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| | The United States traces its national origin to the declaration by thirteen British colonies in 1776 that they were free and independent states. It was founded under a tradition of government with the consent of the governed under the representative democracy model. This model of government (presidential-congressional) has since been adopted by many other countries, most notably the [[Confederate States of America]] and the [[Lone Star Republic]], although Central and South America boast others. | | The United States traces its national origin to the declaration by thirteen British colonies in 1776 that they were free and independent states. It was founded under a tradition of government with the consent of the governed under the representative democracy model. This model of government (presidential-congressional) has since been adopted by many other countries, most notably the [[Confederate States of America]] and the [[Lone Star Republic]], although Central and South America boast others. |
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| − | 2 major political parties:
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| − | * American Party: socially restrictive, fiscally permissive
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| − | * Democratic Party: socially moderate, fiscally moderate
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| | 17 states after Confederate Revolutionary War: Conneticut, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, & Wisconson. | | 17 states after Confederate Revolutionary War: Conneticut, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, & Wisconson. |
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| | ==History== | | ==History== |
| − | ''Main article: [[History of the United States]]''
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| − | Following the [[European colonization of the Americas]], [[thirteen colonies]] split from Britain and formed the United States, one of the world's first modern [[representative democracy|representative democracies]], after their [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] in [[1776]] and the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] ([[1775]]–[[1783]]). The original political structure was a [[confederation]] in [[1777]], ratified in [[1781]] as the [[Articles of Confederation]]. After long [[Federalist papers|debate]], this was supplanted by the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] in [[1789]], forming a more centralized [[federalism|federal]] government. | + | Following the European colonization of the Americas, thirteen colonies split from Britain and formed the United States, one of the world's first modern representative democracies, after their Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Revolutionary War (1775–1783). The original political structure was a confederation in 1777, ratified in 1781 as the Articles of Confederation. After long debate, this was supplanted by the United States Constitution in 1789, forming a more centralized federal government. |
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| − | During the [[19th century]], many new [[U.S. state|states]] were added to the original thirteen as the nation expanded across the [[North America]]n continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions, and the nation became an [[industrialisation|industrial power]]. | + | During the first half of the 19th century, many new states were added to the original thirteen as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions, and the nation became an industrial power. |
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| − | The two major traumatic experiences for the nation were the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] ([[1861]]-[[1865]]) and the [[Great Depression]] ([[1929]]-[[1939]]), and it has taken part in several major wars, from the [[War of 1812]] against Britain, to being allied with Britain during [[World War I]] and [[World War II]], and taking part in the [[Korean War|Korean]] and [[Vietnam War]]s. After the end of the second World War and the later collapse of the [[Soviet Union]], the United States emerged as the world's leading economic and military [[superpower]].
| + | In 1861, the [[Confederate Revolution]] began, and the [[Confederate States of America]] split off from the United States. While the United States appeared to be winning, in 1864, the [[Northwest Confederacies]] (later to become the [[Free American Republic]] seceded from the United States, and supported the CSA. The now much reduced USA made peace with the countries that had seceded from it. |
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| − | ''See also: [[Military history of the United States]], [[Timeline of United States history]]''
| + | The [[United States]] has since been a player in [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. It went through a fairly serious economic downturn between the wars, but then was one of the founding nations of the [[American Union]], which revitalized the continent, especially the nations that had come from the original [[United States]]. |
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| | == Politics == | | == Politics == |
| − | ''Main article: [[Politics of the United States]]''
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| − | The United States of America consists of fifty [[states]] with limited [[autonomy]] in which [[federal law]] takes precedence over [[state law]]. In general, matters that lie entirely within state borders are the exclusive concern of state governments. These include internal communications; regulations relating to property, industry, business, and public utilities; the state [[Criminal Code|criminal code]]; and working conditions within the state. The [[District of Columbia]] falls under the jurisdiction of the [[Congress of the United States|US Congress]], and has limited [[District of Columbia home rule|home rule]]. | + | The United States of America consists of nineteen states with limited autonomy in which federal law takes precedence over state law. In general, matters that lie entirely within state borders are the exclusive concern of state governments. These include internal communications; regulations relating to property, industry, business, and public utilities; the state criminal code; and working conditions within the state. The District of Columbia falls under the jurisdiction of the US Congress, and has limited home rule. |
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| − | The various state [[constitution]]s differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government. On such matters as the operation of businesses, banks, public utilities and charitable institutions, state constitutions are often more detailed and explicit than the federal Constitution. In recent years, the federal government has assumed broader responsibility in such matters as health, education, welfare, transportation, housing and urban development. | + | The various state constitutions differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government. On such matters as the operation of businesses, banks, public utilities and charitable institutions, state constitutions are often more detailed and explicit than the federal Constitution. In recent years, the federal government has assumed broader responsibility in such matters as health, education, welfare, transportation, housing and urban development. |
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| − | [[Image:Uscapitolindaylight.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[United States Capitol]] in [[Washington, DC]], home of the [[Congress of the United States|U.S. Congress]], the [[Legislature|legislative branch]] of the government of United States.]]
| + | The federal government itself consists of three branches: the executive branch (headed by the President), the legislative branch (U.S. Congress), and the judicial branch (headed by the Supreme Court). The President is elected to a four-year term by the Electoral College, which is chosen through popular votes in the states and the District of Columbia. The various legislators are chosen by popular vote in the states. Members of Congress are elected for terms of two years in the House of Representatives and six years in the Senate. Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate for an unlimited term. This tripartite model of government is generally duplicated at the state level. Local governments take various forms. |
| − | The federal government itself consists of three branches: the [[executive branch]] (headed by the [[President of the United States|President]]), the [[legislative branch]] (the [[Congress of the United States|U.S. Congress]]), and the [[judicial branch]] (headed by the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]). The President is elected to a four-year term by the [[U.S. Electoral College|Electoral College]], which is chosen through popular votes in the fifty states and the District of Columbia. The various legislators are chosen by popular vote in the 50 states. Members of Congress are elected for terms of two years in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and six years in the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate for an unlimited term. This tripartite model of government is generally duplicated at the state level. Local governments take various forms. | |
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| − | The federal and state governments are dominated by two political parties, the [[United States Republican Party|Republicans]] and the [[United States Democratic Party|Democrats]]. The dominant political culture in the United States is, as a whole, somewhat to the [[right-wing|right]] of the dominant political culture in European democracies, Latin America and indeed most countries in the world though the issues at odds are somewhat different. Given their complex support bases it is difficult to specifically categorize the two major parties' appeal. Within the United States political culture, the Republican Party is described as center-right and the Democratic Party is described as center-left. Minor party and independent candidates are very occasionally elected, usually to local or state office, but the United States political system has historically supported "catch-all parties" rather than coalition governments. The ideology and policies of the sitting President of the United States commonly play a large role in determining the direction of his political party, as well as the platform of the opposition. | + | The federal and state governments are dominated by two political parties, American Party, which is fairly socially restrictive, and fiscally permissive and the Democratic Party, which is socially moderate, fiscally moderate. The dominant political culture in the United States is, as a whole, somewhat to the right of the dominant political culture in European democracies, other American countries besides the CSA, and indeed most countries in the world though the issues at odds are somewhat different. Given their complex support bases it is difficult to specifically categorize the two major parties' appeal. Within the United States political culture, the American Party is described as center-right and the Democratic Party is described as center-left. Minor party and independent candidates are very occasionally elected, usually to local or state office, but the United States political system has historically supported "catch-all parties" rather than coalition governments. The ideology and policies of the sitting President of the United States commonly play a large role in determining the direction of his political party, as well as the platform of the opposition. |
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| − | Political parties in the United States do not have formal "leaders" like many other countries, although there are complex hierarchies within the political parties that form various executive committees. Party ideology remains very individually-driven, with a diverse spectrum of [[moderate]]s, [[centrist]]s, and [[radical]]s within each party. | + | Political parties in the United States do not have formal "leaders" like many other countries, although there are complex hierarchies within the political parties that form various executive committees. Party ideology remains very individually-driven, with a diverse spectrum of moderates, centrists, and radicals within each party. |
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| | The two parties exist on the federal, state, and local levels, although the parties' organization, platform, and ideologies are not necessarily uniform across all levels of government. | | The two parties exist on the federal, state, and local levels, although the parties' organization, platform, and ideologies are not necessarily uniform across all levels of government. |
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| − | Both major parties draw some support from across the diverse socio-economic classes that compose the United States' multi-ethnic society. Business interests provide the bulk of financial support to both parties, generally favoring the Republican party. The Republicans generally receive more funding and support from business groups, religious Christians, and rural Americans, while the Democratic party receives more support from [[labor union]]s and minority ethnic groups. Because federal elections in the United States are among the most expensive in the world, access to funds is vital in the political system. Thus corporations, unions, and other organized groups that provide funds and political support to parties and politicians play a very large role in determining political agendas and government decision-making. | + | Both major parties draw some support from across the diverse socio-economic classes that compose the United States' multi-ethnic society. Business interests provide the bulk of financial support to both parties, generally favoring the American party. The Americans generally receive more funding and support from business groups, religious Christians, and rural Americans, while the Democratic party receives more support from labor unions and minority ethnic groups. Because federal elections in the United States are among the most expensive in the world, access to funds is vital in the political system. Thus corporations, unions, and other organized groups that provide funds and political support to parties and politicians play a very large role in determining political agendas and government decision-making. |
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| − | The immense military, economic, and cultural dominance of the United States has made [[Foreign relations of the United States|foreign relations]] an especially important topic in its politics, with considerable concern about the image of the United States throughout the world.
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| | ==Political divisions== | | ==Political divisions== |
| − | ''Main article: [[Political divisions of the United States]]''
| + | With the Declaration of Independence, the thirteen colonies transformed themselves into nation states modeled after the European states of the time. In the following years, the number of states within the U.S. grew steadily due to western expansion, the conquest and purchase of lands by the national government, and the subdivision of existing states, increased the number greatly, until the [[Confederate Revolutionary War]]. Today, there are nineteen states in the Union. The states are generally divided into smaller administrative regions, including counties, cities and townships. |
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| − | With the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], the [[thirteen colonies]] transformed themselves into [[nation states]] modeled after the European states of the time. In the following years, the number of states within the U.S. grew steadily due to western expansion, the conquest and purchase of lands by the national government, and the subdivision of existing states, resulting in the current total of fifty. The states are generally divided into smaller administrative regions, including [[county (United States)|counties]], [[List of cities of the United States|cities]] and [[township (United States)|township]]s.
| + | The United States also holds several other territories, districts and possessions, notably the federal district of the District of Columbia, which is the nation's capital, and several small overseas insular areas. |
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| − | The United States also holds several other territories, districts and possessions, notably the [[federal district]] of the [[District of Columbia]], which is the nation's capital, and several overseas [[insular area]]s, the most significant of which are [[Puerto Rico]], [[American Samoa]], [[Guam]], [[Northern Mariana Islands]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]. The United States has held a Naval Base at an occupied portion of [[Guantanamo Bay]], [[Cuba]] since [[1898]]. The U.S. government claims a lease to this land, which only mutual agreement or United States abandonment of the area can terminate. The Cuban government disputes this arrangement, claiming Cuba was not truly [[sovereign]] at the time of the signing. | |
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| − | The United States has made no territorial claim in [[Antarctica]] but has reserved the right to do so.
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| − | {{United_States}}
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| | == Geography == | | == Geography == |
| − | {{Dual image|National-atlas-general-reference-map-USA.png|Map of the United States|http://nationalatlas.gov/reference/genref}}
| + | The United States landscape mostly consists of temperate forestland on the coast, the eastern edge of the Great Plains on the Western edge of the country which are shared with the [[Free American Republic]], and the Great Lakes which are shared with [[Canada]]. |
| − | ''Main article: [[Geography of the United States]]''
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| − | As the world's third largest country (by total area), the United States landscape varies greatly: temperate forestland on the East coast, [[mangrove]] in [[Florida]], the [[Great Plains]] in the center of the country, the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]-[[Missouri River|Missouri]] river system, the [[Great Lakes]] which are shared with [[Canada]], [[Rocky Mountains]] west of the plains, deserts and temperate coastal zones west of the Rocky Mountains and temperate rainforests in the Pacific Northwest. The arctic regions of [[Alaska]] and the [[volcano|volcanic]] islands of [[Hawaii]] add to the geographic and climatic diversity.
| + | The country mostly has a continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. |
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| − | The climate varies along with the landscape, from sub-tropical in [[Hawaii]] and [[Florida]] to [[tundra]] in [[Alaska]]. Large parts of the country have a continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Some parts of the United States, particularly parts of California, have a [[Mediterranean climate]].
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| − | The political geography is notable as well, with the Canadian border being the longest undefended border in the world, and with the country being divided into three distinct sections: The [[continental United States]], also known as the lower 48; [[Alaska]], which is physically connected only to Canada, and the [[archipelago]] of Hawaii in the central [[Pacific Ocean]].
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| | == Economy == | | == Economy == |
| − | [[Image:U.S._one_dollar_obverse.jpg|right|thumb|The [[United States dollar]], the nation's currency.]]
| + | The economy of the United States is organized primarily on a capitalist model, with some government regulation in many industries. There are also some social welfare programs like Social Security, unemployment benefits, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families ("welfare"), the Earned Income Tax Credit, Medicare, and Medicaid. Such departures from a pure free-market economy have generally increased since the late 1800s, but are less pronounced in the United States than in many other ("first world") industrialized countries. |
| − | ''Main article: [[Economy of the United States]]''
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| − | The economy of the United States is organized primarily on a [[capitalism|capitalist model]], with some [[government regulation]] in many industries. There are also some [[social welfare]] programs like [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[unemployment benefits]], Temporary Assistance to Needy Families ("[[welfare]]"), the [[Earned Income Tax Credit]], [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]], and [[Medicaid]]. Such departures from a pure [[free market|free-market]] economy have generally increased since the late [[1800s]], but are less pronounced in the United States than in other ("first world") industrialized countries. | |
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| − | Several countries have coupled their [[currency]] with the [[United States dollar|dollar]] (such as the [[People's Republic of China]]), or even use it as a currency, although this practice has subsided in recent years.
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| − | The country has rich [[mineral]] resources, with extensive [[gold]], [[oil]], [[coal]], and [[uranium]] deposits. Successful [[Agriculture|farm industries]] rank the country among the top producers of, among others, [[maize|corn]], [[wheat]], [[sugar]], and [[tobacco]]. The U.S. [[manufacturing|manufacturing sector]] produces, among other things, [[automobile|cars]], [[airplanes]], and [[electronics]]. The biggest industry is now [[service economy|service]]; about three-quarters of U.S. residents are employed in that sector.
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| − | The largest trading partner of the United States is its northern neighbor, [[Canada]]. Other major partners are [[Mexico]], the [[European Union]], and the industrialized nations in [[Asia]], such as [[Japan]], [[India]], and [[South Korea]]. Trade with [[China]] is also significant. | + | The United States has recently incorporated its currency into the new American Dollar, the common currency of the [[American Union]]. |
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| − | In 2002, the United States was [[World Tourism Rankings|ranked]] as the third most visited [[Tourism|tourist]] destination in the world. Its 41.9 million visits trailed only [[France]] (77 million) and [[Spain]] (51.7 million).
| + | The country has limited mineral resources, but has significant farm industries and manufarcturing industries. The United States is one of the most important manufacturing nations in the world, after [[Canada]] and the [[Lone Star Republic]]. |
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| − | ''See also: [[List of United States companies]]''
| + | The largest trading partners of the United States are its northern neighbor, [[Canada]] and the [LSR]] to the Southwest. Other major partners are the [[Free American Republic]], [[Mexico]], the [[European Union]], and the industrialized nations in Asia, such as Japan, India, and South Korea. Trade with China and the [[Confederate States of America]] is also significant. |
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| | == Transportation == | | == Transportation == |
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| − | ''Main article: [[Transportation in the United States]]''
| + | The United States is known for its complicated and time-conscious rail system. Of the American countries, the only one with a larger and more complicated rail system is [[Canada]], due to its larger size. There are very good subway systems within most large cities, but roads tend to be small and limited, intended more for bicycles than cars. Due to the lack of oil in the United States, private cars never became very popular. Those rich enough to afford them may have private helicopters, and heli-cabs can be found in large and wealthy cities. |
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| − | To link its vast territories, the United States has built a network of roads, of which the most important aspect is the [[Interstate highway]] system. Americans are renowned for their "car-crazy" lifestyle and the [[urban sprawl|sprawling]] car-oriented design of their cities.
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| − | Air travel is often preferred for destinations over 300 miles away.
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| | == Demographics == | | == Demographics == |
| − | ''Main article: [[Demographics of the United States]]''
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| | ===Ethnicity and race=== | | ===Ethnicity and race=== |
| − | Americans, in part due to categories decided by the U.S. government, generally describe themselves as being either multi-ethnic or one of five ethnic groups: [[Whites|White]], sometimes called ''[[European-American]]'' or ''[[Caucasian]]''; [[African American]], also called ''[[blacks|Black]]''; [[Hispanic]], also called ''[[Latino]]''; [[Asian-American]], frequently specified as ''[[Chinese-American]]'', ''[[Korean-American]]'', etc.; and [[Native American]], also called ''American Indian''.
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| − | These groups leave a ''great'' deal of room for ambiguity, as, for example, Middle Easterners are made to choose between Europe and Asia, neither of which do they belong to; the category Asian is popularly identified with [[East Asia]], rather than [[Southwest Asia]]; [[Pacific Islander/Hawaiian native]]s, technically Native Americans, may be assigned to Asian-American because of their geographic origins in [[Oceania]]; the term ''African-American'' is associated with centuries-long residents, and does not make distinctions between them and, say, recent [[Afro-Caribbean]] immigrants from [[Jamaica]] or refugees from [[Somalia]]. Furthermore, the categories disregard the multi-ethnic heritage of many Americans.
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| − | The majority of the 290 million people currently living in the United States descend from [[Europe|European]] immigrants who have arrived since the establishment of the first colonies. Major components of the European segment of the United States population are descended from immigrants from [[Germany]] (15.2 percent), [[Ireland]] (10.8 percent), [[England]] (8.7 percent), [[Italy]] (5.6 percent), and [[Poland]] (3.2 percent) with many immigrants also coming from [[Scandinavia]]n or [[Slavs|Slavic]] countries. Other significant immigrant populations came from eastern and southern Europe and French Canada; few immigrants came directly from [[France]]. These numbers, however, are inaccurate as many citizens listed themselves as "American" on the census (7.2 percent). A [http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf.com county by county map of plurality ethnic groups] reveals that the areas with the largest "American" ancestry populations are historically British-American areas.
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| − | Likewise, while there were few immigrants directly from [[Spain]], [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanics]] from [[Mexico]] and South and Central America are considered the largest minority group in the country, comprising 13.4 percent of the population in [[2002]]. This has brought increasing use of the [[Spanish in the United States|Spanish language in the United States]].
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| − | About 12.9 percent ([[2000]] census) of the American people are [[African American]]s, many of whom are descendants of the [[slave trade|enslaved Africans]] brought to the U.S. between the [[1620s]] and [[1807]]. There has been in recent years a large influx of African immigrants to the United States due to the instability in political and economic opportunities in various nations in Africa.
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| − | A third significant minority is the [[Asian American]] population (4.2 percent), most of whom are concentrated on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]].
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| − | The aboriginal population of [[Native American]]s, such as [[American Indian]]s and [[Inuit]], make up about 1.5 percent of the population.
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| − | According to the 2000 census, America has 31 ethnic groups with at least one million people.
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| − | ''See also: [[Immigration to the United States]]''
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| − | ===Religion===
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| − | ''Main Article: [[Religion in the United States]]''
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| − | As of [[2004]], the distribution for major religions in the United States was as follows: [[Protestant]] (54 percent), [[Roman Catholicism in the United States|Roman Catholic]] (25 percent), "none" (10 percent), [[Eastern Orthodox]] (3 percent), [[Mormons|Mormon]] (2 percent), [[Muslim]] (2 percent) (See [[Islam in the United States]]), [[Jew|Jewish]] (2 percent), and between 0.3 and 0.5 percent each for [[Buddhist]], [[Hindu]] and [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian Universalist]]. An additional 0.3 to 0.5 percent, each, are professed [[agnostic]]s and [[atheist]]s. The largest single religious denomination in the United States is the [[Roman Catholic Church]], followed by the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] and the [[Mormons]].
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| − | The United States, as a developed nation, is noteworthy for its high level of Christian religious devotion. However, the percentage of Americans calling themselves Christian has declined somewhat in recent years from 86.2 percent in [[1990]] to 76.5 percent in [[2001]].
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| | ===Class=== | | ===Class=== |
| − | In terms of relative wealth, most U.S. residents enjoy a standard of personal economic wealth that is far greater than that known in most of the world. For example, 51 percent of all households have access to a [[computer]] and 67.9 percent of U.S. households owned their dwellings in [[2002]]. However, there is also a considerable amount of [[poverty in the United States]] with 12.1% of the population living below the poverty level.
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| − | The [[social structure of the United States]] is somewhat stratified, with a significant class of very wealthy individuals, which are often alleged to hold disproportionate cultural and political influence. However, [[social mobility]] is a well-known concept in America, considered part of the "[[American dream]]", in that even someone born into a poor family can rise to join the upper classes. How often this actually occurs is a matter of debate. The nation's [[Gini coefficient]] of 40.8 percent (measuring income inequalities) is the third highest of all developed nations (after [[South Africa]] and [[Mexico]]).
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| | == Culture == | | == Culture == |
| − | ''Main article: [[Culture of the United States]]''
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| − | [[Image:Elvisstamp.jpg|frame|right|[[Elvis Presley]], an American singer and star who had a large impact on music and youth culture in the world.]]
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| − | U.S. culture has a large influence on the rest of the world, especially the [[Western world]]. This influence is sometimes criticized as [[cultural imperialism]]. [[Music of the United States|U.S. music]] is heard all over the world, and it is the sire of such forms as [[blues]] and [[jazz]] and had a primary hand in the shaping of modern [[rock and roll]] and [[popular music]] culture. Many great [[Western classical music]]ians and forums find their home in the U.S. [[New York City]] is a hub for international [[opera]]tic and [[instrumental]] music as well as the world-famed [[Broadway]] plays and musicals. New York and [[San Francisco]] are world-wide leaders in [[graphic design]] and New York and [[Los Angeles]] compete with major European cities in the fashion industry. [[Cinema of the United States|U.S. movies]] (primarily embodied in [[Hollywood]]) and [[Television of the United States|television]] shows can be seen almost anywhere. This is in stark contrast to the early days of the republic, when the country was viewed by Europeans as an agricultural backwater with little to offer the culturally "advanced" world centers of Asia and Europe. Nearing the mid-point of its third century of nationhood, the U.S. plays host to the gamut of human intellectual and artistic endeavor in nearly every major city, offering classical and popular music; historical, scientific and art research centers and museums; dance performances, musicals and plays; outdoor art projects and internationally significant architecture. This development is a result of both contributions by private philanthropists and government funding.
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| − | The United States is also a great center of higher education, boasting more than 4,000 [[university|universities]], [[college|colleges]] and other institutions of higher learning, the top tier of which may be considered to be among the most prestigious and advanced in the world.
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| − | ''See also: [[Arts and entertainment in the United States]], [[Languages in the United States]], [[Education in the United States]]''
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| | ==Social issues== | | ==Social issues== |
| − | ''Main articles: [[Social issues in the United States]], [[Human rights in the United States]], [[Anti-American sentiment]], [[Health care in the United States]]''
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| − | The [[United States Constitution]] makes provision for the rights of [[freedom of speech]], the [[right to keep and bear arms]], [[freedom of religion]], [[trial by jury]], and protection from "[[cruel and unusual punishment]]." The United States accepts many [[immigration|immigrants]] and has laws against [[racial discrimination|racial]] and other forms of [[discrimination]] and other protections for [[minority group]]s.
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| − | Nevertheless, the United States has at times been criticized for [[Human rights in the United States|violations of human rights]], including racial discrimination in trials and sentences, police abuses, excessive and unwarranted incarceration, and the imposition of the [[death penalty]] [[#Notes|²]]. In 2001, [[Human Rights Watch]] issued a report stating that United States had "made little progress in embracing international human rights standards at home." [http://www.hrw.org/wr2k1/usa/]
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| − | As of [[2004]], the United States has possibly the world's largest prison population at over 2 million inmates; note, however, that [[China]] in particular is suspected of not releasing accurate figures, or of failing to document some prisoners. The [http://www.prisonstudies.org/ International Centre for Prison Studies] places the United States' per-capita incarceration rate first in the world, 620% higher than the neighboring country of [[Canada]]. Roughly 1 American in 15 will spend time in prison during his lifetime [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm]. Some would argue that high incarceration rates reduce criminal offenses, as the crime rate in the United States has been declining for years. However, many other countries with lower and/or declining crime rates have a significantly less proportion of their citizens in prison, and some would rebut that such a simple relationship is unlikely.
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| − | A disproportionate number of US inmates are [[African American|black]] and are significantly over-represented when compared to the national population [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0903755.html]. The discrepancy is a 285%* difference between the national population and the inmate population. (*[[2000]] Population by race [http://www.census.gov/prod/3/98pubs/p23-194.pdf], [[1997]] Inmate population by race [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/tables/cpracetab.htm]). For admissions into the system, a black male is, on average, 8-10 times more likely than a [[Caucasian|white]] male to be sent to prison for drug offenses, and, in the state with the largest discrepenancy, [[Illinois]], 57 times more likely [http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/usa/Rcedrg00-04.htm].
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| − | The United States' [[suicide]] rate exceeds its [[homicide]] rate, but is still lower than most other industrialized nations.
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| − | Routine infant [[male circumcision]] is legal and widely practiced, which has attracted some controversy over recent years.
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| − | A number of American-based corporations, perhaps most visibly [[McDonald's]], [[Coca-Cola]], and [[Disney]], have spread to many other countries, some of which have displayed resentment at the spread of American culture. McDonald's particularly has been the subject of protest and even acts of vandalism.
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| − | Despite being only 5% of the world's population, the United States consumes 25% of the world's power. [http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/ene_ele_con] In terms of per capita usage, the U.S. ranks ninth.
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| − | Partly because of the United States' status as one of the world's most powerful nations, the [[English language]] has also spread worldwide. In France, lawmakers have made efforts to discourage use of English words such as "e-mail" and to avoid ''[[franglais]]'', or English mixed with French. The concern that English is rapidly displacing other languages is widespread. Likewise, speakers of other [[dialect]]s of English (for example in [[Britain]] and [[Australia]]) feel that their language is becoming "[[Americanization|Americanised]]."
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| | | | |
| | ==Legal holidays== | | ==Legal holidays== |
| − | ''Main article: [[Holidays of the United States]]''
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| − | {| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;border:1px solid gray;font-size:95%"
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| − | ! Date !! Name !! Remarks
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| − | | [[January 1]] || [[New Year's Day]] || Beginning of year, marks traditional end of "holiday season"
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| − | | [[January]], third Monday || [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] Day || Honors late Dr. King, [[Civil Rights]] leader
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| − | |-
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| − | | [[February]], third Monday || [[Presidents' Day]] || Honors former U.S. Presidents, especially [[George Washington|Washington]] and [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln]]
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| − | |-
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| − | | [[May]], last Monday || [[Memorial Day]] || Honors servicemen and women who died in service, marks traditional beginning of summer
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| − | | [[July 4]] || [[Independence Day (US)|Independence Day]] || Celebrates [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], usually called the Fourth of July
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| − | |-
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| − | | [[September]], first Monday || [[Labor Day]] || Celebrates achievements of workers, marks traditional end of summer. This holiday is held instead of the traditional worldwide Labor Day, [[May Day|May 1]], which actually began in the U.S.
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| − | |-
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| − | | [[October]], second Monday || [[Columbus Day]] || Honors [[Christopher Columbus]], traditional discoverer of the Americas
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| − | |-
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| − | | [[November 11]] || [[Veterans Day|Veterans' Day]] || Traditional observation of a moment of silence at 11 a.m. in remembrance of military servicemembers
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| − | | [[November]], fourth Thursday || [[Thanksgiving]] || Day of thanks that marks the traditional beginning of the "holiday season"
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| − | | [[December 25]] || [[Christmas]] || Celebrates the [[nativity]] of [[Jesus]], also celebrated as secular winter holiday
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| − | |}
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| − |
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| − | == Related topics ==
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| − | ''Main article: [[List of United States-related topics]]''
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| − |
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| − | {| align="center" id="toc" cellspacing="0"
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| − | |- bgcolor="#ccccff"
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| − | | colspan="2" align="center" | '''[[List of United States-related topics | Topics in the United States]]'''
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| − | |-
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| − | ! align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | [[History of the United States | History]]
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| − | | align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | <small>[[Timeline of United States history | Timeline]] ([[Colonial America | Colonial Era]] | [[American Revolution]] | [[United States territorial acquisitions | Westward Expansion]] | [[American Civil War | Civil War]] | [[World War 1]] | [[Great Depression]] | [[World War 2]] | [[Cold War]] | [[Vietnam War]] | [[Civil Rights Movement | Civil Rights]]) | [[Foreign relations of the United States | Foreign relations]] | [[Military history of the United States | Military]] | [[Demographic history of the United States | Demographic]] and [[Stamps and postal history of the United States | Postal]] history</small>
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| − | |- align="center"
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| − | ! align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | [[Politics of the United States | Politics]]
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| − | | align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | <small>[[Law of the United States | Law]] ([[United States Constitution | Constitution]] and [[United States Bill of Rights | Bill of Rights]] | [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]) | [[List of political parties in the United States | Political parties]] ([[United States Democratic Party | Democrats]] & [[United States Republican Party | Republicans]]) | [[U.S. presidential election | Elections]] ([[Electoral College]]) | [[Political scandals of the United States | Political scandals]] | [[Political divisions of the United States | Political divisions]]</small>
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| − | |- align="center"
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| − | ! align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | [[Federal Government of the United States | Government]]
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| − | | align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | <small>[[List of United States federal agencies | Federal agencies]] | [[Legislative branch]] ([[Congress]]: [[United States House of Representatives | House]] | [[United States Senate | Senate]]) [[Executive branch]] ([[President of the United States | President]] & [[Vice-President of the United States | Vice-President]] | [[United States Cabinet | Cabinet]] | [[United States Attorney General | Attorney-General]] | [[United States Secretary of State | Secretary of State]]) | [[:Category:Law enforcement in the United States | Law enforcement]] ( [[Federal Bureau of Investigation | FBI]] | [[Intelligence]]:[[CIA]] | [[DIA]] | [[NIMA]] | [[NRO]] | [[NSA]]) | [[Judicial branch]] ([[Supreme Court of the United States | Supreme Court]]) | [[Military of the United States | Military]] ([[United States Army | Army]] | [[United States Navy | Navy]] | [[United States Marine Corps | Marines]] | [[United States Air Force | Air Force]])</small>
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| − | ! align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | [[Geography of the United States | Geography]]
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| − | | align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | <small>[[Appalachian Mountains | Appalachian Mtns.]] | [[Rocky Mountains | Rocky Mtns.]] | [[Great Plains]] | [[Midwest]] | [[U.S. Southern states | The South]] | [[Mississippi River]] | [[New England]] | [[Mid-Atlantic States | Mid-Atlantic]] | [[Pacific Northwest]] | [[List of mountains of the United States | Mountains]] | [[List of valleys of the United States | Valleys]] | [[List of islands of the United States | Islands]] | [[List of rivers in the United States | Rivers]] | [[US State | States]] | [[List of cities in the United States | Cities]] | [[County | Counties]] | [[list of regions of the United States | Regions]] | [[Extreme points of the United States | Extreme points]]</small>
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| − | |- align="center"
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| − | ! align="left" | [[Economy of the United States | Economy]]
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| − | | align="left" | <small>[[United States dollar | Dollar]] | [[Wall Street]] | [[Standard of living in the United States | Standard of living]] | [[List of United States companies | Companies]] | [[Poverty in the United States | Poverty]] </small>
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| − | |- align="center"
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| − | ! align="left" | [[Demographics of the United States | Demographics]]
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| − | | align="left" | <small>[[US Census Bureau]] | [[Languages in the United States | Languages]] | [[Social structure of the United States | Social structure]] | [[Standard of living in the United States | Standard of living]] | [[Religion in the United States | Religion]]</small>
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| − | ! align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | [[Arts and entertainment in the United States | Arts]] & [[Culture of the United States | Culture]]
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| − | | align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | <small>[[Music of the United States | Music]] ([[Hippie]]s | [[blues]] | [[jazz]] | [[rock and roll]] | [[hip hop]] | [[gospel music | gospel]] | [[country music | country]]) | [[Cinema of the United States | Film]] & [[Television of the United States | TV]] ([[Hollywood]]) | [[Literature of the United States | Literature]] ([[Poetry of the United States | Poetry]] | [[Transcendentalism]] | [[Harlem Renaissance]] | [[Beat Generation]]) | [[Visual arts of the United States | Visual arts]] ([[Abstract expressionism | Abstract expressionism]]) | [[Cuisine of the United States | Cuisine]] | [[Holidays of the United States | Holidays]] | [[American folklore | Folklore]] | [[Dance of the United States | Dance]] | [[Architecture of the United States | Architecture]] | [[Education in the United States | Education]] | [[Languages in the United States | Languages]] | [[Media in the United States | Media]] </small>
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| − | ! align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | Other
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| − | | align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | <small>[[United States territory]] | [[Communications in the United States | Communications]] | [[Transportation in the United States | Transportation]] ([[United States highway | Highways]] and [[Interstate highway | Interstates]] | [[List of United States railroads | Railroads]]) | [[Uncle Sam]] | [[Flag of the United States | Flag]] | [[American Dream]] | [[Media in the United States | Media]] | [[Education in the United States | Education]] | [[Tourism in the United States | Tourism]] | [[Social issues in the United States | Social issues]] ([[Immigration to the United States | Immigration]] | [[Affirmative action]] | [[Racial profiling]] | [[Human rights in the United States | Human rights]] | [[War on Drugs]] | [[Pornography in the United States | Pornography]] | [[Same-sex marriage in the United States | same-sex marriage ]] | [[United States prison population | Prisons]] | [[Capital punishment in the United States | Capital punishment]]) | [[American Exceptionalism]] | [[Anti-Americanism]] | [[American Folklore]] | [[American English]] | [[United States Mexico barrier]]</small>
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| − | ! align="left" style="vertical-align: top;" | [[U.S. state|States]]
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| − | | align="left" style="font-size: 80%;" | [[Alabama]] | [[Alaska]] | [[Arizona]] | [[Arkansas]] | [[California]] | [[Colorado]] | [[Connecticut]] | [[Delaware]] | [[District of Columbia]] | [[Florida]] | [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] | [[Hawaii]] | [[Idaho]] | [[Illinois]] | [[Indiana]] | [[Iowa]] | [[Kansas]] | [[Kentucky]] | [[Louisiana]] | [[Maine]] | [[Maryland]] | [[Massachusetts]] | [[Michigan]] | [[Minnesota]] | [[Mississippi]] | [[Missouri]] | [[Montana]] | [[Nebraska]] | [[Nevada]] | [[New Hampshire]] | [[New Jersey]] | [[New Mexico]] | [[New York]] | [[North Carolina]] | [[North Dakota]] | [[Ohio]] | [[Oklahoma]] | [[Oregon]] | [[Pennsylvania]] | [[Rhode Island]] | [[South Carolina]] | [[South Dakota]] | [[Tennessee]] | [[Texas]] | [[Utah]] | [[Vermont]] | [[Virginia]] | [[Washington]] | [[West Virginia]] | [[Wisconsin]] | [[Wyoming]]</small>
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| − | |}
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| − | == International rankings ==
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| − |
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| − | * [[IMD International]]: [http://www01.imd.ch/wcy/ World Competitiveness Yearbook 2004], ranked 1 out of 60 economies (countries and regions)
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| − | * [[World Economic Forum]]: [http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Global+Competitiveness+Programme%5CGlobal+Competitiveness+Report Global Competitiveness Report 2004-2005 - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking], ranked 2 out of 104 countries
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| − | * [[UNDP]]: [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/ Human Development Index 2004], ranked 8 out of 177 countries
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| − | * [[Save the Children]]: [http://www.savethechildren.org/mothers/report_2004/images/pdf/SOWM_2004_final.pdf State of the World’s Mothers 2004], ranked 10 out of 119 countries
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| − | * [[Heritage Foundation]]/[[The Wall Street Journal]]: [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/ 2005 Index of Economic Freedom], ranked 12 out of 155 countries
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| − | * [[Transparency International]]: [http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2004/2004.10.20.cpi.en.html Corruption Perceptions Index 2004], ranked 17 out of 146 countries (tied with Belgium and Ireland)
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| − | * [[Reporters without borders]]: [http://www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=11715 Third annual worldwide press freedom index (2004)], ranked 22 (American territory; tied with Belgium) & 108 (in Iraq) out of 167 countries
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | <small>¹ In the [[English language|English]]-speaking world, ''[[America]]'' has become synonymous with the nation of the United States while ''[[American]]'' refers to United States (U.S.) citizens; this is a standard usage in not only the U.S. itself, but also much of Europe and Australasia. The term ''Americas'', on the other hand, includes the North and South American continents as a collective unit. In Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Central and South America, the word ''América'' is used not to denote the U.S. but what English-speakers would term the Americas. Thus, some people of the Americas find it off-putting for the U.S. to be referred to as ''America'' and inhabitants of the U.S. as ''Americans''. In some quarters, the accuracy and political correctness of such nomenclature is debated.<br>
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| − | ²The death penalty is only carried out in some U.S. states and it is in itself a controversial issue within the U.S. ''See: [[Human rights in the United States#Death penalty|Human rights in the United States]]
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| − | </small>
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| | Back to [[Counterculture World and LARP]] | | Back to [[Counterculture World and LARP]] |
The United States of America, also referred to as the United States, U.S.A., and U.S., is a federal republic in eastern central North America consisting of seventeen states. It shares a border with Canada in the north, the Free American Republic in the west, the Confederate States of America in the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It also occasionally borders the Lone Star Indian Territories in the southwest, depending on how Kansas is split up at the time. Its capital is Philadelphia and its population numbers 74,221,918 as of the last census in 2004. A United States citizen is usually referred to as a Yankee.
The United States traces its national origin to the declaration by thirteen British colonies in 1776 that they were free and independent states. It was founded under a tradition of government with the consent of the governed under the representative democracy model. This model of government (presidential-congressional) has since been adopted by many other countries, most notably the Confederate States of America and the Lone Star Republic, although Central and South America boast others.
17 states after Confederate Revolutionary War: Conneticut, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, & Wisconson.
Parts of northern Kentucky are absorbed into Indiana & Ohio at the end of the Secession War.
2 more states join the USA during the Northwest Revolutionary War which leads to the FAR: Illinois & North Missouri.
- This lets all four countries have a border with Kansas after the formation of FAR (assuming South Missouri goes to the CSA.)
USA is puritanical: most freedoms but with censorship, especially regarding sex. No successful socially liberal political party.
Constant problem with uneducated blacks as illegal immigrants from the CSA.
History
Following the European colonization of the Americas, thirteen colonies split from Britain and formed the United States, one of the world's first modern representative democracies, after their Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Revolutionary War (1775–1783). The original political structure was a confederation in 1777, ratified in 1781 as the Articles of Confederation. After long debate, this was supplanted by the United States Constitution in 1789, forming a more centralized federal government.
During the first half of the 19th century, many new states were added to the original thirteen as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions, and the nation became an industrial power.
In 1861, the Confederate Revolution began, and the Confederate States of America split off from the United States. While the United States appeared to be winning, in 1864, the Northwest Confederacies (later to become the Free American Republic seceded from the United States, and supported the CSA. The now much reduced USA made peace with the countries that had seceded from it.
The United States has since been a player in World War I and World War II. It went through a fairly serious economic downturn between the wars, but then was one of the founding nations of the American Union, which revitalized the continent, especially the nations that had come from the original United States.
Politics
The United States of America consists of nineteen states with limited autonomy in which federal law takes precedence over state law. In general, matters that lie entirely within state borders are the exclusive concern of state governments. These include internal communications; regulations relating to property, industry, business, and public utilities; the state criminal code; and working conditions within the state. The District of Columbia falls under the jurisdiction of the US Congress, and has limited home rule.
The various state constitutions differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government. On such matters as the operation of businesses, banks, public utilities and charitable institutions, state constitutions are often more detailed and explicit than the federal Constitution. In recent years, the federal government has assumed broader responsibility in such matters as health, education, welfare, transportation, housing and urban development.
The federal government itself consists of three branches: the executive branch (headed by the President), the legislative branch (U.S. Congress), and the judicial branch (headed by the Supreme Court). The President is elected to a four-year term by the Electoral College, which is chosen through popular votes in the states and the District of Columbia. The various legislators are chosen by popular vote in the states. Members of Congress are elected for terms of two years in the House of Representatives and six years in the Senate. Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate for an unlimited term. This tripartite model of government is generally duplicated at the state level. Local governments take various forms.
The federal and state governments are dominated by two political parties, American Party, which is fairly socially restrictive, and fiscally permissive and the Democratic Party, which is socially moderate, fiscally moderate. The dominant political culture in the United States is, as a whole, somewhat to the right of the dominant political culture in European democracies, other American countries besides the CSA, and indeed most countries in the world though the issues at odds are somewhat different. Given their complex support bases it is difficult to specifically categorize the two major parties' appeal. Within the United States political culture, the American Party is described as center-right and the Democratic Party is described as center-left. Minor party and independent candidates are very occasionally elected, usually to local or state office, but the United States political system has historically supported "catch-all parties" rather than coalition governments. The ideology and policies of the sitting President of the United States commonly play a large role in determining the direction of his political party, as well as the platform of the opposition.
Political parties in the United States do not have formal "leaders" like many other countries, although there are complex hierarchies within the political parties that form various executive committees. Party ideology remains very individually-driven, with a diverse spectrum of moderates, centrists, and radicals within each party.
The two parties exist on the federal, state, and local levels, although the parties' organization, platform, and ideologies are not necessarily uniform across all levels of government.
Both major parties draw some support from across the diverse socio-economic classes that compose the United States' multi-ethnic society. Business interests provide the bulk of financial support to both parties, generally favoring the American party. The Americans generally receive more funding and support from business groups, religious Christians, and rural Americans, while the Democratic party receives more support from labor unions and minority ethnic groups. Because federal elections in the United States are among the most expensive in the world, access to funds is vital in the political system. Thus corporations, unions, and other organized groups that provide funds and political support to parties and politicians play a very large role in determining political agendas and government decision-making.
Political divisions
With the Declaration of Independence, the thirteen colonies transformed themselves into nation states modeled after the European states of the time. In the following years, the number of states within the U.S. grew steadily due to western expansion, the conquest and purchase of lands by the national government, and the subdivision of existing states, increased the number greatly, until the Confederate Revolutionary War. Today, there are nineteen states in the Union. The states are generally divided into smaller administrative regions, including counties, cities and townships.
The United States also holds several other territories, districts and possessions, notably the federal district of the District of Columbia, which is the nation's capital, and several small overseas insular areas.
Geography
The United States landscape mostly consists of temperate forestland on the coast, the eastern edge of the Great Plains on the Western edge of the country which are shared with the Free American Republic, and the Great Lakes which are shared with Canada.
The country mostly has a continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters.
Economy
The economy of the United States is organized primarily on a capitalist model, with some government regulation in many industries. There are also some social welfare programs like Social Security, unemployment benefits, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families ("welfare"), the Earned Income Tax Credit, Medicare, and Medicaid. Such departures from a pure free-market economy have generally increased since the late 1800s, but are less pronounced in the United States than in many other ("first world") industrialized countries.
The United States has recently incorporated its currency into the new American Dollar, the common currency of the American Union.
The country has limited mineral resources, but has significant farm industries and manufarcturing industries. The United States is one of the most important manufacturing nations in the world, after Canada and the Lone Star Republic.
The largest trading partners of the United States are its northern neighbor, Canada and the [LSR]] to the Southwest. Other major partners are the Free American Republic, Mexico, the European Union, and the industrialized nations in Asia, such as Japan, India, and South Korea. Trade with China and the Confederate States of America is also significant.
Transportation
The United States is known for its complicated and time-conscious rail system. Of the American countries, the only one with a larger and more complicated rail system is Canada, due to its larger size. There are very good subway systems within most large cities, but roads tend to be small and limited, intended more for bicycles than cars. Due to the lack of oil in the United States, private cars never became very popular. Those rich enough to afford them may have private helicopters, and heli-cabs can be found in large and wealthy cities.
Demographics
Ethnicity and race
Class
Culture
Social issues
Legal holidays
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