12/france-god-religion-secularism/620528/ |access-date=March 25, 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=First Amendment |url=https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/#:~:text=Congress%20shall%20make%20no%20law,for%20a%20redress%20of%20grievances. |work=Constitution Annotated |publisher=]}}</ref> Religious practice is widespread, among the ] in the world,<ref name="alesina1">{{cite journal |last=Alesina |first=Alberto |display-authors=etal |year=2003 |title=Fractionalization |url=http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/alesina/files/fractionalization.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Journal of Economic Growth |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=155–194 |doi=10.1023/a:1024471506938 |s2cid=260685524 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831221230/http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/alesina/files/fractionalization.pdf |archive-date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> and profoundly vibrant.<ref name="pewreligion">{{cite web |last=Fahmy |first=Dalia |date=July 31, 2018 |title=Americans are far more religious than adults in other wealthy nations |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/07/31/americans-are-far-more-religious-than-adults-in-other-wealthy-nations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109160911/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/07/31/americans-are-far-more-religious-than-adults-in-other-wealthy-nations/ |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |work=Pew Research Center }}</ref> The country has the world's ].<ref name="Global Christianity">{{cite web|author=ANALYSIS|url=https://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Global-Christianity-exec.aspx|title=Global Christianity|publisher=Pewforum.org|date=December 19, 2011|access-date=August 17, 2012|archive-date=July 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730062627/http://www.pewforum.org/christian/global-christianity-exec.aspx|url-status=dead }}</ref> Other notable faiths include ], ], ], ], many ] movements, and ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sewell |first=Elizabeth |title=The Oxford Handbook of Church and State in the United States |publisher=] |year=2010 |isbn=9780199892228 |editor-last=Davis |editor-first=Derek |pages=249–275 |chapter=Religious Liberty and Religious Minorities in the United States}}</ref> Religious practice varies significantly by region.<ref name="Williams-2023">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Daniel |date=March 1, 2023 |title='Christian America' Isn't Dying. It's Dividing. |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/february-web-only/christianity-america-pew-research-statistics-minority.html |access-date=March 25, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> "]" is common in American culture.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Merriam |first1=Jesse |last2=Lupu |first2=Ira |last3=Elwood |first3=F |last4=Davis |first4=Eleanor |date=August 28, 2008 |title=On Ceremonial Occasions, May the Government Invoke a Deity? |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/08/28/on-ceremonial-occasions-may-the-government-invoke-a-deity/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US}}</ref>


The overwhelming majority of ] believe in a ] or spiritual force, engage in ]s such as prayer, and consider themselves religious or ].<ref name="Kallo-2023">{{Cite web |last=Kallo |display-authors=etal |first=Becka|date=December 7, 2023 |title=Spirituality Among Americans |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spirituality-among-americans/ |access-date=December 8, 2023 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Froese |first1=Paul |last2=Uecker |first2=Jeremy E. |date=September 2022 |title=Prayer in America: A Detailed Analysis of the Various Dimensions of Prayer |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jssr.12810 |journal=Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion |language=en |volume=61 |issue=3–4 |pages=663–689 |doi=10.1111/jssr.12810 |s2cid=253439298 |issn=0021-8294}}</ref> In the "]", located within the Southern United States, ] plays a significant role culturally, whereas ] and the Western United States ].<ref name="Williams-2023" /> ]—a ] movement, whose members migrated westward from Missouri and Illinois under the leadership of ] in 1847 after the assassination of ]{{sfn|Howe|2008|pp=727–728}}—remains the predominant religion in Utah to this day.<ref>{{cite web|website=World Population Review|title=Mormon Population by State|date=June 2023|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/mormon-population-by-state}}</ref>
The ] of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the ] of religion and forbids Congress from passing laws respecting its ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/#:~:text=Congress%20shall%20make%20no%20law,for%20a%20redress%20of%20grievances.|title=First Amendment|work=Constitution Annotated|date=|publisher=]}}</ref>

] studies during the late 2010s and early 2020s found that about 90% of Americans believe in God, 65% of Americans report that religion plays an important or very important role in their lives, 61% report ] weekly or more, and 43% report attending religious services at least monthly, proportions which are unique among developed countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Joey |date=August 22, 2018 |title=The world's most committed Christians live in Africa, Latin America – and the U.S. |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/22/the-worlds-most-committed-christians-live-in-africa-latin-america-and-the-u-s/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="pewreligion">{{cite web |last=Fahmy |first=Dalia |date=July 31, 2018 |title=Americans are far more religious than adults in other wealthy nations |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/07/31/americans-are-far-more-religious-than-adults-in-other-wealthy-nations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109160911/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/07/31/americans-are-far-more-religious-than-adults-in-other-wealthy-nations/ |archive-date=January 9, 2020 |access-date=2020-01-23 |work=Pew Research Center |quote=The U.S. remains a robustly religious country and the most devout of all the rich Western democracies. In fact, Americans pray more often, are more likely to attend weekly religious services and ascribe higher importance to faith in their lives than adults in other wealthy, Western democracies, such as Canada, Australia and most European states, according to a recent Pew Research Center study... As it turns out, the U.S. is the only country out of 102 examined in the study that has higher-than-average levels of both prayer and wealth.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahmy |first=Dalia |date=April 25, 2018 |title=Key findings about Americans' belief in God |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/25/key-findings-about-americans-belief-in-god/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US |quote=At the same time, the United States remains an outlier among wealthy countries in terms of its relatively high levels of religious commitment. In the U.S., more than two-thirds of Christians say religion is very important in their lives, compared with significantly lower levels in other rich democracies. For instance, only 12% of Christian adults in Germany and 11% in the United Kingdom say religion is very important in their lives.}}</ref> The United States has the ].<ref name="Global Christianity">{{cite web|author=ANALYSIS|url=https://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Global-Christianity-exec.aspx|title=Global Christianity|publisher=Pewforum.org|date=December 19, 2011|access-date=August 17, 2012|archive-date=July 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730062627/http://www.pewforum.org/christian/global-christianity-exec.aspx|url-status=dead }}</ref> ] is the largest Christian religious grouping in the United States, accounting for almost half of all Americans. ] collectively form the largest branch of Protestantism at 15.4%, and the ] is the largest individual Protestant denomination at 5.3% of the U.S. population. The remaining Protestants are either in ], ], or not specified in the survey.<ref name="pew2014">{{cite web|date=May 12, 2015|title=America's Changing Religious Landscape|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/|publisher=Pew Research Center: Religion & Public Life}}</ref> In the ] at ], socially conservative ] plays a significant part of the culture. By contrast, religion plays the least important role in ] and the Western United States.<ref name="gallup.com">{{cite web|date=February 17, 2010|title=Mississippians Go to Church the Most; Vermonters, Least|url=https://www.gallup.com/poll/125999/mississippians-go-church-most-vermonters-least.aspx|access-date=January 13, 2014|publisher=Gallup}}</ref>

In a 2014 survey, 70.6% of adults in the United States identified themselves as ],<ref>{{cite news|title=Church Statistics and Religious Affiliations|newspaper=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|url=https://religions.pewforum.org/affiliations|publisher=Pew Research|access-date=September 23, 2014}}</ref> and 5.9% claimed a non-Christian religion.<ref name="pew2015">{{cite web|date=May 12, 2015|title=America's Changing Religious Landscape|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/|publisher=]: Religion & Public Life}}</ref> These include ] (1.9%), ] (1.1%), ] (0.7%), and ] (0.7%).<ref name="pew2015" /> The survey also reported that 22.8% of Americans described themselves as ], ] or simply having ].<ref name="Pew">{{cite web|year=2012|title="Nones" on the Rise|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/|access-date=January 10, 2014|publisher=Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life}}</ref><ref name="ARIS">{{cite web|title=American Religious Identification Survey 2001|url=https://www.gc.cuny.edu/CUNY_GC/media/CUNY-Graduate-Center/PDF/ARIS/ARIS-PDF-version.pdf?ext=.pdf|author1=Barry A. Kosmin|author2=Egon Mayer|date=December 19, 2001|publisher=CUNY Graduate Center|access-date=September 16, 2011|author3=Ariela Keysar}}</ref><ref name="The Future of the Global Muslim Population">{{cite web|title=United States|date=January 27, 2011|url=https://features.pewforum.org/muslim-population-graphic/#/United%20States|access-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref> Membership in a house of worship fell from 70% in 1999 to 47% in 2020, much of the decline related to the number of Americans expressing no religious preference. However, membership also fell among those who identified with a specific religious group.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Jeffrey M.|title=U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx|access-date=April 5, 2021|work=Gallup.com|date=March 29, 2021|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gabbatt|first1=Adam|title='Allergic reaction to US religious right' fueling decline of religion, experts say|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/05/americans-religion-rightwing-politics-decline|access-date=April 5, 2021|work=The Guardian|date=April 5, 2021|language=en}}</ref>


=== Urbanization === === Urbanization ===
{{Main|Urbanization in the United States|List of United States cities by population}} {{Main|Urbanization in the United States|List of United States cities by population}}
About 82% of Americans live in ], including suburbs;<ref name="WF" /> about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-state=gct&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-P1&-mt_name=&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=&-format=US-1&-_lang=en|title=United States—Urban/Rural and Inside/Outside Metropolitan Area|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090403024532/https://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-state=gct&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-P1&-mt_name=&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=&-format=US-1&-_lang=en|archive-date=April 3, 2009|access-date=September 23, 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2008, 273 ] had populations over 100,000, nine cities had more than one million residents, and four cities had over two million (namely ], ], ], and ]).<ref name="PopEstBigCities">{{cite web|url=https://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/census/popestimate/copy_of_2008-subcounty-population-hawaii/SUB_EST2008_01.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5lpvuJk99?url=https://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/census/popestimate/copy_of_2008-subcounty-population-hawaii/SUB_EST2008_01.pdf|archive-date=December 7, 2009|title=Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2008 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008|website=2008 Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division|date=July 1, 2009 }}</ref> Many U.S. metropolitan populations are growing rapidly, particularly in the South and West.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 18, 2019|title=Counties in South and West Lead Nation in Population Growth|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/estimates-county-metro.html|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=en}}</ref> About 82% of Americans live in ], including suburbs;<ref name="CIA-2018" /> about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-state=gct&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-P1&-mt_name=&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=&-format=US-1&-_lang=en|title=United States—Urban/Rural and Inside/Outside Metropolitan Area|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090403024532/https://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-state=gct&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-P1&-mt_name=&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=&-format=US-1&-_lang=en|archive-date=April 3, 2009|access-date=September 23, 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2022, 333 ] had populations over 100,000, nine cities had more than one million residents, and four cities—], ], ], and ]—had populations exceeding two million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> Many U.S. metropolitan populations are growing rapidly, particularly in the South and West.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 18, 2019|title=Counties in South and West Lead Nation in Population Growth|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/estimates-county-metro.html|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=The United States Census Bureau|language=en}}</ref>
{{Largest metropolitan areas of the United States}} {{Largest metropolitan areas of the United States}}


===Health=== === Health ===
{{See also|Healthcare in the United States|Healthcare reform in the United States|Health insurance in the United States}}
] in ] is the largest medical complex in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmc.edu/about-tmc/|title=About Us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/texas-medical-center-largest-medical-complex-world-reaches-98-percent-icu-capacity-1526180 | title=Texas Medical Center, largest medical complex in the world, reaches 98 percent ICU capacity | website=] | date=August 19, 2020 }}</ref> In 2018, it employed 120,000 people and treated 10 million patients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/TMC_FactsFiguresOnePager_07052018-1.pdf|title=TMC Facts & Figures}}</ref>]]


According to the ] (CDC), average American life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years in 2022 (74.8 years for men and 80.2 years for women). This was a gain of 1.1 years from 76.4 years in 2021, but the CDC noted that the new average "didn't fully offset the loss of 2.4 years between 2019 and 2021". Higher overall mortality due especially to the ] as well as ] and ] were held mostly responsible for the previous drop in life expectancy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayes-Osterman |first=Cybele |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Americans are living longer but there's a catch: CDC report on life expectancy |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/29/average-us-life-expectancy-increased-not-pre-covid/71738611007/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |publisher=USA Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McPhillips |first=Deidre |date=November 29, 2023 |title=US life expectancy rebounded in 2022 but not back to pre-pandemic levels |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/29/health/life-expectancy-us-2022-cdc-report/index.html |access-date=February 12, 2024 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}</ref> The same report stated that the 2022 gains in average U.S. life expectancy were especially significant for men, Hispanics, and American Indian–Alaskan Native people (AIAN). Starting in 1998, the life expectancy in the U.S. fell ], and Americans' "health disadvantage" gap has been increasing ever since.<ref>{{cite news|last=Achenbach|first=Joel|date=November 26, 2019|title='There's something terribly wrong': Americans are dying young at alarming rates|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/theres-something-terribly-wrong-americans-are-dying-young-at-alarming-rates/2019/11/25/d88b28ec-0d6a-11ea-8397-a955cd542d00_story.html|newspaper=]|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref> The U.S. has one of the ] among ].<ref>{{cite web|date=January 30, 2020|title=New International Report on Health Care: U.S. Suicide Rate Highest Among Wealthy Nations {{!}} Commonwealth Fund|url=https://www.commonwealthfund.org/press-release/2020/new-international-report-health-care-us-suicide-rate-highest-among-wealthy|access-date=March 17, 2020|website=Commonwealthfund.org|language=en}}</ref> ] and another third is overweight.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2003–2004|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overweight/overwght_adult_03.htm|access-date=June 5, 2007|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics}}</ref> The U.S. healthcare system far ], measured both in per capita spending and as a percentage of GDP, but attains worse healthcare outcomes when compared to peer countries for reasons that are debated.<ref>{{cite web|year=2001|title=The U.S. Healthcare System: The Best in the World or Just the Most Expensive?|url=https://dll.umaine.edu/ble/U.S.+HCweb.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/20070309142240/https://dll.umaine.edu:80/ble/U.S.%20HCweb.pdf|archive-date=March 9, 2007|access-date=November 29, 2006|publisher=University of Maine}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The United States is the only developed country ], and ].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Vladeck|first=Bruce|title=Universal Health Insurance in the United States: Reflections on the Past, the Present, and the Future|date=January 2003|volume=93|number=1|pages=16–19|pmid=12511377|doi=10.2105/ajph.93.1.16|journal=]|pmc=1447684 }}</ref> Government-funded healthcare coverage for the poor (]) and for those age 65 and older (]) is available to Americans who meet the programs' income or age qualifications. In 2010, former President Obama passed the ].{{efn|Also known less formally as Obamacare}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Oberlander|first=Jonathan|date=June 1, 2010| title=Long Time Coming: Why Health Reform Finally Passed|journal=Health Affairs|language=en|volume=29|issue=6|pages=1112–1116|doi=10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0447| pmid=20530339|issn=0278-2715|doi-access=free}}</ref> ] is not federally protected, and is illegal or restricted in 17 states.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Glenza |first1=Jessica |last2=Noor |first2=Poppy |title=Tracking abortion laws across the United States |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/jul/29/abortion-laws-bans-by-state |access-date=August 14, 2024 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
{{See also|Health care in the United States|Health care reform in the United States|Health insurance in the United States}}] in downtown ] is the largest medical complex in the world.|alt=The Texas Medical Center, a cluster of contemporary skyscrapers, at night]]


=== Education ===
The ] (CDC) reported that the United States had an average ] at birth of 77.3 years in 2020 (74.5 years for men and 80.2 years for women), down 1.5 years from 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Life Expectancy in the United States Declines by a Year and a Half, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/202107.htm|website=www.cdc.gov|access-date=October 12, 2021|date=July 21, 2021}}</ref> Life expectancy was highest among Asians and Hispanics and lowest among blacks.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 29, 2018|title=Mortality in the United States, 2017|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db328.htm|access-date=December 27, 2018|website=www.cdc.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bernstein|first1=Lenny|date=November 29, 2018|title=U.S. life expectancy declines again, a dismal trend not seen since World War I|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/us-life-expectancy-declines-again-a-dismal-trend-not-seen-since-world-war-i/2018/11/28/ae58bc8c-f28c-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html|access-date=December 27, 2018}}</ref> Starting in 1998, the average life expectancy in the U.S. fell behind that of other wealthy industrialized countries, and Americans' "health disadvantage" gap has been increasing ever since.<ref>{{cite news|last=Achenbach|first=Joel|date=November 26, 2019|title='There's something terribly wrong': Americans are dying young at alarming rates|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/theres-something-terribly-wrong-americans-are-dying-young-at-alarming-rates/2019/11/25/d88b28ec-0d6a-11ea-8397-a955cd542d00_story.html|newspaper=]|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref> The U.S. also has one of the highest ] rates among ],<ref>{{cite web|date=January 30, 2020|title=New International Report on Health Care: U.S. Suicide Rate Highest Among Wealthy Nations {{!}} Commonwealth Fund|url=https://www.commonwealthfund.org/press-release/2020/new-international-report-health-care-us-suicide-rate-highest-among-wealthy|access-date=March 17, 2020|website=www.commonwealthfund.org|language=en}}</ref> and approximately one-third of the U.S. adult population is obese and another third is overweight.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2003–2004|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overweight/overwght_adult_03.htm|access-date=June 5, 2007|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics}}</ref>
{{Main|Education in the United States}}
]. "". Accessed July 29, 2024.</ref> such as the ], founded by ] in 1819.|alt=Photograph of the University of Virginia]]
American primary and secondary education (known in the U.S. as ], "kindergarten through 12th grade") is decentralized. School systems are operated by state, territorial, and sometimes municipal governments and regulated by the ]. In general, children are required to attend school or ] from the age of five or six (] or ]) until they are 18 years old. This often brings students through the ], the final year of a U.S. high school, but some states and territories allow them to leave school earlier, at age 16 or 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d02/dt150.asp|title=Ages for Compulsory School Attendance ...|access-date=June 10, 2007|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics}}</ref> The U.S. spends more on education per student than any country in the world,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rushe|first=Dominic|date=September 7, 2018|title=The US spends more on education than other countries. Why is it falling behind?|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/07/us-education-spending-finland-south-korea|access-date=August 29, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> an average of $18,614 per year per public elementary and secondary school student in 2020–2021.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 2020|title=Fast Facts: Expenditures|url=https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=nces.ed.gov|language=EN}}</ref> Among Americans age 25 and older, 92.2% graduated from high school, 62.7% attended some college, 37.7% earned a ], and 14.2% earned a graduate degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=Educational Attainment in the United States: 2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/demo/educational-attainment/cps-detailed-tables.html |access-date=July 20, 2024 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The ] is near-universal.<ref name="CIA-2018" /><ref>For more detail on U.S. literacy, see , U.S. Department of Education (2003).</ref> The country has the ], with ] (having won 413 awards).<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Nobel Prizes |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/all-nobel-prizes |publisher=Nobel Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2022–2023 Best Global Universities Rankings |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=]}}</ref>


] has earned a global reputation. Many of the world's top universities, as listed by various ranking organizations, are in the United States, including 19 of the top 25.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fink |first=Jenni |date=October 22, 2019 |title=U.S. Schools Take 8 of 10 Top Spots on U.S. News' Best Global Universities |url=https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-best-global-universities-american-schools-dominate-top-10-1466768 |access-date=April 18, 2023 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 19, 2023 |title=Best Countries for Education: North American and European countries are seen as offering the best opportunities for education. |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/best-countries-for-education |website=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref> American higher education is dominated by ]s, although ] enroll about 20% of all American students. Local ]s generally offer coursework and degree programs covering the first two years of college study. They often have more open admission policies, shorter academic programs, and lower tuition.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pannoni|first1=Alexandra|last2=Kerr|first2=Emma|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/articles/2015/02/06/frequently-asked-questions-community-college|title=Everything You Need to Know About Community Colleges: FAQ|work=]|date=July 14, 2020|access-date=July 9, 2022}}</ref>
In 2010, ], ], ], ]s, and traffic collisions caused the most years of life lost in the U.S. ], ], ]s, ], and ] caused the most years lost to disability. The most harmful ]s were poor diet, ], obesity, ], ], ], and ]. ], ]s, ], ], and falls caused the most additional years of life lost over their age-adjusted 1990 per-capita rates.<ref name="Murray2013">{{cite journal|first=Christopher J.L.|last=Murray|title=The State of US Health, 1990–2010: Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors|journal=Journal of the American Medical Association|doi=10.1001/jama.2013.13805|date=July 10, 2013|volume=310|issue=6|pages=591–608|pmid=23842577|pmc=5436627 }}</ref> ] and ] rates in the U.S. are substantially higher than in other Western nations, especially among blacks and Hispanics.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Teen Pregnancy|url=https://www.cdc.gov/TeenPregnancy/AboutTeenPreg.htm|publisher=Center for Disease Control|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>


As for ]s on higher education, the U.S. spends more per student than the ] average, and Americans spend more than all nations in combined public and private spending.<ref name="education spending">{{cite news|date=June 25, 2013|title=U.S. education spending tops global list, study shows|publisher=CBS|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-education-spending-tops-global-list-study-shows/|access-date=October 5, 2013|archive-date=July 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726002619/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57590921/u.s-education-spending-tops-global-list-study-shows|url-status=live}}</ref> Colleges and universities directly funded by the federal government do not charge tuition and are limited to military personnel and government employees, including: the ], the ], and ]. Despite some student ] programs in place,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Biden administration cancelled $9.5B in student loan debt. Here's who it affects. |url=https://usafacts.org/articles/the-biden-administration-cancelled-95b-in-student-loan-debt-heres-who-it-affects/ |access-date=July 15, 2022 |website=USAFacts |language=en}}</ref> ] increased by 102% between 2010 and 2020,<ref>{{cite news|last=Hess|first=Abigail Johnson|date=December 22, 2020|title=U.S. student debt has increased by more than 100% over the past 10 years|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/22/us-student-debt-has-increased-by-more-than-100percent-over-past-10-years.html|access-date=January 8, 2022}}</ref> and exceeded $1.7&nbsp;trillion as of 2022.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dickler|first1=Jessica|last2=Nova|first2=Annie|date=May 6, 2022|title=This is how student loan debt became a $1.7 trillion crisis|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/06/this-is-how-student-loan-debt-became-a-1point7-trillion-crisis.html|publisher=CNBC|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref>
The U.S. health care system far ] that of any other nation, measured both in per capita spending and as a percentage of GDP but attains worse healthcare outcomes when compared to peer nations.<ref>{{cite web|year=2001|title=The U.S. Healthcare System: The Best in the World or Just the Most Expensive?|url=https://dll.umaine.edu/ble/U.S.+HCweb.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/20070309142240/https://dll.umaine.edu:80/ble/U.S.%20HCweb.pdf|archive-date=March 9, 2007|access-date=November 29, 2006|publisher=University of Maine}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The U.S., however, is a global leader in medical innovation. The United States is the only developed nation ], and a ].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Vladeck|first=Bruce|title=Universal Health Insurance in the United States: Reflections on the Past, the Present, and the Future|date=January 2003|volume=93|number=1|pages=16–19|pmid=12511377|doi=10.2105/ajph.93.1.16|journal=]|pmc=1447684 }}</ref>


== Culture and society ==
Government-funded health care coverage for the poor (], established in 1965) and for those age 65 and older (], begun in 1966) is available to Americans who meet the programs' income or age qualifications. In 2010, former President Obama passed the ] or ACA,{{efn|Also known less formally as Obamacare}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Oberlander|first=Jonathan|date=June 1, 2010| title=Long Time Coming: Why Health Reform Finally Passed|journal=Health Affairs|language=en|volume=29|issue=6|pages=1112–1116|doi=10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0447| pmid=20530339|issn=0278-2715|doi-access=free}}</ref> which the CDC said that the law roughly halved the uninsured share of the population<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/earlyrelease201611_01.pdf|title=National Health Interview Survey, January to June 2016|website=CDC.gov|access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> and multiple studies have concluded that ACA had reduced the mortality of enrollees.<ref name="NYT20200323GoodnoughAbelsonetAl">{{cite news|author=Abby Goodnough|author2=Reed Abelson|author3=Margot Sanger-Katz|author4=Sarah Kliff|title=Obamacare Turns 10. Here's a Look at What Works and Doesn't.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/health/obamacare-aca-coverage-cost-history.html|access-date=March 31, 2020|date=March 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330105840/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/health/obamacare-aca-coverage-cost-history.html|archive-date=March 30, 2020|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Sarah|last2=Altekruse|first2=Sean|last3=Johnson|first3=Norman|last4=Wherry|first4=Laura|date=July 2019|title=Medicaid and Mortality: New Evidence from Linked Survey and Administrative Data|location=Cambridge, MA|publisher=National Bureau of Economic Research|series=NBER Working Paper No. 26081|doi=10.3386/w26081|s2cid=164463149|url=http://www.nber.org/papers/w26081.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Goldin|first1=Jacob|last2=Lurie|first2=Ithai Z.|last3=McCubbin|first3=Janet|title=Health Insurance and Mortality: Experimental Evidence from Taxpayer Outreach|url= https://academic.oup.com/qje/advance-article/doi/10.1093/qje/qjaa029/5911132|journal=The Quarterly Journal of Economics|year=2020|volume=136|pages=1–49|language=en|doi=10.1093/qje/qjaa029}}</ref> However, its legacy ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Mathews|first=Anna Wilde|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-is-aca-still-controversial-11-years-after-healthcare-law-known-as-obamacare-was-passed-11623962729|title=Why Is ACA Still Controversial 11 Years After Healthcare Law Known as Obamacare Was Passed?|work=]|date=17 June 2021|access-date=18 July 2022}}</ref>
{{Main|Culture of the United States|Society of the United States}}
] (''Liberty Enlightening the World'') on ] in ] was an 1866 gift from France that has become an iconic symbol of the ].<ref>{{cite web| title = Statue of Liberty| website=World Heritage| publisher=UNESCO| url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/307| access-date = January 4, 2022}}</ref>|alt=The Statue of Liberty, a large teal bronze sculpture on a stone pedestal]]


Americans have traditionally ] by a unifying political belief in an "]" emphasizing ], ], ], ], ], ], and a preference for ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Huntington |first=Samuel P. |url=https://archive.org/details/whoarewechalleng00hunt |title=Who are We?: The Challenges to America's National Identity |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-684-87053-3 |chapter=Chapters 2–4 |author-link=Samuel P. Huntington |access-date=October 25, 2015 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6xiYiybkE8kC&q=core}}: see ], written by ] and adopted by Congress in 1918.</ref><ref>Hoeveler, J. David, ''Creating the American Mind: Intellect and Politics in the Colonial Colleges'', Rowman & Littlefield, {{ISBN|978-0742548398}}, 2007, p. xi</ref> Culturally, the country has been described as having the values of ] and ],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Grabb |first1=Edward |last2=Baer |first2=Douglas |last3=Curtis |first3=James |year=1999 |title=The Origins of American Individualism: Reconsidering the Historical Evidence |journal=] |publisher=] |volume=24 |pages=511–533 |doi=10.2307/3341789 |issn=0318-6431 |jstor=3341789 |number=4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Marsh |first=Abigail |date=May 26, 2021 |title=Everyone Thinks Americans Are Selfish. They're Wrong. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/opinion/individualism-united-states-altruism.html |access-date=July 16, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> as well as having a strong ],<ref>{{cite journal |last=Porter |first=Gayle |date=November 2010 |title=Work Ethic and Ethical Work: Distortions in the American Dream |journal=] |publisher=] |volume=96 |pages=535–550 |doi=10.1007/s10551-010-0481-6 |jstor=29789736 |s2cid=143991044 |number=4}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite journal |last=Stephens |first=R. H. |date=September 1952 |title=The Role Of Competition In American Life |journal=] |publisher=] |volume=24 |pages=9–14 |jstor=41317686 |number=3}}</ref> and voluntary ] towards others.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 9, 2022|url=https://good2give.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-CAF-World-Giving-Index.pdf |title=World Giving Index 2022 |website=] |access-date=April 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Country-level estimates of altruism |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cross-country-variation-in-altruism |access-date=March 14, 2023 |website=Our World in Data}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marsh |first=Abigail |date=February 5, 2018 |title=Could A More Individualistic World Also Be A More Altruistic One? |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2018/02/05/581873428/could-a-more-individualistic-world-also-be-a-more-altruistic-one |access-date=March 14, 2023 |publisher=]}}</ref> According to a 2016 study by the ], Americans donated 1.44% of total GDP to charity—the ] in the world by a large margin.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 2016 |title=GROSS DOMESTIC PHILANTHROPY: An international analysis of GDP, tax and giving |url=https://www.cafonline.org/docs/default-source/about-us-policy-and-campaigns/gross-domestic-philanthropy-feb-2016.pdf |access-date=July 18, 2022 |publisher=]}}</ref> The United States is home to a ].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Volokh |first=Eugene |date=January 17, 2015 |title=The American tradition of multiculturalism |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/01/27/the-american-tradition-of-multiculturalism/ |access-date=July 30, 2024 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Lucas |date=August 22, 2014 |title=America's Tipping Point: Most Of U.S. Now Multicultural, Says Group |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/americas-tipping-point-most-u-s-now-multicultural-says-group-n186206 |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> It has acquired ] and economic ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Berghahn |first=Volker R. |date=February 1, 2010 |title=The debate on 'Americanization' among economic and cultural historians |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/14682740903388566 |journal=Cold War History |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=107–130 |doi=10.1080/14682740903388566 |s2cid=144459911 |issn=1468-2745}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Fergie |first1=Dexter |date=March 24, 2022 |title=How American Culture Ate the World |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/165836/american-culture-ate-world-righteous-smokescreen-globalization-review |magazine=The New Republic |issn=0028-6583 |access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref>
===Education===
{{Main|Education in the United States|Higher education in the United States}}
], founded by ], is one of the many public colleges and universities in the United States.|alt=Photograph of the University of Virginia|left]]
American ] is operated by state and local governments and regulated by the ] through restrictions on federal grants. In most states, children are required to attend school from the age of five or six (beginning with ] or ]) until they turn 18 (generally bringing them through ], the end of ]); some states allow students to leave school at 16 or 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d02/dt150.asp|title=Ages for Compulsory School Attendance ...|access-date=June 10, 2007|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics}}</ref> Of Americans 25 and older, 84.6% graduated from high school, 52.6% attended some college, 27.2% earned a ], and 9.6% earned graduate degrees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Educational Attainment in the United States: 2003|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/p20-550.pdf|access-date=August 1, 2006|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The basic ] rate is approximately 99%.<ref name="WF" /><ref>For more detail on U.S. literacy, see , U.S. Department of Education (2003).</ref>


Nearly all present Americans or their ancestors came from ] (the "]") within the past five centuries.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fiorina|first1=Morris P.|author-link1=Morris P. Fiorina|last2=Peterson|first2=Paul E.|title=The New American democracy|date=2010|publisher=Longman|location=London|isbn=978-0-205-78016-7|page=97|edition=7th}}</ref> ] American culture is a ] largely derived from the ] with influences from many other sources, such as ].<ref>{{multiref2
The United States has many private and public ]. The majority of the world's top ] and ], as listed by various ranking organizations, are in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2022|title=QS World University Rankings 2022|date=8 June 2021|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref> There are also local ]s with generally more open admission policies, shorter academic programs, and lower tuition.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pannoni|first1=Alexandra|last2=Kerr|first2=Emma|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/articles/2015/02/06/frequently-asked-questions-community-college|title=Everything You Need to Know About Community Colleges: FAQ|work=]|date=14 July 2020|access-date=9 July 2022}}</ref> The U.S. spends more on education per student than any nation in the world,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rushe|first=Dominic|date=September 7, 2018|title=The US spends more on education than other countries. Why is it falling behind?|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/07/us-education-spending-finland-south-korea|access-date=August 29, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> spending an average of $12,794 per year on public elementary and secondary school students in the 2016–2017 school year.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 2020|title=Fast Facts: Expenditures|url=https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=nces.ed.gov|language=EN}}</ref> As for ]s on higher education, the U.S. spends more per student than the ] average, and more than all nations in combined public and private spending.<ref name="education spending">{{cite news|date=June 25, 2013|title=U.S. education spending tops global list, study shows|publisher=CBS|agency=AP|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57590921/u.s-education-spending-tops-global-list-study-shows/|access-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> Despite some student ] programs in place,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Biden administration cancelled $9.5B in student loan debt. Here's who it affects. |url=https://usafacts.org/articles/the-biden-administration-cancelled-95b-in-student-loan-debt-heres-who-it-affects/ |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=USAFacts |language=en}}</ref> ] has increased by 102% in the last decade,<ref>{{cite news|last=Hess|first=Abigail Johnson|date=December 22, 2020|title=U.S. student debt has increased by more than 100% over the past 10 years|work=CNBC|location=|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/22/us-student-debt-has-increased-by-more-than-100percent-over-past-10-years.html|access-date=January 8, 2022}}</ref> and exceeded 1.7&nbsp;trillion dollars as of 2022.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dickler|first1=Jessica|last2=Nova|first2=Annie|date=May 6, 2022|title=This is how student loan debt became a $1.7 trillion crisis|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/06/this-is-how-student-loan-debt-became-a-1point7-trillion-crisis.html|work=CNBC|location=|access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref>
|{{cite book|last1=Holloway|first1=Joseph E.|title=Africanisms in American culture|date=2005|publisher=Indiana University Press|location=Bloomington|isbn=978-0-253-21749-3|pages=18–38|edition=2nd}}
|{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Fern L.|title=Speaking culturally : language diversity in the United States|publisher=Sage Publications|isbn=978-0-8039-5912-5|page=116|year=2000 }} }}</ref> More recent immigration from ] and especially ] has added to a cultural mix that has been described as a homogenizing ], and a heterogeneous ], with immigrants contributing to, and often ] into, mainstream American culture. The ], or the perception that Americans enjoy high ], plays a key role in attracting immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallup.com/poll/161435/100-million-worldwide-dream-life.aspx|title=More Than 100 Million Worldwide Dream of a Life in the U.S. More than 25% in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Dominican Republic want to move to the U.S.|last=Clifton|first=Jon|date=March 21, 2013|publisher=Gallup|access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kulkarni |first=Jay |date=January 12, 2022 |title=Attracting Immigrant Talent With A New American Dream |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/01/12/attracting-immigrant-talent-with-a-new-american-dream/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> Whether this perception is accurate has been a topic of debate.<ref name="socialmobility">{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/tax/public-finance/chapter%205%20gfg%202010.pdf|title=A Family Affair: Intergenerational Social Mobility across OECD Countries|website=Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth|publisher=OECD|year=2010|access-date=September 20, 2010}}</ref><ref name="CAP">{{cite web|title=Understanding Mobility in America|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2006/04/26/1917/understanding-mobility-in-america/|website=Center for American Progress|date=April 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Gould|first1=Elise|title=U.S. lags behind peer countries in mobility|url=https://www.epi.org/publication/usa-lags-peer-countries-mobility/|website=]|access-date=July 15, 2013|date=October 10, 2012}}</ref> While mainstream culture holds that the United States is a ],<ref>{{cite book|last=Gutfeld|first=Amon|year=2002|title=American Exceptionalism: The Effects of Plenty on the American Experience|publisher=Sussex Academic Press|location=Brighton and Portland|page=65|isbn=978-1-903900-08-6}}</ref> scholars identify significant differences between ], affecting ], language, and values.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zweig|first=Michael|year=2004|title=What's Class Got To Do With It, American Society in the Twenty-First Century|publisher=Cornell University Press|location=Ithaca, NY|isbn=978-0-8014-8899-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite report | last=Hoff-Ginsberg | first=Erika | date=April 1989 | title=Effects of Social Class and Interactive Setting on Maternal Speech | publication-place=Bethesda, MD | publisher=National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH) | via=Education Resource Information Center | url=https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED309843}} Republished with revisions as {{cite journal | last=Hoff-Ginsberg | first=Erika | title=Mother-Child Conversation in Different Social Classes and Communicative Settings | journal=Child Development | volume=62 | issue=4 | date=1991 | issn=0009-3920 | doi=10.1111/j.1467-8624.1991.tb01569.x | pages=782–796| pmid=1935343 }}</ref> Americans tend to greatly value ] achievement, but ] is promoted by some as a noble condition as well.<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Keefe|first=Kevin|year=2005|title=The Average American|publisher=PublicAffairs|location=New York|isbn=978-1-58648-270-1|url=https://archive.org/details/averageamericant00okee }}</ref>


The ] is an agency of the United States federal government that was established in 1965 with the purpose to "develop and promote a broadly conceived national policy of support for the humanities and the arts in the United States, and for institutions which preserve the cultural heritage of the United States."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-foundation-on-the-arts-and-the-humanities|title=National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities|work=Federal Register|access-date=October 1, 2022}}</ref> It is composed of four sub-agencies:
==Culture and society==
*]
{{Main|Culture of the United States|Society of the United States}}
*]
], a gift from ], has become an iconic symbol of the ].<ref>{{cite web| title = Statue of Liberty| website=World Heritage| publisher=UNESCO| url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/307| access-date = January 4, 2022}}</ref>|alt=The Statue of Liberty, a large teal bronze sculpture on a stone pedestal]]
*]
The United States is home to a ] of ethnic groups, traditions, and values,<ref name="DD">{{cite book|last1=Adams|first1=J.Q.|last2=Strother-Adams|first2=Pearlie|title=Dealing with diversity : the anthology|date=2001|publisher=Kendall/Hunt Pub|location=Chicago|isbn=978-0-7872-8145-8}}</ref><ref name="Society in Focus">{{cite book|last1=Thompson|first1=William E.|last2=Hickey|first2=Joseph V.|title=Society in focus : an introduction to sociology|date=2004|publisher=Pearson/Allyn and Bacon|location=Boston|isbn=978-0-205-41365-2|edition=5th}}</ref> and exerts major cultural influence on a global scale.<ref>]</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Fergie|first1=Dexter|last2=Pinkham|first2=Sophie|last3=Pinkham|first3=Sophie|last4=Kindley|first4=Evan|last5=Kindley|first5=Evan|last6=Kirsch|first6=Adam|last7=Kirsch|first7=Adam|last8=Dickey|first8=Colin|last9=Dickey|first9=Colin|date=2022-03-24|title=How American Culture Ate the World|magazine=The New Republic|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/165836/american-culture-ate-world-righteous-smokescreen-globalization-review|access-date=2022-07-03|issn=0028-6583}}</ref> Aside from the Native American, ], and ] populations, nearly all Americans or their ancestors immigrated or were imported as slaves within the past five centuries.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fiorina|first1=Morris P.|author-link1=Morris P. Fiorina|last2=Peterson|first2=Paul E.|title=The New American democracy|date=2010|publisher=Longman|location=London|isbn=978-0-205-78016-7|page=97|edition=7th}}</ref> ] American culture is a ] largely derived from the ] with influences from many other sources, such as ].<ref name="DD" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Holloway|first1=Joseph E.|title=Africanisms in American culture|date=2005|publisher=Indiana University Press|location=Bloomington|isbn=978-0-253-21749-3|pages=18–38|edition=2nd}}<br />{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Fern L.|title=Speaking culturally : language diversity in the United States|publisher=Sage Publications|isbn=978-0-8039-5912-5|page=116|year=2000 }}</ref> More recent immigration from ] and especially ] has added to a cultural mix that has been described as a homogenizing ], and a heterogeneous ], with immigrants contributing to, and often ] into, mainstream American culture.<ref name="DD" /> Nevertheless, there is a high degree of social inequality related to ]<ref>{{cite book|last=Bonilla-Silva|first=Eduardo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6IG7QgAACAAJ&q=racism+without+racists|title=Racism without Racists: Color-blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2003|isbn=978-0-7425-1633-5|location=Lanham|pages=2–29}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite news|date=June 4, 2018|title="Contempt for the poor in US drives cruel policies," says UN expert|work=]|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23172&LangID=E|access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref>
*]

The United States is considered to have the ] under the ],<ref name="Coleman-2013">{{Cite book |last=Coleman |first=Gabriella |title=Coding Freedom |publisher=] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-691-14461-0 |pages=10, 201 |author-link=Gabriella Coleman}}</ref> which protects ], ], ], and ] as forms of protected expression.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2012 |title=Held Dear In U.S., Free Speech Perplexing Abroad |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/09/19/161439562/held-dear-in-u-s-free-speech-perplexing-abroad |access-date=March 4, 2023 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Liptak |first=Adam |date=June 11, 2008 |title=Hate speech or free speech? What much of West bans is protected in U.S. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/world/americas/11iht-hate.4.13645369.html |url-access=limited |access-date=February 21, 2023 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Durkee |first=Alison |date=April 25, 2018 |title=What if we didn't... have the First Amendment? |url=https://www.mic.com/articles/188402/what-if-we-didnt-have-the-first-amendment |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=Mic |language=en}}</ref> A 2016 ] poll found that Americans were the most supportive of free expression of any polity measured.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wike |first=Richard |title=Americans more tolerant of offensive speech than others in the world |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/10/12/americans-more-tolerant-of-offensive-speech-than-others-in-the-world/ |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=Pew Research Center |date=October 12, 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref> They are the "most supportive of ] and the ] without government censorship."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Alex |date=November 8, 2016 |title=Freedom of speech: which country has the most? |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/freedom-of-speech-country-comparison/ |access-date=February 6, 2023 |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}}</ref> The U.S. is a ] country<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Norris |first=Pippa |author-link=Pippa Norris |date=February 2023 |title=Cancel Culture: Myth or Reality? |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00323217211037023 |journal=Political Studies |language=en |volume=71 |issue=1 |pages=145–174 |doi=10.1177/00323217211037023 |s2cid=238647612 |issn=0032-3217 |quote=As predicted, in post-industrial societies, characterized by predominately liberal social cultures, like the US, Sweden, and UK...}}</ref> with ] attitudes surrounding ].<ref name="Derks-2020">{{Cite book |last1=Derks |first1=Marco |title=Public Discourses About Homosexuality and Religion in Europe and Beyond |last2=van den Berg |first2=Mariecke |publisher=] |year=2020 |isbn=978-3-030-56326-4 |pages=338 |quote=...(the United States and Europe) as "already in crisis" for their permissive attitudes toward nonnormative sexualities...}}</ref> ] are advanced by global standards.<ref name="Derks-2020" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leveille |first=Dan |date=December 4, 2009 |title=LGBT Equality Index: The most LGBT-friendly countries in the world |url=https://www.equaldex.com/equality-index |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=] |quote=13.) United States}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Garretson |first=Jeremiah |title=The Path to Gay Rights: How Activism and Coming Out Changed Public Opinion |publisher=] |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-4798-5007-5 |page= |chapter=A Transformed Society: LGBT Rights in the United States |quote=In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a dramatic wave began to form in the waters of public opinion: American attitudes involving homosexuality began to change... The transformation of America's response to homosexuality has been — and continues to be — one of the most rapid and sustained shifts in mass attitudes since the start of public polling.}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
{{Main|American literature|American philosophy}}
{{see also|List of American novelists|List of playwrights from the United States}}
], whom ] called "the father of American literature"<ref name="faulkner">{{cite book |last=Jelliffe |first=Robert A. |title=Faulkner at Nagano |year=1956 |publisher=Kenkyusha, Ltd |location=Tokyo}}</ref>|alt=Photograph of Mark Twain]]

Colonial American authors were influenced by ] and various other ] philosophers.{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|pp=157-159}}{{sfn|Lauter|1994a|pp=503-509}} ] (1765–1783) is notable for the political writings of ], ], ], and ]. Shortly before and after the ], the newspaper rose to prominence, filling a demand for anti-British national literature.{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|p=163}}<ref>Mulford, Carla. In {{harvnb|Lauter|1994a|pp=705–707}}.</ref> An early novel is ]'s '']'', published in 1791. Writer and critic ] in the early- to mid-nineteenth century helped advance America toward a unique literature and culture by criticizing predecessors such as ] for imitating their British counterparts, and by influencing writers such as ],<ref>{{Cite book | publisher = University of Chicago Press | isbn = 0-226-46969-7 | last = Lease | first = Benjamin | title = That Wild Fellow John Neal and the American Literary Revolution | location = Chicago, Illinois | year = 1972 | page = 80}}</ref> who took American poetry and short fiction in new directions. ] and ] pioneered the influential ] movement;<ref>{{cite web|last1=Finseth|first1=Ian Frederick|title=The Emergence of Transcendentalism|url=http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma95/finseth/trans.html|website= American Studies @ The University of Virginia|publisher=]|access-date=November 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718205554/http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA95/finseth/trans.html |archive-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref><ref name=Coviello>{{cite book |last=Coviello |first=Peter |chapter=Transcendentalism |title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2005 |via=Oxford Reference Online |access-date=October 23, 2011 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195156539.001.0001/acref-9780195156539-e-0294?rskey=lw57LH&result=1 |isbn=9780195307726}}</ref> ], author of '']'', was influenced by this movement. The conflict surrounding ] inspired writers, like ], and authors of slave narratives, such as ]. ]'s '']'' (1850) explored the dark side of American history, as did ]'s '']'' (1851). Major American poets of the nineteenth century ] include ], Melville, and ].{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|pp=444-447}}{{sfn|Lauter|1994a|pp=1228, 1233, 1260}} ] was the first major American writer to be born in the West. ] achieved international recognition with novels like '']'' (1881). As literacy rates rose, periodicals published more stories centered around industrial workers, women, and the rural poor.{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|pp=1269-1270}}{{sfn|Lauter|1994b|pp=8-10}} ], ], and ] were the major literary movements of the period.{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|pp=1271-1273}}{{sfn|Lauter|1994b|p=12}}

While ] generally took on an international character, modernist authors working within the United States more often rooted their work in specific regions, peoples, and cultures.{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|pp=1850-1851}} Following the Great Migration to northern cities, African-American and black ] authors of the ] developed an independent tradition of literature that rebuked a history of inequality and celebrated black culture. An important cultural export during the ], these writings were a key influence on '']'', a philosophy emerging in the 1930s among francophone writers of the ].<ref>]. In {{harvnb|Lauter|1994b|pp=1579–1585}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Philipson |first=Robert |title=The Harlem Renaissance as Postcolonial Phenomenon |journal=African American Review |volume=40 |issue=1 |year=2006 |pages=145–160 |jstor=40027037}}</ref> In the 1950s, an ideal of homogeneity led many authors to attempt to write the ],{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|pp=2260-2261}} while the ] rejected this conformity, using styles that elevated the impact of the ] over mechanics to describe drug use, sexuality, and the failings of society.{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|p=2262}}<ref>{{harvnb|Lauter|1994b|pp=1975–1977}}. "".</ref> Contemporary literature is more pluralistic than in previous eras, with the closest thing to a unifying feature being a trend toward self-conscious ].{{sfn|Baym|Levine|2013|pp=2266-2267}} As of 2024, there have been 12 American laureates for the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/all-nobel-prizes-in-literature/all/ |title=All Nobel Prizes in Literature |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=The Nobel Prize |publisher= Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |quote=}}</ref>

=== Mass media ===
{{Main|Mass media in the United States}}
{{See also|Newspapers in the United States|Television in the United States|Broadcasting in the United States|Public broadcasting in the United States|Internet in the United States|Radio in the United States|Video games in the United States}}
] in ], headquarters of ], one of the world's ] and media conglomerates]]

Media is ], with the ] providing significant protections, as reiterated in '']''.<ref name="Coleman-2013" /> The four major broadcasters in the U.S. are the ] (NBC), ] (CBS), ] (ABC), and ] (FOX). The four major broadcast television networks are all commercial entities. ] offers hundreds of channels catering to a variety of niches.<ref>{{cite news|title=Streaming TV Services: What They Cost, What You Get|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/10/12/business/ap-us-streaming-tv-options.html|access-date=October 12, 2015|work=]|agency=Associated Press|date=October 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015023520/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/10/12/business/ap-us-streaming-tv-options.html|archive-date=October 15, 2015}}</ref> {{as of|2021}}, about 83% of Americans over age 12 listen to ], while about 40% listen to ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/audio-and-podcasting/|title=Audio and Podcasting Fact Sheet|publisher=]|location=Washington, D.C.|date=June 29, 2021|access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref> {{As of|2020}}, there were 15,460 licensed full-power radio stations in the U.S. according to the ] (FCC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-367270A1.pdf|title=BROADCAST STATION TOTALS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2020}}</ref> Much of the public radio broadcasting is supplied by ], incorporated in February 1970 under the ].<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 20, 2013|title=History: NPR|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/about-npr/192827079/overview-and-history|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref>

U.S. newspapers with a global reach and reputation include '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name="Shaffer2006">{{cite book|first=Brenda|last=Shaffer|title=The Limits of Culture: Islam and Foreign Policy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEOd-cDWVwQC&pg=PA116|year=2006|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-19529-4|page=116}}</ref> ] are produced in Spanish.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spanish Newspapers in United States|url=https://www.w3newspapers.com/usa/spanish|access-date=August 5, 2014|publisher=W3newspapers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Spanish Language Newspapers in the USA : Hispanic Newspapers : Periódiscos en Español en los EE.UU|url=https://www.onlinenewspapers.com/usstate/spanish-language-newspapers-usa.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626114455/https://www.onlinenewspapers.com/usstate/spanish-language-newspapers-usa.htm|archive-date=June 26, 2014|access-date=August 5, 2014|publisher=Onlinenewspapers.com}}</ref> With few exceptions, newspapers are privately owned, either by large chains such as ] or ], which own dozens or even hundreds of newspapers; by small chains that own a handful of papers; or, in an increasingly rare situation, by individuals or families. Major cities often have ]s to complement the mainstream daily papers, such as '']'' in New York City and '']'' in Los Angeles. The five most popular websites used in the U.S. are ], ], ], ], and ]&mdash;all of them American-owned.<ref name="alexa-topsitesus">{{cite web|year=2021|title=Top Sites in United States|url=https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/US|access-date=October 6, 2021|publisher=Alexa|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621221154/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/US|url-status=dead}}</ref>


{{As of|2022}}, the video game market of the United States is the world's ].<ref>{{cite web|title= Top countries and markets by video game revenues|url=https://newzoo.com/resources/rankings/top-10-countries-by-game-revenues |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326135814/https://newzoo.com/resources/rankings/top-10-countries-by-game-revenues |archive-date=March 26, 2023|access-date=October 6, 2023|website=Newzoo}}</ref> There are 444 publishers, developers, and hardware companies in California alone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California (CA) |url=https://www.theesa.com/video-game-impact-map/state/california/ |access-date=December 14, 2022 |website=ESA Impact Map |date=July 20, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Americans have traditionally been characterized by a strong ],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Porter|first=Gayle|title=Work Ethic and Ethical Work: Distortions in the American Dream|volume=96|number=4|date=November 2010|pages=535–550|journal=]|jstor=29789736|publisher=]|doi=10.1007/s10551-010-0481-6 |s2cid=143991044 }}</ref> competitiveness,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Stephens|first=R.H.|title=The Role Of Competition In American Life|date=September 1952|volume=24|number=3|journal=]|publisher=]|pages=9–14|jstor=41317686}}</ref> and individualism,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Grabb|first1=Edward|last2=Baer|first2=Douglas|last3=Curtis|first3=James|title=The Origins of American Individualism: Reconsidering the Historical Evidence|jstor=3341789|doi=10.2307/3341789|volume=24|number=4|year=1999|pages=511–533|publisher=]|journal=]}}</ref> as well as a unifying belief in an "]" emphasizing liberty, equality, private property, democracy, rule of law, and a preference for limited government.<ref>{{cite book|last=Huntington|first=Samuel P.|author-link=Samuel P. Huntington|title=Who are We?: The Challenges to America's National Identity|year=2004|publisher=Simon & Schuster|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6xiYiybkE8kC&q=core|chapter=Chapters 2–4|isbn=978-0-684-87053-3|access-date=October 25, 2015|url=https://archive.org/details/whoarewechalleng00hunt }}: also see ], written by ] and adopted by Congress in 1918.</ref> Americans are extremely charitable by global standards: according to a 2016 study by the ], Americans donated 1.44% of total GDP to charity, the ] by a large margin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cafonline.org/docs/default-source/about-us-policy-and-campaigns/gross-domestic-philanthropy-feb-2016.pdf|date=January 2016|publisher=]|title=GROSS DOMESTIC PHILANTHROPY: An international analysis of GDP, tax and giving|access-date=18 July 2022}}</ref>


=== Theater ===
The ], or the perception that Americans enjoy high ], plays a key role in attracting immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallup.com/poll/161435/100-million-worldwide-dream-life.aspx|title=More Than 100 Million Worldwide Dream of a Life in the U.S. More than 25% in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Dominican Republic want to move to the U.S.|last=Clifton|first=Jon|date=March 21, 2013|publisher=Gallup|access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> Whether this perception is accurate has been a topic of debate.<ref name="socialmobility">*{{cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/tax/public-finance/chapter%205%20gfg%202010.pdf|title=A Family Affair: Intergenerational Social Mobility across OECD Countries|publisher=OECD|website=Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth|year=2010|access-date=September 20, 2010}}
{{Main|Theater in the United States}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.suttontrust.com/reports/IntergenerationalMobility.pdf|title=Intergenerational Mobility in Europe and North America|author1=Blanden, Jo|author2=Gregg, Paul|author3=Machin, Stephen|publisher=Centre for Economic Performance|date=April 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623094610/https://www.suttontrust.com/reports/IntergenerationalMobility.pdf|archive-date=June 23, 2006}}
]s in ]]]
* {{cite web|last1=Gould|first1=Elise|title=U.S. lags behind peer countries in mobility|url=https://www.epi.org/publication/usa-lags-peer-countries-mobility/|website=]|access-date=July 15, 2013|date=October 10, 2012}}
* {{cite journal|last=Winship|first=Scott|title=Overstating the Costs of Inequality|journal=National Affairs|date=Spring 2013|url=https://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Articles/2013/03/overstating%20inequality%20costs%20winship/overstating%20inequality%20costs%20winship.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024141452/https://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Articles/2013/03/overstating%20inequality%20costs%20winship/overstating%20inequality%20costs%20winship.pdf|archive-date=October 24, 2013|access-date=January 10, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="CAP">{{cite web|title=Understanding Mobility in America|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2006/04/26/1917/understanding-mobility-in-america/|website=Center for American Progress|date=April 26, 2006}}</ref><ref name="Schneider">{{cite web|last=Schneider|first=Donald|title=A Guide to Understanding International Comparisons of Economic Mobility|url=https://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/07/a-guide-to-understanding-international-comparisons-of-economic-mobility|publisher=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=August 22, 2013|date=July 29, 2013}}</ref> While mainstream culture holds that the United States is a ],<ref>{{cite book|last=Gutfeld|first=Amon|year=2002|title=American Exceptionalism: The Effects of Plenty on the American Experience|publisher=Sussex Academic Press|location=Brighton and Portland|page=65|isbn=978-1-903900-08-6}}</ref> scholars identify significant differences between the country's social classes, affecting ], language, and values.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zweig|first=Michael|year=2004|title=What's Class Got To Do With It, American Society in the Twenty-First Century|publisher=Cornell University Press|location=Ithaca, NY|isbn=978-0-8014-8899-3}} {{cite web|url=https://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED309843&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&objectId=0900000b800472a5|title=Effects of Social Class and Interactive Setting on Maternal Speech|publisher=Education Resource Information Center|access-date=January 27, 2007}}</ref> Americans tend to greatly value ] achievement, but being ] is also generally seen as a positive attribute.<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Keefe|first=Kevin|year=2005|title=The Average American|publisher=PublicAffairs|location=New York|isbn=978-1-58648-270-1|url=https://archive.org/details/averageamericant00okee }}</ref>


The United States is well known for its theater. Mainstream theater in the United States derives from the old European theatrical tradition and has been heavily influenced by the ].<ref name="Saxon2011">{{cite book| first = Theresa| last = Saxon| date = October 11, 2011| title = American Theatre: History, Context, Form| publisher = Edinburgh University Press| pages = 7–| isbn = 978-0-7486-3127-8| oclc = 1162047055| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2-AkDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA7}}</ref> By the middle of the 19th century America had created new distinct dramatic forms in the ], the ] and the ].<ref>Meserve, Walter J. An Outline History of American Drama, New York: Feedback/Prospero, 1994.</ref> The central hub of the American theater scene is the ], with its divisions of ], ], and ].<ref name="LondréWatermeier1998">{{cite book| first1 = Felicia Hardison | last1 = Londré| first2 = Daniel J.| last2 = Watermeier| date = 1998| title = The History of North American Theater: From Pre-Columbian Times to the Present| publisher = Continuum| pages =| isbn = 978-0-8264-1079-5| oclc = 1024855967}}</ref>
===Literature and visual arts===
{{Main|American literature|American philosophy|Architecture of the United States|Visual art of the United States}}
], American author and ]|alt=Photograph of Mark Twain]]


Many movie and television ] have gotten their big break working in New York productions. Outside New York City, many cities have professional ] that produce their own seasons. The biggest-budget theatrical productions are musicals. U.S. theater has an active ] culture.<ref>Stephen Watt, and Gary A. Richardson, ''American Drama: Colonial to Contemporary'' (1994).</ref>
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, American art and literature took most of its cues from Europe, contributing to Western culture. Writers such as ], ], ], and ] established a distinctive American literary voice by the middle of the 19th century. ] and poet ] were major figures in the century's second half; ], virtually unknown during her lifetime, is recognized as an essential American poet.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Harold|first1=Bloom|author-link1=Harold Bloom|title=Emily Dickinson|date=1999|publisher=Chelsea House Publishers|location=Broomall, PA|isbn=978-0-7910-5106-1|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/emilydickinson00bloo/page/9 }}</ref> A work seen as capturing fundamental aspects of the national experience and character—such as ]'s '']'' (1851), Twain's '']'' (1885), ]'s '']'' (1925) and ]'s '']'' (1960)—may be dubbed the "]."<ref>{{cite journal|author=Buell, Lawrence|title=The Unkillable Dream of the Great American Novel: ''Moby-Dick'' as Test Case|date=Spring–Summer 2008|volume=20|issue=1–2|pages=132–155|doi=10.1093/alh/ajn005|journal=American Literary History|s2cid=170250346|issn=0896-7148|url=https://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:31740086 }}</ref> Thirteen U.S. citizens have won the ]. ], ] and ] are often named among the most influential writers of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Edward|first1=Quinn|title=A dictionary of literary and thematic terms|date=2006|publisher=Facts On File|isbn=978-0-8160-6243-0|page=|edition=2nd|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryoflite0002quin/page/361 }}{{cite book|last1=David|first1=Seed|title=A companion to twentieth-century United States fiction|date=2009|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|location=Chichester, West Sussex|isbn=978-1-4051-4691-3|page=76}}{{cite book|last1=Jeffrey|first1=Meyers|title=Hemingway : A biography|date=1999|publisher=Da Capo Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-306-80890-6|page=139}}</ref> The ] writers opened up new literary approaches, as have ] authors such as ], ], and ].<ref name="Lesher2000">{{cite book|last=Lesher|first=Linda Parent|title=The Best Novels of the Nineties: A Reader's Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fSiXAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA109|year=2000|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0389-6|page=109}}</ref>


The ] recognizes excellence in live Broadway theater and are presented at an annual ceremony in ]. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances. One is also given for ]. Several discretionary non-competitive awards are given as well, including a ], the ], and the ].<ref>Staff (undated). . {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223002914/http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/about/index.html|date=December 23, 2016}}. tonyawards.com. Retrieved September 13, 2013.</ref>
In the visual arts, the ] was a mid-19th-century movement in the tradition of European ]. The 1913 ] in New York City, an exhibition of European ], shocked the public and transformed the U.S. art scene.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Milton W.|title=The Story of the Armory Show|date=1963|publisher=Abbeville Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-89659-795-2|edition=2nd|url=https://archive.org/details/storyofarmorysho00brow }}</ref> ], ], and others experimented with new, individualistic styles. Major artistic movements such as the ] of ] and ] and the ] of ] and ] developed largely in the United States. The tide of modernism and then ] has brought fame to American architects such as ], ], and ].<ref name="JansonJanson2003">{{cite book|last1=Janson|first1=Horst Woldemar|last2=Janson|first2=Anthony F.|title=History of Art: The Western Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MMYHuvhWBH4C&pg=PT955|year=2003|publisher=Prentice Hall Professional|isbn=978-0-13-182895-7|page=955}}</ref> Americans have long been important in the modern artistic medium of ], with major photographers including ], ], ], and ].<ref name="Davenport1991">{{cite book|last=Davenport|first=Alma|title=The History of Photography: An Overview|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hca5H_rJZnUC&pg=PA67|year=1991|publisher=UNM Press|isbn=978-0-8263-2076-6|page=67}}</ref>


===Cinema and theater=== === Visual arts ===
{{Main|Cinema of the United States|Theater in the United States}} {{Main|Visual art of the United States|Architecture of the United States}}
]'' (1930) by ] is one of the most famous ] and is widely ].<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170208-how-american-gothic-became-an-icon|title=How American Gothic became an icon|first=Fisun|last=Güner|date=February 8, 2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref>]]
] in ], California|alt=The Hollywood Sign, large white block letters on a hillside]]


] in ] grew out of artisanal craftsmanship in communities that allowed commonly trained people to individually express themselves. It was distinct from Europe's tradition of ], which was less accessible and generally less relevant to early American settlers.<ref>American folk art the art of the common man in America, 1750-1900. New York, N.Y.: The Museum of Modern Art. 1932.</ref> Cultural movements in art and craftsmanship in colonial America generally lagged behind those of Western Europe. For example, the prevailing medieval style of ] and primitive ] became integral to early American folk art, despite the emergence of ] in England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The new English styles would have been early enough to make a considerable impact on American folk art, but American styles and forms had already been firmly adopted. Not only did styles change slowly in early America, but there was a tendency for rural artisans there to continue their traditional forms longer than their urban counterparts did&mdash;and far longer than those in Western Europe.<ref name="Coleman-2013" />
], a northern district of Los Angeles, California, is one of the leaders in motion picture production.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30707|title=Nigeria surpasses Hollywood as world's second-largest film producer|publisher=United Nations|date=May 5, 2009|access-date=February 17, 2013}}</ref> The world's first commercial motion picture exhibition was given in New York City in 1894, using the ].<ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_cBoEAAAAMBAJ|date=April 29, 1944|page=|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Since the early 20th century, the U.S. film industry has largely been based in and around Hollywood, although in the 21st century an increasing number of films are not made there, and film companies have been subject to the forces of globalization.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-landis-rails-studios-theyre-659222|title=John Landis Rails Against Studios: 'They're Not in the Movie Business Anymore'|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref> The ], popularly known as the Oscars, have been held annually by the ] since 1929,<ref name="DrowneHuber2004">{{cite book |last1=Drowne |first1=Kathleen Morgan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CecCHiI95dYC&pg=PA236 |title=The 1920s |last2=Huber |first2=Patrick |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-313-32013-2 |page=236}}</ref> and the ]s have been held annually since January 1944.<ref name="Kroon2014">{{cite book |last=Kroon |first=Richard W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HjmNAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA338 |title=A/V A to Z: An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Media, Entertainment and Other Audiovisual Terms |publisher=McFarland |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-7864-5740-3 |page=338}}</ref>


The ] was a mid-19th-century movement in the visual arts tradition of European ]. The 1913 ] in New York City, an exhibition of European ], shocked the public and transformed the U.S. art scene.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Milton W.|title=The Story of the Armory Show|date=1963|publisher=Abbeville Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-89659-795-2|edition=2nd|url=https://archive.org/details/storyofarmorysho00brow }}</ref>
Director ], an American ] during the ] period, was central to the development of ], and producer/entrepreneur ] was a leader in both ] and movie ].<ref name="KrasniewiczDisney2010">{{cite book|last1=Krasniewicz|first1=Louise|last2=Disney|first2=Walt|title=Walt Disney: A Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lZ3vTgpHgFoC&pg=PR10|year=2010|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-35830-2|page=10}}</ref> Directors such as ] redefined the image of the American Old West, and, like others such as ], broadened the possibilities of cinema with location shooting. The industry enjoyed its golden years, in what is commonly referred to as the "]", from the early sound period until the early 1960s,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Matthews|first1=Charles|title=Book explores Hollywood 'Golden Age' of the 1960s-'70s|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/book-explores-hollywood-golden-age-of-the-1960s-70s/2011/02/10/AGh5xJIH_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 6, 2015|date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> with screen actors such as ] and ] becoming iconic figures.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Banner|first1=Lois|title=Marilyn Monroe, the eternal shape shifter|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/05/opinion/la-oe-0805-banner-marilyn-monroe-icon-biography-20120805|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 6, 2015|date=August 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rick|first1=Jewell|title=John Wayne, an American Icon|url=https://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/15465.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822102812/https://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/15465.html|archive-date=August 22, 2008|publisher=University of Southern California|access-date=August 6, 2015|date=August 8, 2008}}</ref> In the 1970s, "]" or the "Hollywood Renaissance"<ref name="Greven2013">{{cite book|last=Greven|first=David|title=Psycho-Sexual: Male Desire in Hitchcock, De Palma, Scorsese, and Friedkin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIyNBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT23|year=2013|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-74204-8|page=23}}</ref> was defined by grittier films influenced by French and Italian realist pictures of the ].<ref name="Morrison1998">{{cite book|last=Morrison|first=James|title=Passport to Hollywood: Hollywood Films, European Directors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dWRif68I3igC&pg=PA11|year=1998|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3938-8|page=11}}</ref>


], ], and others experimented with new and individualistic styles, which would become known as ]. Major artistic movements such as the ] of ] and ] and the ] of ] and ] developed largely in the United States. Major photographers include ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="Davenport1991">{{cite book|last=Davenport|first=Alma|title=The History of Photography: An Overview|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hca5H_rJZnUC&pg=PA67|year=1991|publisher=UNM Press|isbn=978-0-8263-2076-6|page=67}}</ref>
Theater in the United States derives from the old European theatrical tradition and has been heavily influenced by the ].<ref name="Saxon2011">{{cite book| author = Theresa Saxon| date = 11 October 2011| title = American Theatre: History, Context, Form| publisher = Edinburgh University Press| pages = 7–| isbn = 978-0-7486-3127-8| oclc = 1162047055| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2-AkDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA7}}</ref> The central hub of the American theater scene has been ], with its divisions of ], ], and ].<ref name="LondréWatermeier1998">{{cite book| author1 = Felicia Hardison Londré| author2 = Daniel J. Watermeier| date = 1998| title = The History of North American Theater: From Pre-Columbian Times to the Present| publisher = Continuum| pages =| isbn = 978-0-8264-1079-5| oclc = 1024855967}}</ref> Many movie and television stars have gotten their big break working in New York productions. Outside New York City, many cities have professional ] that produce their own seasons, with some works being produced regionally with hopes of eventually moving to New York. The biggest-budget theatrical productions are ]. U.S. theater also has an active ] culture, which relies mainly on local volunteers who may not be actively pursuing a theatrical career.<ref>Stephen Watt, and Gary A. Richardson, ''American Drama: Colonial to Contemporary'' (1994).</ref>


The tide of ] and then ] has brought global fame to American architects, including ], ], and ].<ref name="JansonJanson2003">{{cite book|last1=Janson|first1=Horst Woldemar|last2=Janson|first2=Anthony F.|title=History of Art: The Western Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MMYHuvhWBH4C&pg=PT955|year=2003|publisher=Prentice Hall Professional|isbn=978-0-13-182895-7|page=955}}</ref> The ] in ] is the largest ] in the United States<ref name="METLargestArtMuseum">{{cite news |author=Lester |first=Alfred |date=December 6, 1993 |title=Letter: The Louvre: tourism on the grand scale |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letter-the-louvre-tourism-on-the-grand-scale-1465736.html |access-date=December 2, 2023 |newspaper=]}}</ref> and the ] in the world.
===Music===

=== Music ===
<!---Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Countries. Caution should be taken to ensure that the section is not simply a listing of names or mini biographies.-->
{{Main|Music of the United States}} {{Main|Music of the United States}}
] in ]]]
Among America's earliest composers was a man named ] who, born in Boston, composed patriotic hymns in the 1770s;<ref name="Eggart2007">{{cite book|first=Elise|last=Eggart|title=Let's Go USA 24th Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMGOgKLHbz8C&pg=PA68|date=2007|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-37445-7|page=68}}</ref> Billings was a part of the ], who dominated American music during its earliest stages. ] was the most prominent composer before the Civil War. From the mid- to late 1800s, ] of the late ] composed numerous military songs—]—and is regarded as one of America's greatest composers.<ref name="Bierley1973">{{cite book|first=Paul E.|last=Bierley|title=John Philip Sousa: American Phenomenon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QcabC2avFLsC&pg=PA5|year=1973|publisher=Alfred Music|isbn=978-1-4574-4995-6|page=5|edition=Revised}}</ref>


] encompasses numerous music genres, variously known as traditional music, traditional ], contemporary folk music, or roots music. Many traditional songs have been sung within the same family or folk group for generations, and sometimes trace back to such origins as the ], ], or ].<ref name=afc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/folklife/guide/folkmusicandsong.html|title=Folk Music and Song: American Folklife Center: An Illustrated Guide (Library of Congress)|website=Loc.gov}}</ref> The rhythmic and lyrical styles of African-American music in particular have influenced American music.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 22, 2016 |title=Musical Crossroads: African American Influence on American Music |url=https://music.si.edu/story/musical-crossroads |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=Smithsonian}}</ref> ]s were brought to America through the slave trade. ]s incorporating the instrument into their acts led to its increased popularity and widespread production in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Folk, the Stage, and the Five-String Banjo in the Nineteenth Century |first=Robert B. |last=Winans |journal=The Journal of American Folklore |year=1976 |volume=89 |issue=354 | pages=407–437 |publisher=American Folklore Society |doi=10.2307/539294 |jstor=539294 }}</ref>{{sfn|Shi|2016|p=378}} The ], first invented in the 1930s, and mass-produced by the 1940s, had an enormous influence on popular music, in particular due to the development of ].<ref name="axe">{{cite web|title=The Invention of the Electric Guitar |date=April 18, 2014 |url=https://invention.si.edu/invention-electric-guitar |website=Lemelson Center Studies in Invention and Innovation |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>
The rhythmic and lyrical styles of ] have significantly influenced ] at large, distinguishing it from European and African traditions. Elements from ] idioms such as the ] and what is known as ] were adopted and transformed into ] with global audiences. ] was developed by innovators such as ] and ] early in the 20th century. ] developed in the 1920s, and ] in the 1940s.<ref name="autogenerated2001">{{cite book|last1=Biddle|first1=Julian|title=What Was Hot!: Five Decades of Pop Culture in America|date=2001|publisher=Citadel|location=New York|isbn=978-0-8065-2311-8|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/whatwashotroller00bidd/page/ }}</ref>
] in ]]]


] and ] were among the pioneers of ] in the mid-1950s. Rock bands such as ], the ], and ] are among the ] in worldwide sales.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hartman|first1=Graham|title=Metallica's 'Black album' is Top-Selling Disc of last 20 years|url=https://loudwire.com/metallica-black-album-top-selling-disc-last-20-years/|website=Loudwire|access-date=October 12, 2015|date=January 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Vorel|first1=Jim|title=Eagles tribute band landing at Kirkland|url=https://herald-review.com/entertainment/local/eagles-tribute-band-landing-at-kirkland/article_a8dcd506-08d0-11e2-82ac-001a4bcf887a.html|access-date=October 12, 2015|agency=Herald & Review|date=September 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Aerosmith will rock Salinas with July concert|url=https://www.ksbw.com/news/central-california/salinas/aerosmith-will-rock-salinas-with-july-concert/31042330|access-date=October 12, 2015|date=February 2, 2015}}</ref> In the 1960s, ] emerged from the ] to become one of America's most celebrated songwriters.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 10, 2020 |title=No. 1 Bob Dylan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/interactive/lists-100-greatest-songwriters/#bob-dylan |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref> Mid-20th-century American pop stars such as ], ],<ref>{{cite web|date=December 8, 2015|title=10 ways that Frank Sinatra changed the world|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/12/08/10-ways-frank-sinatra-changed-world/76381754/|access-date=June 24, 2021|website=USA Today}}</ref> and Elvis Presley became global celebrities,<ref name="autogenerated2001" /> as have artists of the late 20th century such as ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web |date=February 13, 2012 |title=Whitney Houston's Global Impact |url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/bestoftv/2012/02/13/exp-nr-bilchik-whitney-international-reaction.cnn |access-date=June 24, 2021 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Prince and his music challenged the music industry |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2654768/how-prince-and-his-music-challenged-the-music-industry/ |access-date=June 25, 2016 |website=Global News}}</ref> Elements from folk idioms such as the ] and ] were adopted and transformed into ] with global audiences. ] grew from blues and ] in the early 20th century, developing from the innovations and recordings of composers such as ] and ]. ] and ] increased its popularity early in the 20th century.<ref name="Biddle-2001">{{cite book|last1=Biddle|first1=Julian|title=What Was Hot!: Five Decades of Pop Culture in America|date=2001|publisher=Citadel|location=New York|isbn=978-0-8065-2311-8|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/whatwashotroller00bidd/page/ }}</ref> ] developed in the 1920s,<ref>{{Cite web|website=OUP blog |title=Early blues and country music |last=Stoia |first=Nicholas |date=October 21, 2014 |url=https://blog.oup.com/2014/10/early-blues-country-music/ |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> rock and roll in the 1930s,<ref name="axe" /> and ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Bluegrass music |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/bluegrass-music |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=June 19, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and ] in the 1940s.{{sfn|OpenStax|2014|loc=§ }} In the 1960s, ] emerged from the ] to become one of the country's most celebrated songwriters.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 10, 2020 |title=No. 1 Bob Dylan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/interactive/lists-100-greatest-songwriters/#bob-dylan |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref> The musical forms of ] and ] both originated in the United States in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite book |author=Funk |first=Clayton |url=https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/artandmusicbiographies/chapter/reading-9-neo-expressionism-and-music-reaching-into-the-1980s/ |title=A Quick and Dirty Guide to Art, Music, and Culture |date=August 16, 2016 |publisher=The Ohio State University |chapter=9. Neo-Expressionism, Punk, and Hip Hop Emerge}}</ref>


The United States has the world's ] with a total retail value of $15.9 billion in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Year-End Music Industry Revenue Report |url=https://www.riaa.com/reports/2022-year-end-music-industry-revenue-report-riaa/ |access-date=November 26, 2023 |publisher=Record Industry Association of America |language=en-US}}</ref> Most of the world's ] are based in the U.S.; they are represented by the ] (RIAA).<ref>{{cite web |author=Hennessy |first=Eoin |date=March 27, 2014 |title=How American Music Took Over the World |url=https://universitytimes.ie/2014/03/how-american-music-took-over-the-world/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=]}}</ref> Mid-20th-century American pop stars, such as ]<ref>{{cite web|date=December 8, 2015|title=10 ways that Frank Sinatra changed the world|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/12/08/10-ways-frank-sinatra-changed-world/76381754/|access-date=June 24, 2021|website=USA Today}}</ref> and ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-universal-music-elvis-idCAKCN2M40UH|title=Universal Music can't help falling for Elvis Presley, to manage song catalog|date=April 12, 2022|work=]|access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref> became ] and ],<ref name="Biddle-2001" /> as have artists of the late 20th century, such as ],<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|title= Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' First Ever 30X Multi-Platinum RIAA Certification |date= December 16, 2015 |access-date= December 17, 2021 |publisher= Recording Industry Association of America |url= https://www.riaa.com/michael-jacksons-thriller-first-ever-30x-multi-platinum-riaa-certification/}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2022-08-17/madonna-has-been-scandalizing-people-for-40-years-and-nobodys-going-to-stop-her.html|title=Madonna has been scandalizing people for 40 years, and nobody's going to stop her|date=August 17, 2022|first=Carlos|last=Marcos|work=]|access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> ],<ref name="Rolling Stone-2023">{{cite magazine |date=January 1, 2023 |title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/whitney-houston-11-1234643211/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 2, 2023}}</ref> and ],<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite magazine |date=April 28, 2016 |title=Prince Tribute: The Greatest Musical Talent of His Generation |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7348527/prince-tribute-greatest-musical-talent-of-his-generation |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref> and the early 21st century, such as ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/taylor-swift-and-beyonce-reporters-wanted-by-biggest-newspaper-chain-in-us-12960828|title=Taylor Swift and Beyoncé reporters wanted by biggest newspaper chain in US|publisher=]|date=September 14, 2023|access-date=November 8, 2023|archive-date=November 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109015600/https://news.sky.com/story/taylor-swift-and-beyonce-reporters-wanted-by-biggest-newspaper-chain-in-us-12960828|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Mass media===
{{further|Mass media in the United States}}
{{see also|Newspapers in the United States|Television in the United States|Internet in the United States|Radio in the United States}}
] in ], headquarters of the nation's largest ] ] ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/communication/media-stocks/big-6/|title=The Big 6 Media Companies|accessdate=August 7, 2022}}</ref>]]
The four major broadcasters in the U.S. are the ] (NBC), ] (CBS), ] (ABC), and ] (FOX). The four major broadcast ]s are all commercial entities. ] offers hundreds of channels catering to a variety of niches.<ref>{{cite news|title=Streaming TV Services: What They Cost, What You Get|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/10/12/business/ap-us-streaming-tv-options.html|access-date=October 12, 2015|work=]|agency=Associated Press|date=October 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015023520/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/10/12/business/ap-us-streaming-tv-options.html|archive-date=October 15, 2015}}</ref> {{as of|2021}}, about 83% of Americans over age 12 listen to ], while about 41% listen to ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/audio-and-podcasting/|title=Audio and Podcasting Fact Sheet|publisher=]|location=Washington, D.C.|date=29 June 2021|access-date=3 July 2022}}</ref> {{As of|2014|09|30|df=US}}, there are 15,433 licensed full-power radio stations in the U.S. according to the U.S. ] (FCC).<ref>{{cite web|last=Waits|first=Jennifer|date=October 17, 2014|title=Number of U.S. Radio Stations on the Rise, Especially LPFM, according to New FCC Count|url=https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2014/10/17/number-u-s-radio-stations-rise-especially-lpfm-according-latest-fcc-count/|access-date=January 6, 2015|website=Radio Survivor}}</ref> Much of the public radio broadcasting is supplied by ], incorporated in February 1970 under the ].<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 20, 2013|title=History: NPR|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/about-npr/192827079/overview-and-history|access-date=May 5, 2021}}</ref>


=== Fashion ===
Well-known U.S. newspapers include '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name="Shaffer2006">{{cite book|author=Brenda Shaffer|title=The Limits of Culture: Islam and Foreign Policy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEOd-cDWVwQC&pg=PA116|year=2006|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-19529-4|page=116}}</ref> More than 800 publications are produced in Spanish, the second most commonly used language in the United States behind English.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spanish Newspapers in United States|url=https://www.w3newspapers.com/usa/spanish|access-date=August 5, 2014|publisher=W3newspapers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Spanish Language Newspapers in the USA : Hispanic Newspapers : Periódiscos en Español en los EE.UU|url=https://www.onlinenewspapers.com/usstate/spanish-language-newspapers-usa.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626114455/https://www.onlinenewspapers.com/usstate/spanish-language-newspapers-usa.htm|archive-date=June 26, 2014|access-date=August 5, 2014|publisher=Onlinenewspapers.com}}</ref> With very few exceptions, all the newspapers in the U.S. are privately owned, either by large chains such as ] or ], which own dozens or even hundreds of newspapers; by small chains that own a handful of papers; or, in a situation that is increasingly rare, by individuals or families. Major cities often have ] to complement the mainstream daily papers, such as New York City's '']'' or Los Angeles' '']''. The five most popular websites used in the U.S. are ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="alexa-topsitesus">{{cite web|year=2021|title=Top Sites in United States|url=https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/US|access-date=October 6, 2021|publisher=Alexa|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621221154/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/US|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{main|Fashion in the United States}}
] ]s on the ] during ]]]
The United States is the world's largest ] market by revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Global Apparel Industry Statistics (2024) |url=https://www.uniformmarket.com/statistics/global-apparel-industry-statistics |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=uniformmarket.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Apart from professional ], American fashion is eclectic and predominantly informal. Americans' diverse cultural roots are reflected in their clothing; however, ]s, ], T-shirts, and ]s are emblematic of American styles.<ref name=AmericanClassicFashion>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/01/style/american-style-classics/|title= American Classics How seven everyday clothing items became American style staples.|publisher=]|access-date=December 4, 2023}}</ref> New York, with ], is considered to be one of the "Big Four" global ]s, along with ], ], and ]. A study demonstrated that general proximity to ] has been synonymous with American fashion since its inception in the early 20th century.<ref name="GarmentDistrictNYCFashionSymbolUS">{{cite web |author=Caplin |first=John |date=September 1, 2021 |title=Made In New York: The Future Of New York City's Historic Garment District |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johncaplan/2021/09/01/made-in-new-york-the-future-of-new-york-citys-historic-garment-district/amp/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=] |quote=Spanning just about 20 square blocks between ] and ] along ] (also known as "Fashion Avenue"), the vibrant and always-busy neighborhood has a long and rich history that has become synonymous with American fashion since its inception more than a century ago.}}</ref>


The headquarters of many ]s reside in ]. Labels cater to ]s, such as preteens. New York Fashion Week is one of the most influential fashion weeks in the world, and occurs twice a year;<ref name="USNYCFashionWeekGlobalIndustryTonesetter">{{cite news |author=Juarez |first=Diana |date=October 4, 2023 |title=The Economic Impact of New York Fashion Week |url=https://thefordhamram.com/93053/news/fashion-week/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |newspaper=The Fordham Ram}}</ref> while the annual ] in Manhattan is commonly known as the fashion world's "biggest night".<ref name="MetGalaFashion'sBiggestNight1">{{cite web |author=Bauman |first=Ali |date=May 1, 2023 |title=Met Gala 2023: Fashion's biggest night honors Karl Lagerfeld |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/newyork/news/met-gala-2023-red-carpet/ |access-date=April 30, 2024 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="MetGalaFashion'sBiggestNight2">{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/met-gala-2024-how-to-watch|title=Met Gala 2024: How to Watch Fashion's Biggest Night|publisher=]|date=April 29, 2024|access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
===Food===
{{Main|Cuisine of the United States}}
] is a traditional dish of ] dinner.<ref name="GillespieMechling1995">{{cite book|author1=Angus K. Gillespie|author2=Jay Mechling|title=American Wildlife in Symbol and Story|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWRm9QEhpZYC&pg=PA31|year=1995|publisher=Univ. of Tennessee Press|isbn=978-1-57233-259-1|pages=31–}}</ref>|alt=A roasted turkey]]


=== Cinema ===
Early settlers were introduced by Native Americans to such indigenous, non-European foods as turkey, ], ], ], and ]. They and later immigrants combined these with foods they had known, such as ],<ref name="Wheat">{{cite web|title=Wheat Info|url=https://www.wheatworld.org/wheat-info/fast-facts/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011012758/https://www.wheatworld.org/wheat-info/fast-facts/|archive-date=October 11, 2009|website=Wheatworld.org|access-date=January 15, 2015 }}</ref> beef, and milk to create a distinctive American cuisine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Traditional Indigenous Recipes|url=https://aihd.ku.edu/recipes/index.html|publisher=American Indian Health and Diet Project|access-date=September 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Akenuwa|first=Ambrose|title=Is the United States Still the Land of the Free and Home to the Brave?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7aw5CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT93|date=July 1, 2015|pages=92–94|publisher=Lulu Press|isbn=978-1-329-26112-9|access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref> Homegrown foods are part of a shared national menu on one of America's most popular holidays, ], when many Americans make or purchase traditional foods to celebrate the occasion.<ref name="Mintz1996">{{cite book|author=Sidney Wilfred Mintz|title=Tasting Food, Tasting Freedom: Excursions Into Eating, Culture, and the Past|url=https://archive.org/details/tastingfoodtasti00mint_0|url-access=registration|year=1996|publisher=Beacon Press|isbn=978-0-8070-4629-6|pages=–|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref>
{{Main|Cinema of the United States}}
] in the ], often regarded as the symbol of the ]]]


The U.S. film industry has ]. ], a district in northern Los Angeles, the nation's second-most populous city, is also metonymous for the American filmmaking industry.<ref>{{cite book|title=Annual Report of the Controller of the City of Los Angeles, California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1VbOAAAAMAAJ&q=Hollywood+merged+with+City+of+Los+Angeles+in+1910&pg=PA193|publisher=By] Los Angeles, CA (1914)|access-date=February 22, 2014|year = 1914}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Report of the Auditor of the City of Los Angeles California of the Financial Affairs of the Corporation in Its Capacity as a City for the Fiscal Year|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cPo2AQAAMAAJ&q=Hollywood+merged+with+City+of+Los+Angeles+in+1910&pg=PA173|publisher=By ] of Los Angeles, CA (1913)|access-date=February 22, 2014|year = 1913}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30707|title=Nigeria surpasses Hollywood as world's second-largest film producer|publisher=United Nations|date=May 5, 2009|access-date=February 17, 2013}}</ref> The ] of the United States are the primary source of the ] and most ticket-selling movies in the world.<ref name="Kerrigan_Page_18">{{cite book |last1=Kerrigan |first1=Finola |title=Film Marketing |date=2010 |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-7506-8683-9 |page=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ufMdvuuTQ7MC&pg=PA18 |access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Davis">{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Glyn |last2=Dickinson |first2=Kay |last3=Patti |first3=Lisa |last4=Villarejo |first4=Amy |title=Film Studies: A Global Introduction |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon |isbn=978-1-317-62338-0 |page=299 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dnXABgAAQBAJ&pg=PA299 |access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref> Since the early 20th century, the U.S. film industry has largely been based in and around Hollywood, although in the 21st century an increasing number of films are not made there, and film companies have been subject to the forces of globalization.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-landis-rails-studios-theyre-659222|title=John Landis Rails Against Studios: 'They're Not in the Movie Business Anymore'|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref> The ], popularly known as the Oscars, have been held annually by the ] since 1929,<ref name="DrowneHuber2004">{{cite book |last1=Drowne |first1=Kathleen Morgan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CecCHiI95dYC&pg=PA236 |title=The 1920s |last2=Huber |first2=Patrick |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-313-32013-2 |page=236}}</ref> and the ]s have been held annually since January 1944.<ref name="Kroon2014">{{cite book |last=Kroon |first=Richard W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HjmNAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA338 |title=A/V A to Z: An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Media, Entertainment and Other Audiovisual Terms |publisher=McFarland |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-7864-5740-3 |page=338}}</ref>
The American ] industry, the world's largest,<ref>{{cite news|title=Why McDonald's in France Doesn't Feel Like Fast Food|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/01/24/145698222/why-mcdonalds-in-france-doesnt-feel-like-fast-food|last1=Breadsley|first1=Eleanor|website=NPR|date=January 24, 2012|access-date=January 15, 2015}}</ref> pioneered the ] format in the 1940s.<ref name="drivethru">{{cite web|title=When Was the First Drive-Thru Restaurant Created?|url=https://www.wisegeek.org/when-was-the-first-drive-thru-restaurant-created.htm|website=Wisegeek.org|access-date=January 15, 2015}}</ref> Characteristic American dishes such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] derive from the recipes of various immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2020/12/31/consumer-spending-data-kfc-is-the-most-popular.html|title=KFC is America's favorite fried chicken, data suggests|last=Cawthon|first=Haley|date=December 31, 2020|website=BizJournals.com|access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/america/the-history-of-the-pizza/|title=How Pizza Became America's Favorite Food|last=Russell|first=Joan|date=May 23, 2016|website=PasteMagazine.com|access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref> ] dishes such as ] and ] and ] dishes freely adapted from ] sources are widely consumed.<ref name="IFT">{{cite web|url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/what-when-and-where-americans-eat-in-2003|author=Klapthor, James N.|title=What, When, and Where Americans Eat in 2003|publisher=Newswise/Institute of Food Technologists|date=August 23, 2003|access-date=June 19, 2007}}</ref>


The industry peaked in what is commonly referred to as the "]", from the early sound period until the early 1960s,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Matthews|first1=Charles|title=Book explores Hollywood 'Golden Age' of the 1960s-'70s|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/book-explores-hollywood-golden-age-of-the-1960s-70s/2011/02/10/AGh5xJIH_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 6, 2015|date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> with screen actors such as ] and ] becoming iconic figures.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Banner|first1=Lois|title=Marilyn Monroe, the eternal shape shifter|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2012-aug-05-la-oe-0805-banner-marilyn-monroe-icon-biography-20120805-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 6, 2015|date=August 5, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rick|first1=Jewell|title=John Wayne, an American Icon|url=https://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/15465.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822102812/https://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/15465.html|archive-date=August 22, 2008|publisher=University of Southern California|access-date=August 6, 2015|date=August 8, 2008}}</ref> In the 1970s, "]", or the "Hollywood Renaissance",<ref name="Greven2013">{{cite book|last=Greven|first=David|title=Psycho-Sexual: Male Desire in Hitchcock, De Palma, Scorsese, and Friedkin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIyNBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT23|year=2013|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-74204-8|page=23}}</ref> was defined by grittier films influenced by French and Italian realist pictures of the ].<ref name="Morrison1998">{{cite book|last=Morrison|first=James|title=Passport to Hollywood: Hollywood Films, European Directors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dWRif68I3igC&pg=PA11|year=1998|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3938-8|page=11}}</ref> The 21st century has been marked by the rise of American streaming platforms, which came to rival traditional cinema.<ref name="RE">{{cite news |last=Seitz|first=Matt Zoller|author-link=Matt Zoller Seitz|title=What's Next: Avengers, MCU, Game of Thrones, and the Content Endgame|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/avengers-mcu-and-the-content-endgame|access-date=July 21, 2021|work=]|publisher=Ebert Digital LLC|date=April 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Avery |first=Hannah |date=January 18, 2023 |title=US streaming market growth continues, despite changes in the industry |url=https://www.kantar.com/inspiration/technology/us-streaming-market-growth-continues-despite-changes-in-the-industry |access-date=April 29, 2023 |website=]}}</ref>
Americans drink three times as much coffee as tea.<ref name="coffeeandtea">{{cite news|last1=H|first1=D|title=The coffee insurgency|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/12/daily-chart-17|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=January 15, 2015}}</ref> Marketing by U.S. industries is largely responsible for making orange juice and milk standard ].<ref>], pp. 131–132</ref><ref>], pp. 154–155</ref>


===Sports=== === Cuisine ===
{{Main|American cuisine}}
{{further|List of American regional and fusion cuisines}}
] with ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]]]

Early settlers were introduced by Native Americans to foods such as ], ]es, ], ], and ]. Of the most enduring and pervasive examples are variations of the native dish called ]. Early settlers and later immigrants combined these with foods they were familiar with, such as ],<ref name="Wheat">{{cite web|title=Wheat Info|url=https://www.wheatworld.org/wheat-info/fast-facts/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011012758/https://www.wheatworld.org/wheat-info/fast-facts/|archive-date=October 11, 2009|website=Wheatworld.org|access-date=January 15, 2015 }}</ref> beef, and milk, to create a distinctive American cuisine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Traditional Indigenous Recipes|url=https://aihd.ku.edu/recipes/index.html|publisher=American Indian Health and Diet Project|access-date=September 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Akenuwa|first=Ambrose|title=Is the United States Still the Land of the Free and Home to the Brave?|url=https://books.apple.com/us/book/is-the-united-states-still-the-land-of-the/id1017814038|date=July 1, 2015|pages=92–94|publisher=Lulu Press|isbn=978-1-329-26112-9|access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref> ], especially ], corn, ], and turkey as the main course are part of a shared national menu on ], when many Americans prepare or purchase traditional dishes to celebrate the occasion.<ref name="Mintz1996">{{cite book |author=Mintz |first=Sidney Wilfred |url=https://archive.org/details/tastingfoodtasti00mint_0 |title=Tasting Food, Tasting Freedom: Excursions Into Eating, Culture, and the Past |publisher=Beacon Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-8070-4629-6 |pages=– |access-date=October 25, 2015 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

Characteristic American dishes such as ], ], ]s, ], ], ], ]s, ]s, and ] derive from the recipes of various immigrant groups.<ref>{{cite book|first=Hasia|last=Diner|title=Hungering for America: Italian, Irish, and Jewish Foodways in the Age of Migration|publisher= Harvard University Press|place=Cmabridge|date=2001|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Poe |first=Tracy N. |date=February 1999 |title=The Origins of Soul Food in Black Urban Identity: Chicago, 1915–1947 |journal=American Studies International |volume=37 |issue=1 |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2020/12/31/consumer-spending-data-kfc-is-the-most-popular.html|title=KFC is America's favorite fried chicken, data suggests|last=Cawthon|first=Haley|date=December 31, 2020|website=The Business Journals|access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/america/the-history-of-the-pizza/|title=How Pizza Became America's Favorite Food|last=Russell|first=Joan|date=May 23, 2016|website=Paste|access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref> ] such as ] and ] preexisted the United States in areas later annexed from Mexico, and ] as well as ] are all widely consumed.<ref name="IFT">{{cite web|url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/what-when-and-where-americans-eat-in-2003|author=Klapthor, James N.|title=What, When, and Where Americans Eat in 2003|publisher=Newswise/Institute of Food Technologists|date=August 23, 2003|access-date=June 19, 2007}}</ref> American ]s have had a significant impact on society both domestically and internationally. In 1946, the ] was founded by ] and ]. This would become the United States' most prestigious culinary school, where many of the most talented American chefs would study prior to successful careers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Story: CIA History {{!}} Culinary Institute of America |url=https://www.ciachef.edu/our-story/ |access-date=October 11, 2022 |website=ciachef.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref name="FTfbs">{{cite news|last=Averbuch|first=Bonnie|title=Attention Food Entrepreneurs: School's Back in Business|publisher=]|url=https://foodtank.com/news/2015/09/attention-food-entrepreneurs-its-time-to-head-back-to-school/|date=September 2015|access-date=June 19, 2017}}</ref>

The ] was projected at $899 billion in sales for 2020,<ref name=":p">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/03/20/cincinnati-restaurants-ask-feds-for-coronavirus.html|title=Cincinnati restaurants ask feds for coronavirus bailout|last=Brownfield|first=Andy|date=March 20, 2020|website=login.research.cincinnatilibrary.org|access-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Ramirez">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/elvaramirez/2020/03/19/the-restaurant-industry-needs-a-coronavirus-bailout-will-they-get-it/|title=The Restaurant Industry Needs A Coronavirus Bailout. Will They Get It?|last=Ramirez|first=Elva|website=]|language=en|access-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref> and employed more than 15 million people, representing 10% of the nation's workforce directly.<ref name=":p" /> It is the country's second-largest private employer and the third-largest employer overall.<ref name="Noguchi-2020">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/22/819189939/closed-all-at-once-restaurant-industry-faces-collapse|title=Closed All At Once: Restaurant Industry Faces Collapse|last=Noguchi|first=Yuki|date=March 22, 2020|publisher=]|language=en|access-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruhle/watch/restaurant-industry-reeling-from-coronavirus-80967237571|title=Restaurant industry reeling from coronavirus|publisher=]|language=en|access-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref> The United States is home to over 220 ]-rated restaurants, 70 of which are in New York City alone.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Restaurants|url=https://guide.michelin.com/en/us/new-york-state/new-york/restaurants/1-star-michelin/2-stars-michelin/3-stars-michelin|access-date=August 30, 2023|website=Michelin Guide|language=en}}</ref> ] has been produced in what is now the United States since the 1500s, with the ] in 1628.<ref>United States Department of Agriculture " {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408235146/http://www.fas.usda.gov/agx/ISMG/Global%20Wine%20Report%20Final%20Aug2006.pdf |date=April 8, 2008 }}", pp. 7-9.</ref><ref name="Birchell Steel 2013 p.">{{cite book |last1=Birchell |first1=D.B. |last2=Steel |first2=G. |title=New Mexico Wine: An Enchanting History |publisher=American Palate |series=American Palate Series |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-60949-643-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5f0kvgAACAAJ | language=it |access-date=November 15, 2019}}</ref><ref name="New Mexico. Office of Cultural Affairs 1995 p.">{{cite book | author=New Mexico. Office of Cultural Affairs | title=Enchanted Lifeways: The History, Museums, Arts & Festivals of New Mexico | publisher=New Mexico Magazine | year=1995 | isbn=978-0-937206-39-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nvoRAQAAIAAJ | access-date=November 15, 2019}}</ref> In the modern U.S., wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with ]. With more than {{convert|1100000|acre|km2}} under vine, the United States is the ] in the world, after ], ], and ].<ref name="Sotheby, p. 462">T. Stevenson, ''The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia'' Fourth Edition, p. 462, Dorling Kindersly, 2005, {{ISBN|0-7566-1324-8}}.</ref><ref name="Oxford, p. 719">J. Robinson, ed. ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Third Edition, p. 719; Oxford University Press, 2006, {{ISBN|0-19-860990-6}}.</ref>

The American ] industry developed alongside the nation's ].<ref>{{cite web |title=America's Love Of Drive-thrus |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/12/11/1198909271/1a-draft-12-11-2023 |website=NPR |access-date=May 4, 2024 |date=December 11, 2023}}</ref> American restaurants developed the ] format in the 1920s, which they began to replace with the ] format by the 1940s.<ref name="drivethru">{{cite web|title=When Was the First Drive-Thru Restaurant Created?|url=https://www.wisegeek.org/when-was-the-first-drive-thru-restaurant-created.htm|website=Wisegeek.org|access-date=January 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sheldon |first1=Andrew |title=The History of the Drive-Thru in America |url=https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/auto-history/history-of-the-drive-thru/ |website=Your AAA Network |date=July 23, 2020}}</ref> American ] chains, such as ], ], ] and ], have numerous outlets around the world.<ref name="Pavlova-2019">{{cite magazine |last=Pavlova |first=Rada |title=Globalization of American Fast-Food Chains: the Pinnacle of Effective Management and Adaptability – The Yale Globalist |url=https://globalist.yale.edu/in-the-magazine/globalization-of-american-fast-food-chains-the-pinnacle-of-effective-management-and-adaptability/ |access-date=May 4, 2024 |date=April 8, 2019 |magazine=The Yale Globalist}}</ref>

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sports in the United States}} {{Main|Sports in the United States}}
{{See also|Professional sports leagues in the United States}} {{See also|Professional sports leagues in the United States|National Collegiate Athletic Association|United States at the Olympics}}
] is the most popular sport in the United States; in this September 2022 ] game, the ] play the ] at ].]]
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The most popular spectator sports in the U.S. are ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web |date=September 25, 2007 |title=Sports |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/4735/sports.aspx |access-date=April 16, 2023 |publisher=Gallup, Incorporated}}</ref> While most major U.S. sports such as baseball and American football have evolved out of European practices, basketball, ], ], and ] are American inventions, many of which have become popular worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krasnoff |first=Lindsay Sarah |date=December 26, 2017 |title=How the NBA went global |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/12/26/how-the-nba-went-global/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226153302/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/12/26/how-the-nba-went-global/ |archive-date=December 26, 2017 |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=2269358}}</ref> ] and ] arose from Native American and Native Hawaiian activities that predate European contact.<ref name="liss">Liss, Howard. ''Lacrosse'' (Funk & Wagnalls, 1970), p. 13.</ref> The ] was approximately $69&nbsp;billion in July 2013, roughly 50% larger than that of all of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa combined.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 18, 2008|title=Global sports market to hit $141 billion in 2012|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pwcstudy-idUSN1738075220080618|access-date=July 24, 2013|work=Reuters}}</ref>
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American football is by several measures the most popular spectator sport in the United States;<ref>{{cite web|author=Krane, David K.|title=Professional Football Widens Its Lead Over Baseball as Nation's Favorite Sport|url=https://www.harrisinteractive.com/Insights/HarrisVault8482.aspx?PID=337|publisher=Harris Interactive|date=October 30, 2002|access-date=September 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709111448/https://www.harrisinteractive.com/Insights/HarrisVault8482.aspx?PID=337|archive-date=July 9, 2010}} MacCambridge, Michael (2004). ''America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation''. New York: Random House. {{ISBN|978-0-375-50454-9}}.</ref> the ] has the highest average attendance of any sports league in the world, and the ] is watched by tens of millions globally.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27321898/how-nfl-took-america-100-years|title=How the NFL took over America in 100 years|last=Guliza|first=Anthony|date=August 14, 2019|publisher=]|access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref> However, baseball has been regarded as the U.S. "]" since the late 19th century. After American football, the next four most popular professional team sports are basketball, baseball, soccer, and ice hockey. Their premier leagues are, respectively, the ], ], ], and the ]. The most-watched ]s in the U.S. are ] and ], particularly ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|date=January 16, 2014|title=As American as Mom, Apple Pie and Football? Football continues to trump baseball as America's Favorite Sport|url=https://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/Harris%20Poll%205%20-%202014%20Fave%20Sport_1.16.14.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309053431/https://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/Harris%20Poll%205%20-%202014%20Fave%20Sport_1.16.14.pdf|archive-date=March 9, 2014|access-date=July 2, 2014|website=Harris Interactive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Cowen, Tyler|author2=Grier, Kevin|date=February 9, 2012|title=What Would the End of Football Look Like?|url=https://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7559458/cte-concussion-crisis-economic-look-end-football|access-date=February 12, 2012|publisher=Grantland/ESPN}}</ref>
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| image1 = Second Photos 100 (50833233407).jpg
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| image4 = Second Period - Hyman on delayed penalty (16646925966).jpg
| alt1 = Tom Brady throwing football
| alt2 = Johnson against the Celtics
| alt3 = Zack Greinke pitching a baseball
| alt4 = People playing ice hockey
| footer = The most popular sports in the U.S. are ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 Most Popular Sports in America 2017|url=https://www.sportsind.com/list/most-popular-sports-in-america/|website=SportsInd|access-date=June 8, 2017|date=October 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606041759/https://www.sportsind.com/list/most-popular-sports-in-america/|archive-date=June 6, 2017|url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}


On the ], earnings for the member institutions exceed $1 billion annually,<ref name="si">{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2018/03/07/ncaa-1-billion-revenue|title=Sports Illustrated: NCAA Reports $1.1 Billion in Revenues|newspaper=Sports Illustrated |date=March 7, 2018 }}</ref> and ] and ] attract large audiences, as the ] and the ] are some of the most watched national sporting events.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 19, 2013|title=Passion for College Football Remains Robust|url=https://www.footballfoundation.org/tabid/567/Article/53380/Passion-for-College-Football-Remains-Robust.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075223/https://www.footballfoundation.org/tabid/567/Article/53380/Passion-for-College-Football-Remains-Robust.aspx|archive-date=April 7, 2014|access-date=April 1, 2014|publisher=National Football Foundation}}</ref> In the U.S., the intercollegiate sports level serves as a feeder system for professional sports. This differs greatly from practices in nearly all other countries, where publicly and privately funded sports organizations serve this function.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rosandich|first= Thomas|title=Collegiate Sports Programs: A Comparative Analysis|page= 471|journal= Education|year=2002|volume=122|issue=3|publisher=Project Innovation Austin LLC.}}</ref>
While most major U.S. sports such as ] and ] have evolved out of European practices, ], ], ], and ] are American inventions, some of which have become popular worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sarah Krasnoff|first=Lindsay|date=December 26, 2017|title=How the NBA went global|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/12/26/how-the-nba-went-global/|access-date=January 24, 2021}}</ref> ] and ] arose from Native American and Native Hawaiian activities that predate Western contact.<ref name="liss">Liss, Howard. ''Lacrosse'' (Funk & Wagnalls, 1970) pg 13.</ref> The market for ] in the United States is roughly $69&nbsp;billion, roughly 50% larger than that of all of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa combined.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 18, 2008|title=Global sports market to hit $141 billion in 2012|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pwcstudy-idUSN1738075220080618|access-date=July 24, 2013|website=Reuters}}</ref>


Eight ] have taken place in the United States. The ] in ], were the first-ever Olympic Games held outside of Europe.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Schaus|first1=Gerald P.|last2=Wenn|first2=Stephen R.|title=Onward to the Olympics: Historical Perspectives on the Olympic Games|date=February 9, 2007|publisher=]|page=224|isbn=978-0-88920-505-5}}</ref> The Olympic Games will be held in the U.S. for a ninth time when Los Angeles hosts the ]. ] have won a total of 2,968 medals (1,179 gold) at the Olympic Games, the most of any country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greatestsportingnation.com/|title=Greatest Sporting Nation|website=greatestsportingnation.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/sports/olympics/the-1000-medals-of-the-united-states/| title = 1,000 times gold – The thousand medals of Team USA – Washington Post| newspaper = ]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The 10 most fascinating facts about the all-time Winter Olympics medal standings|first=Chris|last=Chase|date=February 7, 2014|work=USA Today|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/02/winter-olympics-medal-count-sochi-all-time-facts/|access-date=February 28, 2014}} {{cite news|title=With Sochi Olympics approaching, a history of Winter Olympic medals|date=February 6, 2014|first=Dan|last=Loumena|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/la-sp-a-history-of-the-winter-olympic-medals-20140206-story.html|access-date=February 28, 2014}}</ref>
American football is by several measures the most popular spectator sport in the United States;<ref>{{cite web|author=Krane, David K.|title=Professional Football Widens Its Lead Over Baseball as Nation's Favorite Sport|url=https://www.harrisinteractive.com/Insights/HarrisVault8482.aspx?PID=337|publisher=Harris Interactive|date=October 30, 2002|access-date=September 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709111448/https://www.harrisinteractive.com/Insights/HarrisVault8482.aspx?PID=337|archive-date=July 9, 2010}} MacCambridge, Michael (2004). ''America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation''. New York: Random House. {{ISBN|978-0-375-50454-9}}.</ref> the ] (NFL) has the highest average attendance of any sports league in the world, and the ] is watched by tens of millions globally.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27321898/how-nfl-took-america-100-years|title=How the NFL took over America in 100 years|last=Guliza|first=Anthony|date=August 14, 2019|publisher=]|access-date=May 8, 2021}}</ref> Baseball has been regarded as the U.S. ] since the late 19th century, with ] being the top league. Basketball and ] are the country's two other most popular professional team sports, with the top leagues being the ] and the ]. The most-watched ]s in the U.S. are ] and ], particularly ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|date=January 16, 2014|title=As American as Mom, Apple Pie and Football? Football continues to trump baseball as America's Favorite Sport|url=https://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/Harris%20Poll%205%20-%202014%20Fave%20Sport_1.16.14.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309053431/https://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/Harris%20Poll%205%20-%202014%20Fave%20Sport_1.16.14.pdf|archive-date=March 9, 2014|access-date=July 2, 2014|website=Harris Interactive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Cowen, Tyler|author2=Grier, Kevin|date=February 9, 2012|title=What Would the End of Football Look Like?|url=https://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7559458/cte-concussion-crisis-economic-look-end-football|access-date=February 12, 2012|publisher=Grantland/ESPN}}</ref>


Eight ] have taken place in the United States. The ] in ], ], were the first-ever Olympic Games held outside of Europe.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Schaus|first=Gerald P.|last2=Wenn|first2=Stephen R.|title=Onward to the Olympics: Historical Perspectives on the Olympic Games|date=9 February 2007|publisher=]|page=224|isbn=978-0-889-20505-5}}</ref> The Olympic Games will be held in the US for a ninth time when ] hosts the ]. {{as of|2021}}, the United States has won 2,629 medals at the ], more than any other country, and 330 in the ], the second most behind Norway.<ref>{{cite news|title=The 10 most fascinating facts about the all-time Winter Olympics medal standings|first=Chris|last=Chase|date=February 7, 2014|work=USA Today|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/02/winter-olympics-medal-count-sochi-all-time-facts/|access-date=February 28, 2014}} {{cite news|title=With Sochi Olympics approaching, a history of Winter Olympic medals|date=February 6, 2014|first=Dan|last=Loumena|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/06/sports/la-sp-a-history-of-the-winter-olympic-medals-20140206|access-date=February 28, 2014}}</ref> In ], the ] qualified for ] and the ] has ] the ] four times.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carlisle|first=Jeff|date=April 6, 2020|title=MLS Year One, 25 seasons ago: The Wild West of training, travel, hockey shootouts and American soccer|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4082408/mls-year-one25-seasons-ago-the-wild-west-of-trainingtravelhockey-shootouts-and-american-soccer|access-date=May 5, 2021|publisher=]}}</ref> The United States hosted the ] and will host the ] along with ] and ]. On the ] level, ] and ] attract large audiences, as the ] is one of the most watched sporting events.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 19, 2013|title=Passion for College Football Remains Robust|url=https://www.footballfoundation.org/tabid/567/Article/53380/Passion-for-College-Football-Remains-Robust.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075223/https://www.footballfoundation.org/tabid/567/Article/53380/Passion-for-College-Football-Remains-Robust.aspx|archive-date=April 7, 2014|access-date=April 1, 2014|publisher=National Football Foundation}}</ref> In international professional competition, the ] has qualified for ], while the ] has ] the ] and ] four times each.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carlisle|first=Jeff|date=April 6, 2020|title=MLS Year One, 25 seasons ago: The Wild West of training, travel, hockey shootouts and American soccer|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4082408/mls-year-one25-seasons-ago-the-wild-west-of-trainingtravelhockey-shootouts-and-american-soccer|access-date=May 5, 2021|publisher=]}}</ref> The United States hosted the ] and will co-host, along with Canada and Mexico, the ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wamsley |first=Laurel |date=June 16, 2022 |title=The U.S. cities hosting the 2026 World Cup are announced |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/16/1105562734/us-cities-hosting-2026-world-cup-announcement |publisher=] |access-date=April 16, 2023}}</ref> The ] was also hosted by the United States. ] was watched by 90,185, setting the world record for most-attended women's sporting event at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gerson |first=Aria |date=July 10, 2020 |title=Impact of 1999 Women's World Cup went far beyond Brandi Chastain's iconic goal |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2020/07/10/1999-womens-world-cup-uswnt-iconic-moments-brandi-chastain/5405459002/ |work=USA Today |access-date=February 14, 2024}}</ref>


== See also == == See also ==
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
{{clear}} <!--For wide-screen monitors, prevent image above from punching through the ref section -->


== Notes == == Notes ==
Line 576: Line 630:
{{efn {{efn
| name = pop | name = pop
| Excludes ] and the other ] because they are counted separately in ] statistics. | Excludes ] and the other ] because they are counted separately in ] statistics
}} }}
{{efn {{efn
Line 584: Line 638:
{{efn {{efn
| name = drive | name = drive
| A single jurisdiction, the ], uses left-hand traffic. | The ] use left-hand traffic.
}} }}
}} }}


== References == == References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{reflist}}


== Further reading == === Sources ===
{{refbegin|30em}} {{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Baym |editor1-first=Nina |editor2-last=Levine |editor2-first=Robert S. |date=2013 |title=The Norton Anthology of American Literature |publisher=W.W. Norton |location=New York, New York |isbn=978-0-393-91885-4 |edition=Shorter eighth}}
* {{cite book|title=Regulating Wall Street: The Dodd-Frank Act and the New Architecture of Global Finance|ref=Acharya10|first1=Viral V.|last1=Acharya|first2=Thomas F.|last2=Cooley|first3=Matthew P.|last3=Richardson|first4=Ingo|last4=Walter|page=592|publisher=Wiley|year=2010|isbn=978-0-470-76877-8}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Bianchine |first1=Peter J. |last2=Russo |first2=Thomas A. |year=1992 |title=The Role of Epidemic Infectious Diseases in the Discovery of America |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=225–232 |ref=Bianchine |doi=10.2500/108854192778817040 |pmid=1483570 |journal=Allergy and Asthma Proceedings}}
* {{cite book|title=The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism|first1=Edward E.|last1=Baptist|author-link= Edward E. Baptist|publisher=Basic Books|year=2014|isbn=978-0-465-00296-2}}
* {{cite book |last1=Blackhawk |first1=Ned |author1-link=Ned Blackhawk |chapter='The Centrality of Dispossession': Native American Genocide and Settler Colonialism |year=2023 |pages=23–45 |doi=10.1017/9781108765480.002 |editor1-last=Blackhawk |editor1-first=Ned |editor2-last=Kiernan |editor2-first=Ben |editor2-link=Ben Kiernan |editor3-last=Madley |editor3-first=Benjamin |editor4-last=Taylor |editor4-first=Rebe |editor4-link=Rebe Taylor |title=The Cambridge World History of Genocide |volume=2: Genocide in the Indigenous, Early Modern and Imperial Worlds, from c.1535 to World War One |publisher=]}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Barth|first1=James|first2=John|last2=Jahera|title=US Enacts Sweeping Financial Reform Legislation|ref=Barth10|journal=Journal of Financial Economic Policy|volume=2|issue=3|year=2010|pages=192–195|doi=10.1108/17576381011085412}}
* {{cite book|last1=Berkin|first1=Carol|last2=Miller|first2=Christopher L.|last3=Cherny|first3=Robert W.|last4=Gormly|first4=James L.|title=Making America: A History of the United States, Volume I: To 1877|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cyEI21RClZkC|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2007|ref=Berkin|page=75|isbn=978-0-618-99485-4}} * {{cite book |last=Blakeley |first=Ruth |date=2009 |title=State Terrorism and Neoliberalism: The North in the South |url=https://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415462402/ |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-68617-4 |ref=Blakeley}}
* {{cite book |last1=Boyer |first1=Paul S. |last2=Clark Jr. |first2=Clifford E. |last3=Kett |first3=Joseph F. |last4=Salisbury |first4=Neal |last5=Sitkoff |first5=Harvard |last6=Woloch |first6=Nancy |title=The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People |ref=Boyer |year=2007 |volume=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9KT3lI76-0cC |publisher=Cengage Learning |page=588 |isbn=978-0-618-80161-9}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Bianchine|first1=Peter J.|last2=Russo|first2=Thomas A.|year=1992|title=The Role of Epidemic Infectious Diseases in the Discovery of America|volume=13|issue=5|pages=225–232|ref=Bianchine|doi=10.2500/108854192778817040|pmid=1483570|journal=Allergy and Asthma Proceedings}}
* {{cite book|last=Blakeley|first=Ruth|date=2009|title=State Terrorism and Neoliberalism: The North in the South|url=https://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415462402/|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-68617-4|ref=Blakeley}} * {{cite book |first=Colin G. |last=Calloway |title=New Worlds for All: Indians, Europeans, and the Remaking of Early America |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=edYbAZ7ECEoC |publisher=] |ref=Calloway 1998 |page=229 |isbn=978-0-8018-5959-5 |year=1998}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=Eliot A. |ref=Cohen |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/59919/eliot-a-cohen/history-and-the-hyperpower |title=History and the Hyperpower |website=Foreign Affairs |date=July–August 2004 |access-date=July 14, 2006}}
* {{cite book|last1=Boyer|first1=Paul S.|last2=Clark Jr.|first2=Clifford E.|last3=Kett|first3=Joseph F.|last4=Salisbury|first4=Neal|last5=Sitkoff|first5=Harvard|last6=Woloch|first6=Nancy|title=The Enduring Vision: A History of the American People|ref=Boyer|year=2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9KT3lI76-0cC|publisher=Cengage Learning|page=588|isbn=978-0-618-80161-9}}
* {{cite book |ref={{sfnref|OpenStax2014}} |first1=P. Scott |last1=Corbett |first2=Volker |last2=Janssen |first3=John M. |last3=Lund |first4=Todd |last4=Pfannestiel |first5=Sylvie |last5=Waskiewicz |first6=Paul |last6=Vickery |publisher=OpenStax at Rice University |date=2014 |title=U.S. History |location=Houston, Texas |url=https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/1-introduction}}
* {{cite book|last= Brokenshire|first=Brad|title=Washington State Place Names|url=https://archive.org/details/washingtonstatep00brok_0|url-access= registration|page= |year=1993|publisher=Caxton Press|isbn=978-0-87004-562-2 }}
* {{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1217752.stm |title=Country Profile: United States of America |ref=BBC18may |work=BBC News |location=London |date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=May 18, 2008}}
* {{cite book|first=Colin G.|last=Calloway|title=New Worlds for All: Indians, Europeans, and the Remaking of Early America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=edYbAZ7ECEoC|publisher=]|ref=Calloway1998|page=229|isbn=978-0-8018-5959-5|year=1998}}
* {{cite book |last=Davis |first=Kenneth C. |title=Don't know much about the Civil War |ref=Davis96 |publisher=William Marrow and Company |location=New York |year=1996 |url=https://archive.org/details/dontknowmuchabou00davi_1/page/518 |isbn=978-0-688-11814-3 |page=}}
* {{cite book|first=Juan|last=Cobarrubias|title=Progress in Language Planning: International Perspectives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x9KoAkzfVqIC&pg=PA195|year=1983|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-90-279-3358-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Daynes |first1=Byron W. |last2=Sussman |first2=Glen |title=White House Politics and the Environment: Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush |ref=Daynes |publisher=] |year=2010 |page=320 |url=https://archive.org/details/whitehousepoliti0000dayn |url-access=registration |isbn=978-1-60344-254-1 |oclc=670419432 |quote=Presidential environmental policies, 1933–2009}}
* {{cite book|first=Marcus|last= Cowper|title=National Geographic History Book: An Interactive Journey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J8dNX2PqOpcC&pg=PT67|date= 2011|publisher=National Geographic Society|isbn=978-1-4262-0679-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Davis|first=Kenneth C.|title=Don't know much about the Civil War|ref=Davis96|publisher=William Marrow and Co.|location=New York|year=1996|url=https://archive.org/details/dontknowmuchabou00davi_1/page/518|isbn=978-0-688-11814-3|page= }} * {{cite book |last1=Foner |first1=Eric |title=Give Me Liberty: An American History |date=2020 |publisher=W.W. Norton |location=New York, New York; London, England |isbn=978-0-393-44123-9 |edition=6th |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/give-me-liberty-an-american-history-eric-foner-z-lib.org_20220819}} Ebook.
* {{cite book |first1=Jon M. |last1=Erlandson |first2=Torben C. |last2=Rick |first3=Rene L. |last3=Vellanoweth |title=A Canyon Through Time: Archaeology, History, and Ecology of the Tecolote Canyon Area, Santa Barbara County |location=California |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GeTv2lmb79UC&pg=PA19 |year=2008 |publisher=University of Utah Press |isbn=978-0-87480-879-7}}
* {{cite book|last1=Daynes|first1=Byron W.|last2=Sussman|first2=Glen|title=White House Politics and the Environment: Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush|ref=Daynes|publisher=]|year=2010|page=320|url=https://archive.org/details/whitehousepoliti0000dayn|url-access=registration|isbn=978-1-60344-254-1|oclc=670419432|quote=Presidential environmental policies, 1933–2009}}
* {{cite book|first1=Jon M|last1=Erlandson|first2=Torben C|last2=Rick|first3=Rene L|last3=Vellanoweth|title=A Canyon Through Time: Archaeology, History, and Ecology of the Tecolote Canyon Area, Santa Barbara County|location=California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GeTv2lmb79UC&pg=PA19|year=2008|publisher=University of Utah Press|isbn=978-0-87480-879-7}} * {{cite book |first1=Sylvan G. |last1=Feldstein |first2=Frank J. |last2=Fabozzi |title=The Handbook of Municipal Bonds |ref=Feldstein |publisher=] |year=2011 |page=1376 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Juc4fb1Fx1cC |isbn=978-1-118-04494-0}}
* {{cite book|first=Brian M.|last=Fagan|title=Ancient Lives: An Introduction to Archaeology and Prehistory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9lqCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA390|date=2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-35027-9}} * {{cite book |first=Tim |last=Flannery |title=The Eternal Frontier: An Ecological History of North America and Its Peoples |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkkyBgAAQBAJ |date=2015 |publisher=Open Road + Grove/Atlantic |isbn=978-0-8021-9109-0}}
* {{cite book|first1=Sylvan G.|last1=Feldstein|first2=Frank J.|last2=Fabozzi|title=The Handbook of Municipal Bonds|ref=Feldstein|publisher=]|year=2011|page=1376|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Juc4fb1Fx1cC|isbn=978-1-118-04494-0}} * {{cite book |last1=Fraser |first1=Steve |first2=Gary |last2=Gerstle |author-link2=Gary Gerstle |ref=Fraser |title=The Rise and Fall of the New Deal Order: 1930–1980 |series=American History: Political science |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yd4GqkP5XYgC&pg=PA229 |year=1989 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-00607-9 |page=311}}
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* {{cite book|last=Gaddis|first=John Lewis|title=The United States and the Origins of the Cold War, 1941–1947|year=1972|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-12239-9 }} * {{cite book |last1=Hoopes |first1=Townsend |last2=Brinkley |first2=Douglas |title=FDR and the Creation of the U.N |url=https://archive.org/details/fdrcreationofun00hoop |url-access=registration |year=1997 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-08553-2}}
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* {{cite book|last=Lien|first=Arnold Johnson|title=Studies in History, Economics, and Public Law|volume=54|ref=Lien|publisher=Columbia University|location=New York|year=1913|page=604|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYpVAAAAYAAJ}} * {{cite book |last1=Walton |first1=Gary M. |last2=Rockoff |first2=Hugh |title=History of the American Economy |year=2009 |ref=Walton |publisher=Cengage Learning |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyhI1q_E4G0C |isbn=978-0-324-78662-0}}
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*{{Free-content attribution
* {{cite book|first=Mary|last=Mostert|title=The Threat of Anarchy Leads to the Constitution of the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jntSQ-yn66AC&pg=PA18|year=2005|publisher=CTR Publishing, Inc.|isbn=978-0-9753851-4-2}}
| title = World Food and Agriculture – Statistical Yearbook 2023
* {{cite book|first=Peter S.|last=Onuf|title=The Origins of the Federal Republic: Jurisdictional Controversies in the United States, 1775–1787|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WcUgLPqmfuYC|year=2010|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|isbn=978-0-8122-0038-6}}
| author = FAO
* {{cite book|first1=Theda|last1= Perdue|first2=Michael D|last2=Green|title=The Columbia Guide to American Indians of the Southeast|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-RBJCyp2bFIC&pg=PA40|date= 2005|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-50602-1}}
| publisher = FAO
* {{cite book|last=Price|first=David A.|title=Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Start of a New Nation|publisher=Random House|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_EFbS_7fFcYC|year=2003|isbn=978-0-307-42670-3 }}
| documentURL = https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en?details=cc8166en
* {{cite book|last=Quirk|first=Joel|title=The Anti-Slavery Project: From the Slave Trade to Human Trafficking|ref=Quirk|year=2011|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qqxK4KlqKYMC|isbn=978-0-8122-4333-8|page=344}}
| license statement URL = https://commons.wikimedia.org/whttps://commons.wikimedia.org/File:World_Food_and_Agriculture_-_Statistical_Yearbook_2023.pdf
* {{cite book|last=Ranlet|first=Philip|title=New England Encounters: Indians and Euroamericans Ca. 1600–1850|ref=Ranlet|publisher=North Eastern University Press|editor-first=Alden T.|editor-last=Vaughan|year=1999}}
| license = CC BY-SA IGO 3.0
* {{cite book|last=Rausch|first=David A.|title=Native American Voices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iyZMeGMgIgEC&q=triangle|ref=Rausch|publisher=Baker Books|location=Grand Rapids|page=180|year=1994|isbn=978-0-8010-7773-9}}
}}{{refend}}
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* {{cite book|last=Ripper|first=Jason|title=American Stories: To 1877|year=2008|ref=Ripper2008|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vX-fYvoAeHwC|page=299|isbn=978-0-7656-2903-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Russell|first=John Henderson|title=The Free Negro in Virginia, 1619–1865|ref=Russell1913|publisher=Johns Hopkins University|url=https://archive.org/details/freenegroinvirg00russgoog|year=1913|page=}}
* {{cite book|first=William|last=Safire|title=No Uncertain Terms: More Writing from the Popular "On Language" Column in The New York Times Magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/nouncertainterms00safi|url-access=registration|page=|year=2003|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0-7432-4955-3}}
* {{cite book|first=Bunford|last=Samuel|title=Secession and Constitutional Liberty: In which is Shown the Right of a Nation to Secede from a Compact of Federation and that Such Right is Necessary to Constitutional Liberty and a Surety of Union|url=https://archive.org/details/secessionandcon03samugoog|page=|year=1920|publisher=Neale publishing Company}}
* {{cite book|first= Candace|last= Savage|title=Prairie: A Natural History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X1u9BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA55|date=2011|publisher=Greystone Books|isbn=978-1-55365-899-3}}
* {{cite book|last1=Schneider|first1=Dorothy|last2=Schneider|first2=Carl J.|title=Slavery in America|ref=Schneider|publisher=Infobase Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QlemwRTsY20C|year=2007|page=554|isbn=978-1-4381-0813-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Schultz|first=David Andrew|title=Encyclopedia of the United States Constitution|ref=Schultz|year=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f7m713xwK58C|page=904|isbn=978-1-4381-2677-7}}
* {{cite book|first=Sandra|last=Sider|title=Handbook to Life in Renaissance Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JtYy67FsRosC&pg=PA226|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533084-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Simonson|first=Peter|title=Refiguring Mass Communication: A History|ref=Simonson|year=2010|publisher=University of Illinois Press|quote=He held high the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the nation's unofficial motto, ''e pluribus unum'', even as he was recoiling from the party system in which he had long participated.|location=Urbana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6lrAmPlbvIC&pg=PA79|isbn=978-0-252-07705-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Smith|first=Andrew F.|year=2004|title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America|ref=Smith2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|pages=131–132|isbn=978-0-19-515437-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Soss|first=Joe|editor-last=Hacker|editor-first=Jacob S.|editor2-last=Mettler|editor2-first=Suzanne|ref=Soss|title=Remaking America: Democracy and Public Policy in an Age of Inequality|year=2010|publisher=Russell Sage Foundation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JttyjBoyb3AC|isbn=978-1-61044-694-5 }}
* {{cite book|ref=Stannard|last=Stannard|first=David E.|author-link=David Stannard|title=American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World|year=1993|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|url=https://archive.org/details/americanholocaus00stan|isbn=978-0-19-508557-0 }}
* {{Cite journal|ref=Tadman|last=Tadman|first=Michael|title=The Demographic Cost of Sugar: Debates on Slave Societies and Natural Increase in the Americas|journal=American Historical Review|volume=105|year=2000|issue=5|pages=1534–1575|jstor=2652029|doi=10.2307/2652029 }}
* {{cite book|ref=Taylor|last=Taylor|first=Alan|title=American Colonies: The Settling of North America|publisher=Penguin Books|location=New York|url=https://archive.org/details/americancolonies00tayl_1|editor=Eric Foner|year=2002|isbn=978-0-670-87282-4 }}
* {{cite book|last=Thornton|first=Russell|title=American Indian Holocaust and Survival: A Population History Since 1492|volume=186|series=Civilization of the American Indian|year=1987|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9iQYSQ9y60MC&pg=PA49|isbn=978-0-8061-2220-5|page=49}}
* {{cite book|first=Russell|last=Thornton|title=Studying Native America: Problems and Prospects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_EA-UwvN_HUC&pg=PA34|year=1998|publisher=Univ of Wisconsin Press|isbn=978-0-299-16064-7 }}
* {{cite book|last=Vaughan|first=Alden T.|title=New England Encounters: Indians and Euroamericans Ca. 1600–1850|publisher=North Eastern University Press|year=1999}}
* {{cite book|first1=James M.|last1=Volo|first2=Dorothy Denneen|last2=Volo|title=Family Life in Native America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z_bc61ezj0cC&pg=PR11|year=2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-33795-6}}
* {{cite book|last1=Walton|first1=Gary M.|last2=Rockoff|first2=Hugh|title=History of the American Economy|year=2009|ref=Walton|publisher=Cengage Learning|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyhI1q_E4G0C|isbn=978-0-324-78662-0 }}
* {{cite journal|last1=Waters|first1=M.R.|last2=Stafford|first2=T W.|title=Redefining the Age of Clovis: Implications for the Peopling of the Americas|journal=Science|volume=315|issue=5815|year=2007|pages=1122–1126|issn=0036-8075|doi=10.1126/science.1137166|pmid=17322060|bibcode=2007Sci...315.1122W|s2cid=23205379|url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/2127cb07b275c5be603cef1434db0b167b94c94f}}
* {{cite book|first1=Edith Brown|last1=Weiss|first2=Harold Karan|last2=Jacobson|title=Engaging Countries: Strengthening Compliance with International Environmental Accords|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W_JAw31U5qQC&pg=PA180|year=2000|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-73132-4}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Williams|first1=Daniel K.|year=2012|ref=Williams|title=Questioning Conservatism's Ascendancy: A Reexamination of the Rightward Shift in Modern American Politics|volume=40|issue=2|pages=325–331|doi=10.1353/rah.2012.0043|url=https://courses.ttu.edu/secunnin/40.2.williams.pdf|access-date=March 11, 2013|journal=Reviews in American History|s2cid=96461510|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6FBIifRbH?url=https://courses.ttu.edu/secunnin/40.2.williams.pdf|archive-date=March 17, 2013 }}
* {{cite book|first1=Wendy S.|last1=Wilson|first2=Lloyd M.|last2=Thompson|title=Native Americans: An Interdisciplinary Unit on Converging Cultures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hs0HFU2ZR0IC&pg=PA14|year=1997|publisher=Walch Publishing|isbn=978-0-8251-3332-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Winchester|first=Simon|title=The men who United the States|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780062079602|url-access=registration|year=2013|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=978-0-06-207960-2|pages=, 216, 251, 253}}
* {{cite book|last=Zinn|first=Howard|author-link=Howard Zinn|title=A People's History of the United States|ref=Zinn|year=2005|publisher=] Modern Classics|isbn=978-0-06-083865-2|title-link=A People's History of the United States }}
{{refend}}

'''Internet sources'''
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1217752.stm|title=Country Profile: United States of America|ref=BBC18may|work=BBC News|location=London|date=April 22, 2008|access-date=May 18, 2008}}
* {{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Eliot A.|ref=Cohen|location=Washington, DC|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/59919/eliot-a-cohen/history-and-the-hyperpower|title=History and the Hyperpower|website=Foreign Affairs|date=July–August 2004|access-date=July 14, 2006}}
* {{cite web|title=Slavery and the Slave Trade in Rhode Island|ref=Brown|url=https://www.brown.edu/Facilities/John_Carter_Brown_Library/jcbexhibit/Pages/exhibSlavery.html}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov/about/education/Pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx|title=History of "In God We Trust"|ref=God|publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury|date=March 8, 2011|access-date=February 23, 2013}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.mchspa.org/body.htm|title=Early History, Native Americans, and Early Settlers in Mercer County|year=2005|ref=Mercer|publisher=Mercer County Historical Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310021430/https://www.mchspa.org/body.htm|archive-date=March 10, 2005|access-date=April 6, 2016}}
* {{cite news|title=Looking back 20 years: Who deserves credit for ending the Cold War?|first=Nick|last=Hayes|ref=Hayes|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2009/11/looking-back-20-years-who-deserves-credit-ending-cold-war|newspaper=MinnPost|date=November 6, 2009|access-date=March 11, 2013}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.ushistory.org/us/59e.asp|title=59e. The End of the Cold War|author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line. -->|website=USHistory.org|ref=ushistory13|publisher=Independence Hall Association|access-date=March 10, 2013}}
* {{cite book|last=Levy|first=Peter B.|ref=Levy1996|title=Encyclopedia of the Reagan-Bush Years|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7veohk0fkLYC&pg=PA88|year=1996|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-29018-3|page=442}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045216|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts selected: United States|date=2016|website=QuickFacts|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=September 9, 2017}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Wallander|first1=Celeste A.|year=2003|ref=Wallander2003|title=Western Policy and the Demise of the Soviet Union|journal=]|volume=5|issue=4|pages=137–177|doi=10.1162/152039703322483774|s2cid=57560487 }}
* {{cite journal|title=Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens|last1=Gilens|first1=Martin|last2=Page|first2=Benjamin I.|name-list-style=amp|journal=]|date=2014|volume=12|issue=3|pages=564–581|doi=10.1017/S1537592714001595|url=https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf|doi-access=free }}
{{refend}}


== External links == == External links ==
{{Sister project links|voy=United States}}
{{Library resources box}} {{Library resources box}}
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* Official site of the United States Senate * – official website of the United States Senate
* Official site of the president of the United States * – official website of the president of the United States
* Official site of the Supreme Court of the United States * – official website of the Supreme Court of the United States


; History === History ===
* Collected by the National Center for Public Policy Research * – website from the ]
* Analysis by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance * . Religious Tolerance. Analysis by the ].
* Collected links to historical data * – links to U.S. historical data


; Maps === Maps ===
* Official maps from the U.S. Department of the Interior * – official maps from the ]
* {{wikiatlas|the United States}} * {{wikiatlas|the United States}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|148838}} * {{osmrelation-inline|148838}}
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Revision as of 22:28, 24 December 2024

Country in North America "America" redirects here. For the landmass comprising North and South America, see Americas. For other uses, see America (disambiguation). Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), United States (disambiguation), and The United States of America (disambiguation).

United States of America
  Flag   Coat of arms
Motto: "In God We Trust" Other traditional mottos:
Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
Orthographic map of the U.S. in North AmericaShow globe (states and D.C. only)World map showing the U.S. and its territoriesShow the U.S. and its territoriesShow territories with their exclusive economic zone
CapitalWashington, D.C.
38°53′N 77°1′W / 38.883°N 77.017°W / 38.883; -77.017
Largest cityNew York City
40°43′N 74°0′W / 40.717°N 74.000°W / 40.717; -74.000
Official languagesNone at the federal level
National languageEnglish
Ethnic groups (2020)By race: By origin:
Religion (2023)
Demonym(s)American
GovernmentFederal presidential republic
• President Joe Biden
• Vice President Kamala Harris
• House Speaker Mike Johnson
• Chief Justice John Roberts
LegislatureCongress
• Upper houseSenate
• Lower houseHouse of Representatives
Independence from Great Britain
• Declaration July 4, 1776 (1776-07-04)
• Confederation March 1, 1781 (1781-03-01)
• Recognized September 3, 1783 (1783-09-03)
• Constitution June 21, 1788 (1788-06-21)
Area
• Total area3,796,742 sq mi (9,833,520 km) (3rd)
• Water (%)7.0 (2010)
• Land area3,531,905 sq mi (9,147,590 km) (3rd)
Population
• 2024 estimateNeutral increase 340,110,988
• 2020 censusNeutral increase 331,449,281 (3rd)
• Density87/sq mi (33.6/km) (185th)
GDP (PPP)2024 estimate
• TotalIncrease $29.168 trillion (2nd)
• Per capitaIncrease $86,601 (8th)
GDP (nominal)2024 estimate
• TotalIncrease $29.168 trillion (1st)
• Per capitaIncrease $86,601 (6th)
Gini (2023)Positive decrease 41.6
medium inequality
HDI (2022)Increase 0.927
very high (20th)
CurrencyU.S. dollar ($) (USD)
Time zoneUTC−4 to −12, +10, +11
• Summer (DST)UTC−4 to −10
Date formatmm/dd/yyyy
Drives onRight
Calling code+1
ISO 3166 codeUS
Internet TLD.us

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal union of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous states border Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with the states of Alaska to the northwest and the archipelagic Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The United States also asserts sovereignty over five major island territories and various uninhabited islands. The country has the world's third-largest land area, largest exclusive economic zone, and third-largest population, exceeding 340 million. Its three largest metropolitan areas are New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and its three most populous states are California, Texas, and Florida.

Paleo-Indians migrated across the Bering land bridge more than 12,000 years ago, and formed various civilizations and societies. British colonization led to the first settlement of the Thirteen Colonies in Virginia in 1607, with the beginning of the forced migration of enslaved Africans following soon after. Clashes with the British Crown over taxation and political representation sparked the American Revolution, with the Second Continental Congress formally declaring independence on July 4, 1776. Following its victory in the 1775–1783 Revolutionary War, the country continued to expand westward across North America, resulting in the dispossession of native inhabitants. As more states were admitted, a North–South division over slavery led to the secession of the Confederate States of America, which fought states remaining in the Union in the 1861–1865 American Civil War. With the victory and preservation of the United States, slavery was abolished nationally. By 1900, the country had established itself as a great power, a status solidified after its involvement in World War I. After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the U.S. entered World War II. Its aftermath left the U.S. and the Soviet Union as the world's two superpowers and led to the Cold War, during which both countries struggled for ideological dominance and international influence. Following the Soviet Union's collapse and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the U.S. emerged as the world's sole superpower, wielding significant geopolitical influence globally.

The U.S. national government is a presidential constitutional federal republic and liberal democracy with three separate branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It has a bicameral national legislature composed of the House of Representatives, a lower house based on population, and the Senate, an upper house based on equal representation for each state. Federalism provides substantial autonomy to the 50 states, while American values are based on a democratic political tradition that draws its inspiration from the European Enlightenment movement.

One of the world's most developed countries, the United States has had the largest nominal GDP since about 1890 and accounted for over 15% of the global economy in 2023. It possesses by far the largest amount of wealth of any country and has the highest disposable household income per capita among OECD countries. The U.S. ranks among the world's highest in economic competitiveness, productivity, innovation, human rights, and higher education. Its hard power and cultural influence have a global reach. The U.S. is a founding member of the World Bank, the Organization of American States, NATO, and the United Nations, as well as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Etymology

Further information: Names of the United States, Demonyms for the United States, and United Colonies

The first documented use of the phrase "United States of America" is a letter from January 2, 1776. Stephen Moylan, a Continental Army aide to General George Washington, wrote to Joseph Reed, Washington's aide-de-camp, seeking to go "with full and ample powers from the United States of America to Spain" to seek assistance in the Revolutionary War effort. The first known public usage is an anonymous essay published in the Williamsburg newspaper, The Virginia Gazette, on April 6, 1776. By June 1776, the "United States of America" appeared in the Articles of Confederation and the Declaration of Independence. The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

The term "United States" and the initialism "U.S.", used as nouns or as adjectives in English, are common short names for the country. The initialism "USA", a noun, is also common. "United States" and "U.S." are the established terms throughout the U.S. federal government, with prescribed rules. In English, the term "America" rarely refers to topics unrelated to the United States, despite the usage of "the Americas" as the totality of North and South America. "The States" is an established colloquial shortening of the name, used particularly from abroad; "stateside" is the corresponding adjective or adverb.

The name "America" is the Latinized form of the first name of Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. He first proposed that the West Indies discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 were part of a previously unknown landmass and not among the Indies at the eastern limit of Asia.

History

Main article: History of the United States For a topical guide, see Outline of the history of the United States.

Indigenous peoples

Main article: History of Native Americans in the United States Further information: Native Americans in the United States and Pre-Columbian era
Cliff Palace, a settlement of ancestors of the Native American Pueblo peoples in present-day Montezuma County, Colorado, built between c. 1200 and 1275

The first inhabitants of North America migrated from Siberia across the Bering land bridge about 12,000 years ago; the Clovis culture, which appeared around 11,000 BC, is believed to be the first widespread culture in the Americas. Over time, indigenous North American cultures grew increasingly sophisticated, and some, such as the Mississippian culture, developed agriculture, architecture, and complex societies. In the post-archaic period, the Mississippian cultures were located in the midwestern, eastern, and southern regions, and the Algonquian in the Great Lakes region and along the Eastern Seaboard, while the Hohokam culture and Ancestral Puebloans inhabited the southwest. Native population estimates of what is now the United States before the arrival of European immigrants range from around 500,000 to nearly 10 million.

European settlement and conflict (1607–1765)

Main articles: Colonial history of the United States and Colonial American military history See also: European colonization of the Americas
The 1750 colonial possessions of Britain (in pink and purple), France (in blue), and Spain (in orange) in present-day Canada and the United States

Christopher Columbus began exploring the Caribbean for Spain in 1492, leading to Spanish-speaking settlements and missions from Puerto Rico and Florida to New Mexico and California. France established its own settlements along the Great Lakes, Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. British colonization of the East Coast began with the Virginia Colony (1607) and Plymouth Colony (1620). The Mayflower Compact and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut established precedents for representative self-governance and constitutionalism that would develop throughout the American colonies. While European settlers in what is now the United States experienced conflicts with Native Americans, they also engaged in trade, exchanging European tools for food and animal pelts. Relations ranged from close cooperation to warfare and massacres. The colonial authorities often pursued policies that forced Native Americans to adopt European lifestyles, including conversion to Christianity. Along the eastern seaboard, settlers trafficked African slaves through the Atlantic slave trade.

The original Thirteen Colonies that would later found the United States were administered as possessions of Great Britain, and had local governments with elections open to most white male property owners. The colonial population grew rapidly, eclipsing Native American populations; by the 1770s, the natural increase of the population was such that only a small minority of Americans had been born overseas. The colonies' distance from Britain allowed for the development of self-governance, and the First Great Awakening, a series of Christian revivals, fueled colonial interest in religious liberty.

For a century, the American colonists had been providing their own troops and materiel in conflicts with indigenous peoples allied with Britain's colonial rivals, especially France, and the Americans had begun to develop a sense of self-defense and self-reliance separate from Britain. The French and Indian War (1754–1763) took on new significance for all North American colonists after Parliament under William Pitt the Elder concluded that major military resources needed to be devoted to North America to win the war against France. The British colonies' position as an integral part of the British Empire became more apparent during the war, with British military and civilian officials becoming a more significant presence in American life.

American Revolution and the early republic (1765–1800)

Main articles: American Revolution and American Revolutionary War Further information: History of the United States (1776–1789) and History of the United States (1789–1815)
See caption
Declaration of Independence, a portrait by John Trumbull depicting the Committee of Five presenting the draft of the Declaration to the Continental Congress on June 28, 1776, in Philadelphia

Following their victory in the French and Indian War, Britain began to assert greater control over local colonial affairs, resulting in colonial political resistance; one of the primary colonial grievances was a denial of their rights as Englishmen, particularly the right to representation in the British government that taxed them. To demonstrate their dissatisfaction and resolve, the First Continental Congress met in 1774 and passed the Continental Association, a colonial boycott of British goods that proved effective. The British attempt to then disarm the colonists resulted in the 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord, igniting the American Revolutionary War. At the Second Continental Congress, the colonies appointed George Washington commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and created a committee that named Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence. Two days after passing the Lee Resolution to create an independent nation the Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776. The political values of the American Revolution included liberty, inalienable individual rights; and the sovereignty of the people; supporting republicanism and rejecting monarchy, aristocracy, and all hereditary political power; civic virtue; and vilification of political corruption. The Founding Fathers of the United States, who included Washington, Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, Thomas Paine, and many others, were inspired by Greco-Roman, Renaissance, and Enlightenment philosophies and ideas.

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union were ratified in 1781 and established a decentralized government that operated until 1789. After the British surrender at the siege of Yorktown in 1781 American sovereignty was internationally recognized by the Treaty of Paris (1783), through which the U.S. gained territory stretching west to the Mississippi River, north to present-day Canada, and south to Spanish Florida. The Northwest Ordinance (1787) established the precedent by which the country's territory would expand with the admission of new states, rather than the expansion of existing states. The U.S. Constitution was drafted at the 1787 Constitutional Convention to overcome the limitations of the Articles. It went into effect in 1789, creating a federal republic governed by three separate branches that together ensured a system of checks and balances. George Washington was elected the country's first president under the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791 to allay skeptics' concerns about the power of the more centralized government. His resignation as commander-in-chief after the Revolutionary War and his later refusal to run for a third term as the country's first president established a precedent for the supremacy of civil authority in the United States and the peaceful transfer of power.

Westward expansion and Civil War (1800–1865)

Further information: History of the United States (1815–1849) and History of the United States (1849–1865)
Historical territorial expansion of the United States
Division of the states during the American Civil War:   Union states   Border states   Confederate states   Territories

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 from France nearly doubled the territory of the United States. Lingering issues with Britain remained, leading to the War of 1812, which was fought to a draw. Spain ceded Florida and its Gulf Coast territory in 1819. In the late 18th century, American settlers began to expand westward, many with a sense of manifest destiny. The Missouri Compromise attempted to balance the desire of northern states to prevent the expansion of slavery into new territories with that of southern states to extend it, admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It further prohibited slavery in all other lands of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36°30′ parallel. As Americans expanded further into land inhabited by Native Americans, the federal government often applied policies of Indian removal or assimilation. The Trail of Tears (1830–1850) was a U.S. government policy that forcibly removed and displaced most Native Americans living east of the Mississippi River to lands far to the west. These and earlier organized displacements prompted a long series of American Indian Wars west of the Mississippi. The Republic of Texas was annexed in 1845, and the 1846 Oregon Treaty led to U.S. control of the present-day American Northwest. Victory in the Mexican–American War resulted in the 1848 Mexican Cession of California, Nevada, Utah, and much of present-day Colorado and the American Southwest. The California gold rush of 1848–1849 spurred a huge migration of white settlers to the Pacific coast, leading to even more confrontations with Native populations. One of the most violent, the California genocide of thousands of Native inhabitants, lasted into the early 1870s, just as additional western territories and states were created.

During the colonial period, slavery had been legal in the American colonies, though the practice began to be significantly questioned during the American Revolution. States in the North enacted abolition laws, though support for slavery strengthened in Southern states, as inventions such as the cotton gin made the institution increasingly profitable for Southern elites. This sectional conflict regarding slavery culminated in the American Civil War (1861–1865). Eleven slave states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America, while the other states remained in the Union. War broke out in April 1861 after the Confederates bombarded Fort Sumter. After the January 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, many freed slaves joined the Union army. The war began to turn in the Union's favor following the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg and Battle of Gettysburg, and the Confederacy surrendered in 1865 after the Union's victory in the Battle of Appomattox Court House. The Reconstruction era followed the war. After the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Reconstruction Amendments were passed to protect the rights of African Americans. National infrastructure, including transcontinental telegraph and railroads, spurred growth in the American frontier.

Post–Civil War era (1865–1917)

Main article: History of the United States (1865–1917)
An Edison Studios film showing immigrants arriving at Ellis Island in New York Harbor, a major point of entry for European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

From 1865 through 1917, an unprecedented stream of immigrants arrived in the United States, including 24.4 million from Europe. Most came through the port of New York City, and New York City and other large cities on the East Coast became home to large Jewish, Irish, and Italian populations, while many Germans and Central Europeans moved to the Midwest. At the same time, about one million French Canadians migrated from Quebec to New England. During the Great Migration, millions of African Americans left the rural South for urban areas in the North. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867.

The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended Reconstruction and white supremacists took local control of Southern politics. African Americans endured a period of heightened, overt racism following Reconstruction, a time often called the nadir of American race relations. A series of Supreme Court decisions, including Plessy v. Ferguson, emptied the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of their force, allowing Jim Crow laws in the South to remain unchecked, sundown towns in the Midwest, and segregation in communities across the country, which would be reinforced by the policy of redlining later adopted by the federal Home Owners' Loan Corporation.

An explosion of technological advancement accompanied by the exploitation of cheap immigrant labor led to rapid economic expansion during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, allowing the United States to outpace the economies of England, France, and Germany combined. This fostered the amassing of power by a few prominent industrialists, largely by their formation of trusts and monopolies to prevent competition. Tycoons led the nation's expansion in the railroad, petroleum, and steel industries. The United States emerged as a pioneer of the automotive industry. These changes were accompanied by significant increases in economic inequality, slum conditions, and social unrest, creating the environment for labor unions to begin to flourish. This period eventually ended with the advent of the Progressive Era, which was characterized by significant reforms.

Pro-American elements in Hawaii overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy; the islands were annexed in 1898. That same year, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam were ceded to the U.S. by Spain after the latter's defeat in the Spanish–American War. (The Philippines was granted full independence from the U.S. on July 4, 1946, following World War II. Puerto Rico and Guam have remained U.S. territories.) American Samoa was acquired by the United States in 1900 after the Second Samoan Civil War. The U.S. Virgin Islands were purchased from Denmark in 1917.

Rise as a superpower (1917–1945)

Main article: History of the United States (1917–1945)
The Trinity nuclear test in 1945, part of the Manhattan Project and the first detonation of a nuclear weapon. The World Wars permanently ended the country's policy of isolationism and left it as a superpower.

The United States entered World War I alongside the Allies, helping to turn the tide against the Central Powers. In 1920, a constitutional amendment granted nationwide women's suffrage. During the 1920s and '30s, radio for mass communication and the invention of early television transformed communications nationwide. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 triggered the Great Depression, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt responded to with the New Deal, a series of sweeping programs and public works projects combined with financial reforms and regulations. All were intended to protect against future economic depressions.

Initially neutral during World War II, the U.S. began supplying war materiel to the Allies of World War II in March 1941 and entered the war in December after the Empire of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. developed the first nuclear weapons and used them against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, ending the war. The United States was one of the "Four Policemen" who met to plan the post-war world, alongside the United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and China. The U.S. emerged relatively unscathed from the war, with even greater economic power and international political influence.

Cold War (1945–1991)

Main article: Cold War Further information: History of the United States (1945–1964), History of the United States (1964–1980), and History of the United States (1980–1991)
Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty at the White House in 1987.

After World War II, the United States entered the Cold War, where geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union led the two countries to dominate world affairs. The U.S. utilized the policy of containment to limit the USSR's sphere of influence, and prevailed in the Space Race, which culminated with the first crewed Moon landing in 1969. Domestically, the U.S. experienced economic growth, urbanization, and population growth following World War II. The civil rights movement emerged, with Martin Luther King Jr. becoming a prominent leader in the early 1960s. The Great Society plan of President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration resulted in groundbreaking and broad-reaching laws, policies and a constitutional amendment to counteract some of the worst effects of lingering institutional racism. The counterculture movement in the U.S. brought significant social changes, including the liberalization of attitudes toward recreational drug use and sexuality. It also encouraged open defiance of the military draft (leading to the end of conscription in 1973) and wide opposition to U.S. intervention in Vietnam (with the U.S. totally withdrawing in 1975). A societal shift in the roles of women was significantly responsible for the large increase in female paid labor participation during the 1970s, and by 1985 the majority of American women aged 16 and older were employed. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the fall of communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union, which marked the end of the Cold War and left the United States as the world's sole superpower.

Contemporary (1991–present)

Main articles: History of the United States (1991–2008) and History of the United States (2008–present)
The Twin Towers in New York City during the September 11 attacks in 2001

The 1990s saw the longest recorded economic expansion in American history, a dramatic decline in U.S. crime rates, and advances in technology. Throughout this decade, technological innovations such as the World Wide Web, the evolution of the Pentium microprocessor in accordance with Moore's law, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the first gene therapy trial, and cloning either emerged in the U.S. or were improved upon there. The Human Genome Project was formally launched in 1990, while Nasdaq became the first stock market in the United States to trade online in 1998.

In the Gulf War of 1991, an American-led international coalition of states expelled an Iraqi invasion force that had occupied neighboring Kuwait. The September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001 by the pan-Islamist militant organization al-Qaeda led to the war on terror, and subsequent military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The cultural impact of the attacks was profound and long-lasting.

The U.S. housing bubble culminated in 2007 with the Great Recession, the largest economic contraction since the Great Depression. Coming to a head in the 2010s, political polarization in the country increased between liberal and conservative factions. This polarization was capitalized upon in the January 2021 Capitol attack, when a mob of insurrectionists entered the U.S. Capitol and sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power in an attempted self-coup d'état.

Geography

Main article: Geography of the United States
A topographic map of the United States

The United States is the world's third-largest country by total area behind Russia and Canada. The 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia occupy a combined area of 3,119,885 square miles (8,080,470 km). The coastal plain of the Atlantic seaboard gives way to inland forests and rolling hills in the Piedmont plateau region.

The Appalachian Mountains and the Adirondack massif separate the East Coast from the Great Lakes and the grasslands of the Midwest. The Mississippi River System, the world's fourth-longest river system, runs predominantly north–south through the heart of the country. The flat and fertile prairie of the Great Plains stretches to the west, interrupted by a highland region in the southeast.

The Grand Canyon in Arizona

The Rocky Mountains, west of the Great Plains, extend north to south across the country, peaking at over 14,000 feet (4,300 m) in Colorado. Farther west are the rocky Great Basin and Chihuahua, Sonoran, and Mojave deserts. In the northwest corner of Arizona, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, is the Grand Canyon, a steep-sided canyon and popular tourist destination known for its overwhelming visual size and intricate, colorful landscape.

The Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges run close to the Pacific coast. The lowest and highest points in the contiguous United States are in the State of California, about 84 miles (135 km) apart. At an elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190.5 m), Alaska's Denali is the highest peak in the country and continent. Active volcanoes are common throughout Alaska's Alexander and Aleutian Islands, and Hawaii consists of volcanic islands. The supervolcano underlying Yellowstone National Park in the Rocky Mountains, the Yellowstone Caldera, is the continent's largest volcanic feature. In 2021, the United States had 8% of global permanent meadows and pastures and 10% of cropland.

Climate

Main article: Climate of the United States See also: Climate change in the United States
The Köppen climate types of the United States

With its large size and geographic variety, the United States includes most climate types. East of the 100th meridian, the climate ranges from humid continental in the north to humid subtropical in the south. The western Great Plains are semi-arid. Many mountainous areas of the American West have an alpine climate. The climate is arid in the Southwest, Mediterranean in coastal California, and oceanic in coastal Oregon, Washington, and southern Alaska. Most of Alaska is subarctic or polar. Hawaii, the southern tip of Florida and U.S. territories in the Caribbean and Pacific are tropical.

States bordering the Gulf of Mexico are prone to hurricanes, and most of the world's tornadoes occur in the country, mainly in Tornado Alley. Overall, the United States receives more high-impact extreme weather incidents than any other country. Extreme weather became more frequent in the U.S. in the 21st century, with three times the number of reported heat waves as in the 1960s. In the American Southwest, droughts became more persistent and more severe. The regions considered as the most attractive to the population are the most vulnerable.

Biodiversity and conservation

Main articles: Fauna of the United States and Flora of the United States

A bald eagle
The bald eagle, the national bird of the United States since 1782

The U.S. is one of 17 megadiverse countries containing large numbers of endemic species: about 17,000 species of vascular plants occur in the contiguous United States and Alaska, and over 1,800 species of flowering plants are found in Hawaii, few of which occur on the mainland. The United States is home to 428 mammal species, 784 birds, 311 reptiles, 295 amphibians, and around 91,000 insect species.

There are 63 national parks, and hundreds of other federally managed parks, forests, and wilderness areas, managed by the National Park Service and other agencies. About 28% of the country's land is publicly owned and federally managed, primarily in the Western States. Most of this land is protected, though some is leased for commercial use, and less than one percent is used for military purposes.

Environmental issues in the United States include debates on non-renewable resources and nuclear energy, air and water pollution, biodiversity, logging and deforestation, and climate change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency charged with addressing most environmental-related issues. The idea of wilderness has shaped the management of public lands since 1964, with the Wilderness Act. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides a way to protect threatened and endangered species and their habitats. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service implements and enforces the Act. In 2024, the U.S. ranked 35th among 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index. The country joined the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2016.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of the United States Further information: Elections in the United States, Political ideologies in the United States, and Americanism (ideology)
The U.S. Capitol Building, the seat of legislative government, is home to both chambers of the U.S. Congress: the Senate (in left wing of building) and the House of Representatives (right wing).
The White House, the residence and workplace of the U.S. president and the offices of the presidential staff
The Supreme Court Building, which houses the nation's highest court

The United States is a federal republic of 50 states and a separate federal capital district, Washington, D.C. It also asserts sovereignty over five unincorporated territories and several uninhabited island possessions. The U.S. is the world's oldest surviving federation, and its presidential system of national government has been adopted, in whole or in part, by many newly independent states worldwide following their decolonization. It is a liberal representative democracy "in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law". The Constitution of the United States serves as the country's supreme legal document, also establishing the structure and responsibilities of the national federal government and its relationship with the individual states. The U.S. Constitution is the world's oldest national constitution still in effect (from March 4, 1789).

National government

Main article: Federal government of the United States

Composed of three branches, all headquartered in Washington, D.C., the federal government is the national government of the United States. It is regulated by a strong system of checks and balances.

  • The U.S. Congress, a bicameral legislature made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse, and has the power of impeachment. The Senate has 100 members (2 from each state), elected for a six-year term. The House of Representatives has 435 members, each elected for a two-year term; all representatives serve one congressional district of equivalent population. Congressional districts are drawn by each state legislature and are contiguous within the state. The Congress also organizes a collection of committees, each of which handles a specific task or duty. One of Congress's foremost non-legislative functions is the power to investigate and oversee the executive branch. Congressional oversight is usually delegated to committees and is facilitated by Congress's subpoena power. Appointment to a committee enables a member to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under its purview. The various committees monitor ongoing governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to the U.S. Congress, including but not limited to new legislation. The two major political parties have appointment power in deciding each committee's membership. Committee chairs are assigned to a member of the majority party.
  • The U.S. president is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the military, chief executive of the federal government, and has the ability to veto legislative bills from the U.S. Congress before they become law. However, presidential vetoes can be overridden by a two-thirds supermajority vote in both chambers of Congress. The president appoints the members of the Cabinet, subject to Senate approval, and names other officials who administer and enforce federal laws through their respective agencies. The president also has clemency power for federal crimes and can issue pardons. Finally, the president has the right to issue expansive "executive orders", subject to judicial review, in a number of policy areas. Candidates for president campaign with a vice-presidential running mate. Both candidates are elected together, or defeated together, in a presidential election. Unlike other votes in American politics, this is technically an indirect election in which the winner will be determined by the U.S. Electoral College. There, votes are officially cast by individual electors selected by their state legislature. In practice, however, each of the 50 states chooses a group of presidential electors who are required to confirm the winner of their state's popular vote. Each state is allocated two electors plus one additional elector for each congressional district, which in effect combines to equal the number of elected officials that state sends to Congress. The District of Columbia, with no representatives or senators, is allocated three electoral votes. Both the president and the vice president serve a four-year term, and the president may be reelected to the office only once, for one additional four-year term.
  • The U.S. federal judiciary, whose judges are all appointed for life by the president with Senate approval, consists primarily of the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. courts of appeals, and the U.S. district courts. The U.S. Supreme Court interprets laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has nine members led by the Chief Justice of the United States. The members are appointed by the sitting president when a vacancy becomes available. In a number of ways the federal court system operates differently than state courts. For civil cases that is apparent in the types of cases that can be heard in the federal system. Their limited jurisdiction restricts them to cases authorized by the United States Constitution or federal statutes. In criminal cases, states may only bring criminal prosecutions in state courts, and the federal government may only bring criminal prosecutions in federal court. The first level in the federal courts is federal district court for any case under "original jurisdiction", such as federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties. There are twelve federal circuits that divide the country into different regions for federal appeals courts. After a federal district court has decided a case, it can then be appealed to a United States court of appeal. The next and highest court in the system is the Supreme Court of the United States. It has the power to decide appeals on all cases brought in federal court or those brought in state court but dealing with federal law. Unlike circuit court appeals, however, the Supreme Court is usually not required to hear the appeal. A "petition for writ of certiorari" may be submitted to the court, asking it to hear the case. If it is granted, the Supreme Court will take briefs and conduct oral arguments. If it is not granted, the opinion of the lower court stands. Certiorari is not often granted, and less than 1% of appeals to the Supreme Court are actually heard by it. Usually, the Court only hears cases when there are conflicting decisions across the nation on a particular issue, or when there is an obvious error in a case.

The three-branch system is known as the presidential system, in contrast to the parliamentary system, where the executive is part of the legislative body. Many countries around the world imitated this aspect of the 1789 Constitution of the United States, especially in the Americas.

Political parties

Main articles: Political parties in the United States and List of political parties in the United States See also: Political party strength in U.S. states
U.S. state governments (governor and legislature) by party control, as of 2024:   Democratic control   Republican control   Split control

The Constitution is silent on political parties. However, they developed independently in the 18th century with the Federalist and Anti-Federalist parties. Since then, the United States has operated as a de facto two-party system, though the parties in that system have been different at different times. The two main national parties are presently the Democratic and the Republican. The former is perceived as relatively liberal in its political platform while the latter is perceived as relatively conservative.

Subdivisions

Main articles: U.S. state and County (United States) See also: State governments of the United States and Local government in the United States Further information: List of states and territories of the United States, Indian reservation, Territories of the United States, and Territorial evolution of the United States

In the American federal system, sovereign powers are shared between two levels of elected government: national and state. People in the states are also represented by local elected governments, which are administrative divisions of the states. States are subdivided into counties or county equivalents, and further divided into municipalities. The District of Columbia is a federal district containing the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C. The federal district is an administrative division of the federal government. Federally recognized tribes govern 326 Indian reservations.

AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPuerto RicoPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUnited States Virgin IslandsUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingDelawareMarylandNew HampshireNew JerseyMassachusettsConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaWest VirginiaPuerto RicoUnited States Virgin IslandsGuamNorthern Mariana IslandsAmerican SamoaVermontRhode Island

Foreign relations

Main articles: Foreign relations of the United States and Foreign policy of the United States
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The United Nations headquarters has been situated along the East River in Midtown Manhattan since 1952; in 1945, the United States was a founding member of the UN.

The United States has an established structure of foreign relations, and it has the world's second-largest diplomatic corps as of 2024. It is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and home to the United Nations headquarters. The United States is a member of the G7, G20, and OECD intergovernmental organizations. Almost all countries have embassies and many have consulates (official representatives) in the country. Likewise, nearly all countries host formal diplomatic missions with the United States, except Iran, North Korea, and Bhutan. Though Taiwan does not have formal diplomatic relations with the U.S., it maintains close unofficial relations. The United States regularly supplies Taiwan with military equipment to deter potential Chinese aggression. Its geopolitical attention also turned to the Indo-Pacific when the United States joined the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with Australia, India, and Japan.

The United States has a "Special Relationship" with the United Kingdom and strong ties with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Israel, and several European Union countries (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Poland). The U.S. works closely with its NATO allies on military and national security issues, and with countries in the Americas through the Organization of American States and the United States–Mexico–Canada Free Trade Agreement. In South America, Colombia is traditionally considered to be the closest ally of the United States. The U.S. exercises full international defense authority and responsibility for Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau through the Compact of Free Association. It has increasingly conducted strategic cooperation with India, but its ties with China have steadily deteriorated. Since 2014, the U.S. has become a key ally of Ukraine; it has also provided the country with significant military equipment and other support in response to Russia's 2022 invasion.

Military

Main article: United States Armed Forces See also: Military history of the United States
The Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense in Arlington County, Virginia, is one of the world's largest office buildings with over 6.5 million square feet (600,000 m) of floor space.

The president is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces and appoints its leaders, the secretary of defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Department of Defense, which is headquartered at the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., administers five of the six service branches, which are made up of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. The Coast Guard is administered by the Department of Homeland Security in peacetime and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy in wartime.

The United States spent $916 billion on its military in 2023, which is by far the largest amount of any country, making up 37% of global military spending and accounting for 3.4% of the country's GDP. The U.S. has 42% of the world's nuclear weapons—the second-largest share after Russia.

The United States has the third-largest combined armed forces in the world, behind the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Indian Armed Forces. The military operates about 800 bases and facilities abroad, and maintains deployments greater than 100 active duty personnel in 25 foreign countries.

State defense forces (SDFs) are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government. SDFs are authorized by state and federal law but are under the command of the state's governor. They are distinct from the state's National Guard units in that they cannot become federalized entities. A state's National Guard personnel, however, may be federalized under the National Defense Act Amendments of 1933, which created the Guard and provides for the integration of Army National Guard units and personnel into the U.S. Army and (since 1947) the U.S. Air Force.

Law enforcement and criminal justice

Main articles: Law of the United States, Law enforcement in the United States, and Crime in the United States See also: Censorship in the United States and Race and crime in the United States
J. Edgar Hoover Building, the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in Washington, D.C.

There are about 18,000 U.S. police agencies from local to national level in the United States. Law in the United States is mainly enforced by local police departments and sheriff departments in their municipal or county jurisdictions. The state police departments have authority in their respective state, and federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Marshals Service have national jurisdiction and specialized duties, such as protecting civil rights, national security and enforcing U.S. federal courts' rulings and federal laws. State courts conduct most civil and criminal trials, and federal courts handle designated crimes and appeals of state court decisions.

There is no unified "criminal justice system" in the United States. The American prison system is largely heterogenous, with thousands of relatively independent systems operating across federal, state, local, and tribal levels. In 2023, "these systems almost 2 million people in 1,566 state prisons, 98 federal prisons, 3,116 local jails, 1,323 juvenile correctional facilities, 181 immigration detention facilities, and 80 Indian country jails, as well as in military prisons, civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and prisons in the U.S. territories." Despite disparate systems of confinement, four main institutions dominate: federal prisons, state prisons, local jails, and juvenile correctional facilities. Federal prisons are run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and hold people who have been convicted of federal crimes, including pretrial detainees. State prisons, run by the official department of correction of each state, hold sentenced people serving prison time (usually longer than one year) for felony offenses. Local jails are county or municipal facilities that incarcerate defendants prior to trial; they also hold those serving short sentences (typically under a year). Juvenile correctional facilities are operated by local or state governments and serve as longer-term placements for any minor adjudicated as delinquent and ordered by a judge to be confined.

As of January 2023, the United States has the sixth-highest per capita incarceration rate in the world—531 people per 100,000 inhabitants—and the largest prison and jail population in the world, with almost 2 million people incarcerated. An analysis of the World Health Organization Mortality Database from 2010 showed U.S. homicide rates "were 7 times higher than in other high-income countries, driven by a gun homicide rate that was 25 times higher".

Economy

Main article: Economy of the United States Further information: Economic history of the United States and Tourism in the United States
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The U.S. dollar, the most-used currency in international transactions and the world's foremost reserve currency

The U.S. has been the world's largest economy nominally since about 1890. The 2023 nominal U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) of more than $27 trillion was the highest in the world, constituting over 25% of the global economy or 15% at purchasing power parity (PPP). From 1983 to 2008, U.S. real compounded annual GDP growth was 3.3%, compared to a 2.3% weighted average for the rest of the G7. The country ranks first in the world by nominal GDP, second when adjusted for purchasing power parities (PPP), and ninth by PPP-adjusted GDP per capita. It possesses the highest disposable household income per capita among OECD countries. As of February 2024, the total U.S. federal government debt was $34.4 trillion.

Microsoft, the world's biggest company by market capitalization, has its global headquarters in Redmond, Washington, north of Seattle.

Of the world's 500 largest companies by revenue, 136 are headquartered in the U.S. as of 2023, which is the highest number of any country. The U.S. dollar is the currency most used in international transactions and is the world's foremost reserve currency, backed by the country's dominant economy, its military, the petrodollar system, and its linked eurodollar and large U.S. treasuries market. Several countries use it as their official currency, and in others it is the de facto currency. It has free trade agreements with several countries, including the USMCA. The U.S. ranked second in the Global Competitiveness Report in 2019, after Singapore. Although the United States has reached a post-industrial level of development and is often described as having a service economy, it remains a major industrial power. As of 2021, the U.S. is the second-largest manufacturing country after China.

The New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization

New York City is the world's principal financial center and the epicenter of the world's largest metropolitan economy. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, both located in New York City, are the world's two largest stock exchanges by market capitalization and trade volume. The United States is at or near the forefront of technological advancement and innovation in many economic fields, especially in artificial intelligence; electronics and computers; pharmaceuticals; and medical, aerospace and military equipment. The country's economy is fueled by abundant natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and high productivity. The largest trading partners of the United States are the European Union, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, India, and Taiwan. The United States is the world's largest importer and the second-largest exporter. It is by far the world's largest exporter of services.

Americans have the highest average household and employee income among OECD member states, and the fourth-highest median household income as of 2023, up from sixth-highest in 2013. With personal consumption expenditures of over $18.5 trillion in 2023, the U.S. has a heavily consumer-driven economy and is by far the world's largest consumer market. Wealth in the United States is highly concentrated; the richest 10% of the adult population own 72% of the country's household wealth, while the bottom 50% own just 2%. Income inequality in the U.S. remains at record highs, with the top fifth of earners taking home more than half of all income and giving the U.S. one of the widest income distributions among OECD members. The U.S. ranks first in the number of dollar billionaires and millionaires, with 735 billionaires and nearly 22 million millionaires as of 2023. There were about 582,500 sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons in the U.S. in 2022, with 60% staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. In 2022, 6.4 million children experienced food insecurity. Feeding America estimates that around one in five, or approximately 13 million, children experience hunger in the U.S. and do not know where they will get their next meal or when. As of 2022, 37.9 million people, or 11.5% of the U.S. population, were living in poverty.

The United States has a smaller welfare state and redistributes less income through government action than most other high-income countries. It is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee its workers paid vacation nationally and is one of a few countries in the world without federal paid family leave as a legal right. The United States has a higher percentage of low-income workers than almost any other developed country, largely because of a weak collective bargaining system and lack of government support for at-risk workers.

Science, technology, spaceflight and energy

Main articles: Science and technology in the United States, Space policy of the United States, and Energy in the United States See also: Communications in the United States

The United States has been a leader in technological innovation since the late 19th century and scientific research since the mid-20th century. Methods for producing interchangeable parts and the establishment of a machine tool industry enabled the large-scale manufacturing of U.S. consumer products in the late 19th century. By the early 20th century, factory electrification, the introduction of the assembly line, and other labor-saving techniques created the system of mass production. The United States is widely considered to be the leading country in the development of artificial intelligence technology. In 2022, the United States was (after China) the country with the second-highest number of published scientific papers. In 2021, the U.S. ranked second (also after China) by the number of patent applications, and third by trademark and industrial design applications (after China and Germany), according to World Intellectual Property Indicators. In 2023 and 2024, the United States ranked third (after Switzerland and Sweden) in the Global Innovation Index. The U.S. has the highest total research and development expenditure of any country and ranks ninth as a percentage of GDP. In 2023, the United States was ranked the second most technologically advanced country in the world (after South Korea) by Global Finance magazine.

U.S. astronaut Buzz Aldrin saluting the American flag on the Moon during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission; the United States is the only country that has landed crews on the lunar surface.

The United States has maintained a space program since the late 1950s, beginning with the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958. NASA's Apollo program (1961–1972) achieved the first crewed Moon landing with the 1969 Apollo 11 mission; it remains one of the agency's most significant milestones. Other major endeavors by NASA include the Space Shuttle program (1981–2011), the Voyager program (1972–present), the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes (launched in 1990 and 2021, respectively), and the multi-mission Mars Exploration Program (Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance). NASA is one of five agencies collaborating on the International Space Station (ISS); U.S. contributions to the ISS include several modules, including Destiny (2001), Harmony (2007), and Tranquility (2010), as well as ongoing logistical and operational support. The United States private sector dominates the global commercial spaceflight industry. Prominent American spaceflight contractors include Blue Origin, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX. NASA programs such as the Commercial Crew Program, Commercial Resupply Services, Commercial Lunar Payload Services, and NextSTEP have facilitated growing private-sector involvement in American spaceflight.

As of 2023, the United States receives approximately 84% of its energy from fossil fuel, and the largest source of the country's energy came from petroleum (38%), followed by natural gas (36%), renewable sources (9%), coal (9%), and nuclear power (9%). The United States constitutes less than 4% of the world's population, but consumes around 16% of the world's energy. The U.S. ranks as the second-highest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in the United States
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, serving the Atlanta metropolitan area, is the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic with over 75 million passengers in 2021.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and its divisions provide regulation, supervision, and funding for all aspects of transportation except for customs, immigration, and security. (The latter remain the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.) Each U.S. state has its own department of transportation, which builds and maintains state highways. Depending upon the state, this department might also directly operate or supervise other modes of transportation.

Aviation law is almost entirely the jurisdiction of the federal government; the Federal Aviation Administration regulates all aspects of civil aviation, air traffic management, certification and compliance, and aviation safety. Vehicle traffic laws, however, are enacted and enforced by state and local authorities, with the exception of roads located on federal property (national parks, military bases) or in the unorganized U.S. territories. The United States Coast Guard is the primary enforcer of law and security on U.S. waterways, inland as well as coastal, but economic jurisdiction over coastal tidelands is shared between state and federal governments. The country's inland waterways are the world's fifth-longest, totaling 41,009 km (25,482 mi).

Passenger and freight rail systems, bus systems, water ferries, and dams may be under either public or private ownership and operation. U.S. civilian airlines are all privately owned. Most U.S. airports are owned and operated by local government authorities, and there are also some private airports. The Transportation Security Administration has provided security at most major airports since 2001.

Interchange between Interstate 10 and Interstate 45 in Houston, Texas

Commercial railroads and trains were the dominant mode of transportation in the U.S. until the mid-twentieth century. The introduction of jet airplanes and airports serving the same major routes accelerated a decline in demand for interstate and intercity rail passenger service by the 1960s. The completion of the Interstate Highway System also hastened the sharp curtailment of passenger service by the railroads. These significant developments led to the creation of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, now called Amtrak, by the U.S. federal government in 1971. Amtrak helps to maintain limited intercity rail passenger service in most parts of the country. It serves most major U.S. cities, but outside the Northeast, California, and Illinois it typically runs only a few trains per day. More frequent Amtrak service is available in regional corridors between certain major cities, particularly the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston; between New York City and Albany; in metropolitan Chicago; and in parts of California and the Pacific Northwest. Amtrak does not serve several major U.S. destinations, including Las Vegas and Phoenix, Arizona.

The American civil airline industry is entirely owned by corporations and has been largely deregulated since 1978, while most major airports are publicly owned. The three largest airlines in the world by passengers carried are U.S.-based; American Airlines is number one after its 2013 acquisition by US Airways. Of the world's 50 busiest passenger airports, 16 are in the United States, including the top five and the busiest, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As of 2022, there are 19,969 airports in the U.S., of which 5,193 are designated as "public use", including for general aviation and other activities.

The overwhelming majority of roads in the United States are owned and maintained by state and local governments. Roads maintained only by the U.S. federal government are generally only found on federal lands (such as national parks) or at federal facilities (like military bases). The Interstate Highway System, with its large, open freeways linking the states, is partly funded by the federal government but owned and maintained by the state government hosting its section of the interstate. Some states fund and build their own large expressways—often called "parkways" or "turnpikes"—that generally use tolls to pay for construction and maintenance. Likewise, some privately owned roads may use tolls for this purpose.

Public transportation in the United States includes bus, commuter rail, ferry, and sometimes airline service. Public transit systems serve areas of higher population density where demand is greatest. Many U.S. cities, towns, and suburbs are car-dependent, however, and suburban public transit is less common and service far less frequent. Most U.S. urban areas have some form of public transit, notably city buses, while the largest (e.g. New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon) operate extensive systems that also include subways or light rail. Most public transit service in the United States is run by local governments, but national and regional commuter lines serve major U.S. urban corridors.

Personal transportation in the United States is dominated by automobiles, which operate on a network of 4 million miles (6.4 million kilometers) of public roads, making it the longest in the world. The country's rail transport network, also the longest in the world at 182,412.3 mi (293,564.2 km), handles mostly freight. Of the world's 50 busiest container ports, four are located in the United States. The busiest in the U.S. is the Port of Los Angeles.

The Oldsmobile Curved Dash and the Ford Model T, both American cars, are considered the first mass-produced and mass-affordable cars, respectively. As of 2023, the United States is the second-largest manufacturer of motor vehicles and is home to Tesla, the world's most valuable car company. American automotive company General Motors held the title of the world's best-selling automaker from 1931 to 2008. The American automotive industry is the world's second-largest automobile market by sales, having been overtaken by China in 2010, and the U.S. has the highest vehicle ownership per capita in the world, with 910 vehicles per 1000 people. By value, the U.S. was the world's largest importer and third-largest exporter of cars in 2022.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the United States

Population

Main articles: Americans and Race and ethnicity in the United States See also: List of U.S. states by population
The 10 most populous U.S. states
(2024 estimates)
State Population (millions)
California 39.4
Texas 31.3
Florida 23.4
New York 19.9
Pennsylvania 13.1
Illinois 12.7
Ohio 11.9
Georgia 11.2
North Carolina 11.0
Michigan 10.1

The U.S. Census Bureau reported 331,449,281 residents as of April 1, 2020, making the United States the third-most-populous country in the world, after China and India. The Census Bureau's official 2024 population estimate was 340,110,988, an increase of 2.6% since the 2020 census. According to the Bureau's U.S. Population Clock, on July 1, 2024, the U.S. population had a net gain of one person every 16 seconds, or about 5400 people per day. In 2023, 51% of Americans age 15 and over were married, 6% were widowed, 10% were divorced, and 34% had never been married. In 2023, the total fertility rate for the U.S. stood at 1.6 children per woman, and, at 23%, it had the world's highest rate of children living in single-parent households in 2019.

The United States has a diverse population; 37 ancestry groups have more than one million members. White Americans with ancestry from Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa form the largest racial and ethnic group at 57.8% of the United States population. Hispanic and Latino Americans form the second-largest group and are 18.7% of the United States population. African Americans constitute the country's third-largest ancestry group and are 12.1% of the total U.S. population. Asian Americans are the country's fourth-largest group, composing 5.9% of the United States population. The country's 3.7 million Native Americans account for about 1%, and some 574 native tribes are recognized by the federal government. In 2022, the median age of the United States population was 38.9 years.

Language

Main article: Languages of the United States
Most spoken languages in the U.S.

While many languages are spoken in the United States, English is by far the most commonly spoken and written. Although there is no official language at the federal level, some laws, such as U.S. naturalization requirements, standardize English, and most states have declared it the official language. Three states and four U.S. territories have recognized local or indigenous languages in addition to English, including Hawaii (Hawaiian), Alaska (twenty Native languages), South Dakota (Sioux), American Samoa (Samoan), Puerto Rico (Spanish), Guam (Chamorro), and the Northern Mariana Islands (Carolinian and Chamorro). In total, 169 Native American languages are spoken in the United States. In Puerto Rico, Spanish is more widely spoken than English.

According to the American Community Survey (2020), some 245.4 million people out of the total U.S. population of 334 million spoke only English at home. About 41.2 million spoke Spanish at home, making it the second most commonly used language. Other languages spoken at home by one million people or more include Chinese (3.40 million), Tagalog (1.71 million), Vietnamese (1.52 million), Arabic (1.39 million), French (1.18 million), Korean (1.07 million), and Russian (1.04 million). German, spoken by 1 million people at home in 2010, fell to 857,000 total speakers in 2020.

Immigration

Main article: Immigration to the United States See also: United States Border Patrol
The Mexico–United States border wall between San Diego (left) and Tijuana (right)

America's immigrant population is by far the world's largest in absolute terms. In 2022, there were 87.7 million immigrants and U.S.-born children of immigrants in the United States, accounting for nearly 27% of the overall U.S. population. In 2017, out of the U.S. foreign-born population, some 45% (20.7 million) were naturalized citizens, 27% (12.3 million) were lawful permanent residents, 6% (2.2 million) were temporary lawful residents, and 23% (10.5 million) were unauthorized immigrants. In 2019, the top countries of origin for immigrants were Mexico (24% of immigrants), India (6%), China (5%), the Philippines (4.5%), and El Salvador (3%). In fiscal year 2022, over one million immigrants (most of whom entered through family reunification) were granted legal residence. The United States led the world in refugee resettlement for decades, admitting more refugees than the rest of the world combined.

Religion

Main article: Religion in the United States See also: List of religious movements that began in the United States

Religious affiliation in the U.S., according to a 2023 Gallup poll:

  Protestantism (33%)  Catholicism (22%)  Non-specific Christian (11%)  Judaism (2%)  Mormonism (1%)  Other religion (6%)  Unaffiliated (22%)  Unanswered (3%)

The First Amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion in the country and forbids Congress from passing laws respecting its establishment. Religious practice is widespread, among the most diverse in the world, and profoundly vibrant. The country has the world's largest Christian population. Other notable faiths include Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, many New Age movements, and Native American religions. Religious practice varies significantly by region. "Ceremonial deism" is common in American culture.

The overwhelming majority of Americans believe in a higher power or spiritual force, engage in spiritual practices such as prayer, and consider themselves religious or spiritual. In the "Bible Belt", located within the Southern United States, evangelical Protestantism plays a significant role culturally, whereas New England and the Western United States tend to be more secular. Mormonism—a Restorationist movement, whose members migrated westward from Missouri and Illinois under the leadership of Brigham Young in 1847 after the assassination of Joseph Smith—remains the predominant religion in Utah to this day.

Urbanization

Main articles: Urbanization in the United States and List of United States cities by population

About 82% of Americans live in urban areas, including suburbs; about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000. In 2022, 333 incorporated municipalities had populations over 100,000, nine cities had more than one million residents, and four cities—New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston—had populations exceeding two million. Many U.S. metropolitan populations are growing rapidly, particularly in the South and West.

  Largest metropolitan areas in the United States
2023 MSA population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau
Rank Name Region Pop. Rank Name Region Pop.
New York
New York
Los Angeles
Los Angeles 		1 New York Northeast 19,498,249 11 Boston Northeast 4,919,179 Chicago
Chicago
Dallas–Fort Worth
Dallas–Fort Worth
2 Los Angeles West 12,799,100 12 Riverside–San Bernardino West 4,688,053
3 Chicago Midwest 9,262,825 13 San Francisco West 4,566,961
4 Dallas–Fort Worth South 8,100,037 14 Detroit Midwest 4,342,304
5 Houston South 7,510,253 15 Seattle West 4,044,837
6 Atlanta South 6,307,261 16 Minneapolis–Saint Paul Midwest 3,712,020
7 Washington, D.C. South 6,304,975 17 Tampa–St. Petersburg South 3,342,963
8 Philadelphia Northeast 6,246,160 18 San Diego West 3,269,973
9 Miami South 6,183,199 19 Denver West 3,005,131
10 Phoenix West 5,070,110 20 Baltimore South 2,834,316


Health

See also: Healthcare in the United States, Healthcare reform in the United States, and Health insurance in the United States
Texas Medical Center in Houston is the largest medical complex in the world. In 2018, it employed 120,000 people and treated 10 million patients.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), average American life expectancy at birth was 77.5 years in 2022 (74.8 years for men and 80.2 years for women). This was a gain of 1.1 years from 76.4 years in 2021, but the CDC noted that the new average "didn't fully offset the loss of 2.4 years between 2019 and 2021". Higher overall mortality due especially to the health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as opioid overdoses and suicides were held mostly responsible for the previous drop in life expectancy. The same report stated that the 2022 gains in average U.S. life expectancy were especially significant for men, Hispanics, and American Indian–Alaskan Native people (AIAN). Starting in 1998, the life expectancy in the U.S. fell behind that of other wealthy industrialized countries, and Americans' "health disadvantage" gap has been increasing ever since. The U.S. has one of the highest suicide rates among high-income countries. Approximately one-third of the U.S. adult population is obese and another third is overweight. The U.S. healthcare system far outspends that of any other country, measured both in per capita spending and as a percentage of GDP, but attains worse healthcare outcomes when compared to peer countries for reasons that are debated. The United States is the only developed country without a system of universal healthcare, and a significant proportion of the population that does not carry health insurance. Government-funded healthcare coverage for the poor (Medicaid) and for those age 65 and older (Medicare) is available to Americans who meet the programs' income or age qualifications. In 2010, former President Obama passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Abortion in the United States is not federally protected, and is illegal or restricted in 17 states.

Education

Main article: Education in the United States
Photograph of the University of Virginia
77% of American college students attend public institutions such as the University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819.

American primary and secondary education (known in the U.S. as K-12, "kindergarten through 12th grade") is decentralized. School systems are operated by state, territorial, and sometimes municipal governments and regulated by the U.S. Department of Education. In general, children are required to attend school or an approved homeschool from the age of five or six (kindergarten or first grade) until they are 18 years old. This often brings students through the 12th grade, the final year of a U.S. high school, but some states and territories allow them to leave school earlier, at age 16 or 17. The U.S. spends more on education per student than any country in the world, an average of $18,614 per year per public elementary and secondary school student in 2020–2021. Among Americans age 25 and older, 92.2% graduated from high school, 62.7% attended some college, 37.7% earned a bachelor's degree, and 14.2% earned a graduate degree. The U.S. literacy rate is near-universal. The country has the most Nobel Prize winners of any country, with 411 (having won 413 awards).

U.S. tertiary or higher education has earned a global reputation. Many of the world's top universities, as listed by various ranking organizations, are in the United States, including 19 of the top 25. American higher education is dominated by state university systems, although the country's many private universities and colleges enroll about 20% of all American students. Local community colleges generally offer coursework and degree programs covering the first two years of college study. They often have more open admission policies, shorter academic programs, and lower tuition.

As for public expenditures on higher education, the U.S. spends more per student than the OECD average, and Americans spend more than all nations in combined public and private spending. Colleges and universities directly funded by the federal government do not charge tuition and are limited to military personnel and government employees, including: the U.S. service academies, the Naval Postgraduate School, and military staff colleges. Despite some student loan forgiveness programs in place, student loan debt increased by 102% between 2010 and 2020, and exceeded $1.7 trillion as of 2022.

Culture and society

Main articles: Culture of the United States and Society of the United States
The Statue of Liberty, a large teal bronze sculpture on a stone pedestal
The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) on Liberty Island in New York Harbor was an 1866 gift from France that has become an iconic symbol of the American Dream.

Americans have traditionally been characterized by a unifying political belief in an "American Creed" emphasizing consent of the governed, liberty, equality under the law, democracy, social equality, property rights, and a preference for limited government. Culturally, the country has been described as having the values of individualism and personal autonomy, as well as having a strong work ethic, competitiveness, and voluntary altruism towards others. According to a 2016 study by the Charities Aid Foundation, Americans donated 1.44% of total GDP to charity—the highest rate in the world by a large margin. The United States is home to a wide variety of ethnic groups, traditions, and values. It has acquired significant cultural and economic soft power.

Nearly all present Americans or their ancestors came from Europe, Africa, or Asia (the "Old World") within the past five centuries. Mainstream American culture is a Western culture largely derived from the traditions of European immigrants with influences from many other sources, such as traditions brought by slaves from Africa. More recent immigration from Asia and especially Latin America has added to a cultural mix that has been described as a homogenizing melting pot, and a heterogeneous salad bowl, with immigrants contributing to, and often assimilating into, mainstream American culture. The American Dream, or the perception that Americans enjoy high social mobility, plays a key role in attracting immigrants. Whether this perception is accurate has been a topic of debate. While mainstream culture holds that the United States is a classless society, scholars identify significant differences between the country's social classes, affecting socialization, language, and values. Americans tend to greatly value socioeconomic achievement, but being ordinary or average is promoted by some as a noble condition as well.

The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities is an agency of the United States federal government that was established in 1965 with the purpose to "develop and promote a broadly conceived national policy of support for the humanities and the arts in the United States, and for institutions which preserve the cultural heritage of the United States." It is composed of four sub-agencies:

The United States is considered to have the strongest protections of free speech of any country under the First Amendment, which protects flag desecration, hate speech, blasphemy, and lese-majesty as forms of protected expression. A 2016 Pew Research Center poll found that Americans were the most supportive of free expression of any polity measured. They are the "most supportive of freedom of the press and the right to use the Internet without government censorship." The U.S. is a socially progressive country with permissive attitudes surrounding human sexuality. LGBT rights in the United States are advanced by global standards.

Literature

Main articles: American literature and American philosophy See also: List of American novelists and List of playwrights from the United States
Photograph of Mark Twain
Mark Twain, whom William Faulkner called "the father of American literature"

Colonial American authors were influenced by John Locke and various other Enlightenment philosophers. The American Revolutionary Period (1765–1783) is notable for the political writings of Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson. Shortly before and after the Revolutionary War, the newspaper rose to prominence, filling a demand for anti-British national literature. An early novel is William Hill Brown's The Power of Sympathy, published in 1791. Writer and critic John Neal in the early- to mid-nineteenth century helped advance America toward a unique literature and culture by criticizing predecessors such as Washington Irving for imitating their British counterparts, and by influencing writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, who took American poetry and short fiction in new directions. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller pioneered the influential Transcendentalism movement; Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden, was influenced by this movement. The conflict surrounding abolitionism inspired writers, like Harriet Beecher Stowe, and authors of slave narratives, such as Frederick Douglass. Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter (1850) explored the dark side of American history, as did Herman Melville's Moby-Dick (1851). Major American poets of the nineteenth century American Renaissance include Walt Whitman, Melville, and Emily Dickinson. Mark Twain was the first major American writer to be born in the West. Henry James achieved international recognition with novels like The Portrait of a Lady (1881). As literacy rates rose, periodicals published more stories centered around industrial workers, women, and the rural poor. Naturalism, regionalism, and realism were the major literary movements of the period.

While modernism generally took on an international character, modernist authors working within the United States more often rooted their work in specific regions, peoples, and cultures. Following the Great Migration to northern cities, African-American and black West Indian authors of the Harlem Renaissance developed an independent tradition of literature that rebuked a history of inequality and celebrated black culture. An important cultural export during the Jazz Age, these writings were a key influence on Négritude, a philosophy emerging in the 1930s among francophone writers of the African diaspora. In the 1950s, an ideal of homogeneity led many authors to attempt to write the Great American Novel, while the Beat Generation rejected this conformity, using styles that elevated the impact of the spoken word over mechanics to describe drug use, sexuality, and the failings of society. Contemporary literature is more pluralistic than in previous eras, with the closest thing to a unifying feature being a trend toward self-conscious experiments with language. As of 2024, there have been 12 American laureates for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Mass media

Main article: Mass media in the United States See also: Newspapers in the United States, Television in the United States, Broadcasting in the United States, Public broadcasting in the United States, Internet in the United States, Radio in the United States, and Video games in the United States
Comcast Center in Philadelphia, headquarters of Comcast, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies and media conglomerates

Media is broadly uncensored, with the First Amendment providing significant protections, as reiterated in New York Times Co. v. United States. The four major broadcasters in the U.S. are the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), American Broadcasting Company (ABC), and Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX). The four major broadcast television networks are all commercial entities. Cable television offers hundreds of channels catering to a variety of niches. As of 2021, about 83% of Americans over age 12 listen to broadcast radio, while about 40% listen to podcasts. As of 2020, there were 15,460 licensed full-power radio stations in the U.S. according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Much of the public radio broadcasting is supplied by NPR, incorporated in February 1970 under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

U.S. newspapers with a global reach and reputation include The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. About 800 publications are produced in Spanish. With few exceptions, newspapers are privately owned, either by large chains such as Gannett or McClatchy, which own dozens or even hundreds of newspapers; by small chains that own a handful of papers; or, in an increasingly rare situation, by individuals or families. Major cities often have alternative newspapers to complement the mainstream daily papers, such as The Village Voice in New York City and LA Weekly in Los Angeles. The five most popular websites used in the U.S. are Google, YouTube, Amazon, Yahoo, and Facebook—all of them American-owned.

As of 2022, the video game market of the United States is the world's largest by revenue. There are 444 publishers, developers, and hardware companies in California alone.

Theater

Main article: Theater in the United States
Broadway theaters in Theater District, Manhattan

The United States is well known for its theater. Mainstream theater in the United States derives from the old European theatrical tradition and has been heavily influenced by the British theater. By the middle of the 19th century America had created new distinct dramatic forms in the Tom Shows, the showboat theater and the minstrel show. The central hub of the American theater scene is the Theater District in Manhattan, with its divisions of Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway.

Many movie and television celebrities have gotten their big break working in New York productions. Outside New York City, many cities have professional regional or resident theater companies that produce their own seasons. The biggest-budget theatrical productions are musicals. U.S. theater has an active community theater culture.

The Tony Awards recognizes excellence in live Broadway theater and are presented at an annual ceremony in Manhattan. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances. One is also given for regional theater. Several discretionary non-competitive awards are given as well, including a Special Tony Award, the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre, and the Isabelle Stevenson Award.

Visual arts

Main articles: Visual art of the United States and Architecture of the United States
American Gothic (1930) by Grant Wood is one of the most famous American paintings and is widely parodied.

Folk art in colonial America grew out of artisanal craftsmanship in communities that allowed commonly trained people to individually express themselves. It was distinct from Europe's tradition of high art, which was less accessible and generally less relevant to early American settlers. Cultural movements in art and craftsmanship in colonial America generally lagged behind those of Western Europe. For example, the prevailing medieval style of woodworking and primitive sculpture became integral to early American folk art, despite the emergence of Renaissance styles in England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The new English styles would have been early enough to make a considerable impact on American folk art, but American styles and forms had already been firmly adopted. Not only did styles change slowly in early America, but there was a tendency for rural artisans there to continue their traditional forms longer than their urban counterparts did—and far longer than those in Western Europe.

The Hudson River School was a mid-19th-century movement in the visual arts tradition of European naturalism. The 1913 Armory Show in New York City, an exhibition of European modernist art, shocked the public and transformed the U.S. art scene.

Georgia O'Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, and others experimented with new and individualistic styles, which would become known as American modernism. Major artistic movements such as the abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning and the pop art of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein developed largely in the United States. Major photographers include Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Dorothea Lange, Edward Weston, James Van Der Zee, Ansel Adams, and Gordon Parks.

The tide of modernism and then postmodernism has brought global fame to American architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Philip Johnson, and Frank Gehry. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan is the largest art museum in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world.

Music

Main article: Music of the United States

American folk music encompasses numerous music genres, variously known as traditional music, traditional folk music, contemporary folk music, or roots music. Many traditional songs have been sung within the same family or folk group for generations, and sometimes trace back to such origins as the British Isles, mainland Europe, or Africa. The rhythmic and lyrical styles of African-American music in particular have influenced American music. Banjos were brought to America through the slave trade. Minstrel shows incorporating the instrument into their acts led to its increased popularity and widespread production in the 19th century. The electric guitar, first invented in the 1930s, and mass-produced by the 1940s, had an enormous influence on popular music, in particular due to the development of rock and roll.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee

Elements from folk idioms such as the blues and old-time music were adopted and transformed into popular genres with global audiences. Jazz grew from blues and ragtime in the early 20th century, developing from the innovations and recordings of composers such as W.C. Handy and Jelly Roll Morton. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington increased its popularity early in the 20th century. Country music developed in the 1920s, rock and roll in the 1930s, and bluegrass and rhythm and blues in the 1940s. In the 1960s, Bob Dylan emerged from the folk revival to become one of the country's most celebrated songwriters. The musical forms of punk and hip hop both originated in the United States in the 1970s.

The United States has the world's largest music market with a total retail value of $15.9 billion in 2022. Most of the world's major record companies are based in the U.S.; they are represented by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Mid-20th-century American pop stars, such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, became global celebrities and best-selling music artists, as have artists of the late 20th century, such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Prince, and the early 21st century, such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.

Fashion

Main article: Fashion in the United States
Haute couture fashion models on the catwalk during New York Fashion Week

The United States is the world's largest apparel market by revenue. Apart from professional business attire, American fashion is eclectic and predominantly informal. Americans' diverse cultural roots are reflected in their clothing; however, sneakers, jeans, T-shirts, and baseball caps are emblematic of American styles. New York, with its fashion week, is considered to be one of the "Big Four" global fashion capitals, along with Paris, Milan, and London. A study demonstrated that general proximity to Manhattan's Garment District has been synonymous with American fashion since its inception in the early 20th century.

The headquarters of many designer labels reside in Manhattan. Labels cater to niche markets, such as preteens. New York Fashion Week is one of the most influential fashion weeks in the world, and occurs twice a year; while the annual Met Gala in Manhattan is commonly known as the fashion world's "biggest night".

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of the United States
The iconic Hollywood Sign in the Hollywood Hills, often regarded as the symbol of the American film industry

The U.S. film industry has a worldwide influence and following. Hollywood, a district in northern Los Angeles, the nation's second-most populous city, is also metonymous for the American filmmaking industry. The major film studios of the United States are the primary source of the most commercially successful and most ticket-selling movies in the world. Since the early 20th century, the U.S. film industry has largely been based in and around Hollywood, although in the 21st century an increasing number of films are not made there, and film companies have been subject to the forces of globalization. The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, have been held annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1929, and the Golden Globe Awards have been held annually since January 1944.

The industry peaked in what is commonly referred to as the "Golden Age of Hollywood", from the early sound period until the early 1960s, with screen actors such as John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe becoming iconic figures. In the 1970s, "New Hollywood", or the "Hollywood Renaissance", was defined by grittier films influenced by French and Italian realist pictures of the post-war period. The 21st century has been marked by the rise of American streaming platforms, which came to rival traditional cinema.

Cuisine

Main article: American cuisine Further information: List of American regional and fusion cuisines
A Thanksgiving dinner with roast turkey, mashed potatoes, pickles, corn, candied yams, cranberry jelly, shrimps, stuffing, green peas, deviled eggs, green salad, and apple sauce

Early settlers were introduced by Native Americans to foods such as turkey, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, and maple syrup. Of the most enduring and pervasive examples are variations of the native dish called succotash. Early settlers and later immigrants combined these with foods they were familiar with, such as wheat flour, beef, and milk, to create a distinctive American cuisine. New World crops, especially pumpkin, corn, potatoes, and turkey as the main course are part of a shared national menu on Thanksgiving, when many Americans prepare or purchase traditional dishes to celebrate the occasion.

Characteristic American dishes such as apple pie, fried chicken, doughnuts, french fries, macaroni and cheese, ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs, and American pizza derive from the recipes of various immigrant groups. Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos preexisted the United States in areas later annexed from Mexico, and adaptations of Chinese cuisine as well as pasta dishes freely adapted from Italian sources are all widely consumed. American chefs have had a significant impact on society both domestically and internationally. In 1946, the Culinary Institute of America was founded by Katharine Angell and Frances Roth. This would become the United States' most prestigious culinary school, where many of the most talented American chefs would study prior to successful careers.

The United States restaurant industry was projected at $899 billion in sales for 2020, and employed more than 15 million people, representing 10% of the nation's workforce directly. It is the country's second-largest private employer and the third-largest employer overall. The United States is home to over 220 Michelin star-rated restaurants, 70 of which are in New York City alone. Wine has been produced in what is now the United States since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in what is now New Mexico in 1628. In the modern U.S., wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84 percent of all U.S. wine. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine-producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

The American fast-food industry developed alongside the nation's car culture. American restaurants developed the drive-in format in the 1920s, which they began to replace with the drive-through format by the 1940s. American fast-food restaurant chains, such as McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dunkin' Donuts and many others, have numerous outlets around the world.

Sports

Main article: Sports in the United States See also: Professional sports leagues in the United States, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and United States at the Olympics
American football is the most popular sport in the United States; in this September 2022 National Football League game, the Jacksonville Jaguars play the Washington Commanders at FedExField.

The most popular spectator sports in the U.S. are American football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and ice hockey. While most major U.S. sports such as baseball and American football have evolved out of European practices, basketball, volleyball, skateboarding, and snowboarding are American inventions, many of which have become popular worldwide. Lacrosse and surfing arose from Native American and Native Hawaiian activities that predate European contact. The market for professional sports in the United States was approximately $69 billion in July 2013, roughly 50% larger than that of all of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa combined.

American football is by several measures the most popular spectator sport in the United States; the National Football League has the highest average attendance of any sports league in the world, and the Super Bowl is watched by tens of millions globally. However, baseball has been regarded as the U.S. "national sport" since the late 19th century. After American football, the next four most popular professional team sports are basketball, baseball, soccer, and ice hockey. Their premier leagues are, respectively, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the National Hockey League. The most-watched individual sports in the U.S. are golf and auto racing, particularly NASCAR and IndyCar.

On the collegiate level, earnings for the member institutions exceed $1 billion annually, and college football and basketball attract large audiences, as the NCAA March Madness tournament and the College Football Playoff are some of the most watched national sporting events. In the U.S., the intercollegiate sports level serves as a feeder system for professional sports. This differs greatly from practices in nearly all other countries, where publicly and privately funded sports organizations serve this function.

Eight Olympic Games have taken place in the United States. The 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri, were the first-ever Olympic Games held outside of Europe. The Olympic Games will be held in the U.S. for a ninth time when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics. U.S. athletes have won a total of 2,968 medals (1,179 gold) at the Olympic Games, the most of any country.

In international professional competition, the U.S. men's national soccer team has qualified for eleven World Cups, while the women's national team has won the FIFA Women's World Cup and Olympic soccer tournament four times each. The United States hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup and will co-host, along with Canada and Mexico, the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup was also hosted by the United States. Its final match was watched by 90,185, setting the world record for most-attended women's sporting event at the time.

See also

Notes

  1. Twenty-eight of the 50 states recognize only English as an official language. The State of Hawaii recognizes both Hawaiian and English as official languages, the State of Alaska officially recognizes 20 Alaska Native languages alongside English, and the State of South Dakota recognizes English and all Sioux dialects as official languages. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have no official language.
  2. English is the de facto language. For more information, see Languages of the United States.
  3. The historical and informal demonym Yankee has been applied to Americans, New Englanders, or northeasterners since the 18th century.
  4. ^ At 3,531,900 sq mi (9,147,590 km), the United States is the third-largest country in the world by land area, behind Russia and China. By total area (land and water), it is the third-largest, behind Russia and Canada, if its coastal and territorial water areas are included. However, if only its internal waters are included (bays, sounds, rivers, lakes, and the Great Lakes), the U.S. is the fourth-largest, after Russia, Canada, and China.
    Coastal/territorial waters included: 3,796,742 sq mi (9,833,517 km)
    Only internal waters included: 3,696,100 sq mi (9,572,900 km)
  5. Excludes Puerto Rico and the other unincorporated islands because they are counted separately in U.S. census statistics
  6. After adjustment for taxes and transfers
  7. See Time in the United States for details about laws governing time zones in the United States.
  8. See Date and time notation in the United States.
  9. The U.S. Virgin Islands use left-hand traffic.
  10. The five major territories outside the union of states are American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The seven undisputed island areas without permanent populations are Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, and Palmyra Atoll. U.S. sovereignty over the unpopulated Bajo Nuevo Bank, Navassa Island, Serranilla Bank, and Wake Island is disputed.
  11. The U.S. Census Bureau's latest official population estimate of 340,110,988 residents (2024) is for the 50 states and the District of Columbia; it excludes the 3.6 million residents of the five major U.S. territories and outlying islands. The Census Bureau also provides a continuously updated but unofficial population clock: www.census.gov/popclock
  12. Based on purchasing power
  13. Including agencies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Health Organization
  14. The official U.S. Government Publishing Office Style Manual has prescribed specific usages for "U.S." and "United States" as part of official names. In "formal writing (treaties, Executive orders, proclamations, etc.); congressional bills; legal citations and courtwork; and covers and title pages", "United States" is always used. In a sentence containing the name of another country, "United States" must be used. Otherwise, "U.S." is used preceding a government organization or as an adjective, but "United States" is used as an adjective preceding non-governmental organizations (e.g. United States Steel Corporation).
  15. From the late 15th century, the Columbian exchange had been catastrophic for native populations throughout the Americas. It is estimated that up to 95 percent of the indigenous populations, especially in the Caribbean, perished from infectious diseases during the years following European colonization; remaining populations were often displaced by European expansion.
  16. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
  17. Per the U.S. Constitution, Amendment Twenty-three, proposed by the U.S. Congress on June 16, 1960, and ratified by the States on March 29, 1961
  18. A country's total exports are usually understood to be goods and services. Based on this, the U.S. is the world's second-largest exporter, after China. However, if primary income is included, the U.S. is the world's largest exporter.
  19. These population figures are official 2024 annual estimates (rounded off) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
  20. This figure, like most official data for the United States as a whole, excludes the five unincorporated territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands) and minor island possessions.
  21. Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik, Central Alaskan Yup'ik, Alutiiq, Unanga (Aleut), Denaʼina, Deg Xinag, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, Gwichʼin, Tanana, Upper Tanana, Tanacross, Hän, Ahtna, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian
  22. Also known less formally as Obamacare

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