United States: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = United States of America
|common_name = the United States
|image_flag = Flag_of_the_United_States_(Pantone).svg
|image_coat = US-GreatSeal-Obverse.svg
|length = 1776–present
|symbol_type = Great Seal
|national_motto = [[In God We Trust]]{{spaces|2}}<small>(official)</small><br />{{lang|la|''[[E pluribus unum|E Pluribus Unum]]''}}{{spaces|2}}<small>(traditional)</small><br /><small>([[Latin]]: Out of Many, One)</small>
|image_map = United_States_(orthographic_projection).svg
|map_width = 220px
|national_anthem = [[File:Star Spangled Banner instrumental.ogg]]<br />"[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]"
|official_languages = None at federal level{{Ref label|engoffbox|a|}}
|languages_type = [[National language]]
|languages = [[English language|English]] (''[[de facto]]''){{Ref label|engfactobox|b|}}
|capital = [[Washington, D.C.]]
|largest_city = [[New York City]]
|latd = 38|latm=53|latNS=N|longd=77|longm=01|longEW=W
|government_type = [[Federalism|Federal]] [[Presidential system|presidential]] [[constitutional republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[President of the United States|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Barack Obama]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|leader_title2 = [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]]
|leader_name2 = [[Joe Biden]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|leader_title3 = {{nowrap|[[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]]}}
|leader_name3 = [[John Boehner]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
|leader_title4 = [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]]
|leader_name4 = [[John Roberts]]
|legislature = [[United States Congress|Congress]]
|upper_house = [[United States Senate|Senate]]
|lower_house = [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|sovereignty_type = [[American Revolutionary War|Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = from the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]
|established_event1 = [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declared]]
|established_date1 = July 4, 1776
|established_event2 = [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|Recognized]]
|established_date2 = September 3, 1783
|established_event3 = [[United States Constitution|Current constitution]]
|established_date3 = June 21, 1788
|area_footnote = <ref name="WF">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html|title=United States|publisher=CIA|work=The World Factbook|date=2009-09-30|accessdate=2010-01-05 (area given in square kilometers)}}</ref>{{Ref label|areabox|c|}}
|area_sq_mi = 3794101
|area_km2 = 9826675
|area_rank = 3rd/4th
|area_magnitude = 1 E12
|percent_water = 6.76
|population_estimate = {{formatnum:{{data United States | Poptoday }} }}<ref name="POP">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|title=U.S. POPClock Projection}} Figure updated automatically.</ref>
|population_estimate_year = 2011
|population_estimate_rank = 3rd
|population_density_km2 = 33.7
|population_density_sq_mi = 87.4
|GDP_PPP_year = 2011
|GDP_PPP = $15.065 trillion<ref name=IMF_GDP>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2009&ey=2016&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=111&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr1.x=49&pr1.y=17|title=United States|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2011-10-09}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 1st
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $48,147<ref name="IMF_GDP"/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 8th
|GDP_nominal = $15.065 trillion<ref name="IMF GDP"/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 1st
|GDP_nominal_year = 2011
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $48,147<ref name="IMF_GDP"/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 15th
|HDI_year = 2011
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.910<ref name="HDI">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Table1.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2011|year=2011|publisher=United Nations|accessdate=5 November 2011}}</ref>
|HDI_rank = 4th
|HDI_category = <span style="color:#006000;">very high</span>
|EF_year = 2007
|EF = {{decrease}} 8.0 gha<ref name="EF">{{cite
web|url=http://www.footprintnetwork.org/images/uploads/Ecological_Footprint_Atlas_2010.pdf|title=Ecological Footprint Atlas 2010|publisher=Global Footprint Network|accessdate=11 July 2011}}</ref>
|EF_rank = 6th
|Gini = 45.0<ref name="WF"/>
|Gini_rank = 39th
|Gini_year = 2007
|currency = [[United States dollar]] ($)
|currency_code = USD
|country_code = USA
|utc_offset = −5 to −10
|utc_offset_DST = −4 to −10
|cctld = [[.us]] [[.gov]] [[.mil]] [[.edu]]
|calling_code = [[North American Numbering Plan|+1]]
|date_format = m/d/yy ([[Anno Domini|AD]])
|drives_on = right
|demonym = [[Americans|American]]
|footnotes =
{{note|engoffbox}}a. English is the official language of at least 28 states—some sources give a higher figure, based on differing definitions of "official".<ref name=ILW>{{cite web|author=Feder, Jody| url = http://www.ilw.com/immigrationdaily/news/2007,0515-crs.pdf| title = English as the Official Language of the United States—Legal Background and Analysis of Legislation in the 110th Congress|date=2007-01-25| publisher = Ilw.com (Congressional Research Service)| accessdate = 2007-06-19}}</ref> English and [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]] are both official languages in the state of [[Hawaii]].

{{note|engfactobox}}b. English is the ''de facto'' language of [[American government]] and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the [[Spanish language in the United States|second most commonly spoken language]].

{{note|areabox}}c. Whether the United States or the [[People's Republic of China]] is larger is [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|disputed]]. The figure given is from the U.S. [[Central Intelligence Agency]]'s ''[[World Factbook]]''. Other sources give smaller figures. All authoritative calculations of the country's size include only the 50 states and the District of Columbia, not the territories.

{{note|popbox}}d. The population estimate includes people whose usual residence is in the fifty states and the District of Columbia, including noncitizens. It does not include either those living in the territories, amounting to more than 4&nbsp;million U.S. citizens (most in [[Puerto Rico]]), or U.S. citizens living outside the United States.
}}

The '''United States of America''' (also known as '''America''', the '''U.S.''', or the '''U.S.A.''') is a [[country]] on the [[continent]] of [[North America]]. It is made up of 50 [[U.S. State|states]] and a [[federal district]]. The United States was on the winning side of two world wars (see [[World War I|WW1]] and [[World War II|WW2]]) and became one of the world's [[superpower]]s. It is famous for its [[influence]] over [[finance]], [[trade]], [[culture]], [[military]], [[politics]], and [[technology]].

== Government ==
The United States is a [[Federalism|federal]] [[republic]]. The [[:wikt:federal|federal]] [[:wikt:government|government]] is set up by the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]]. There are three [[branch]]es of government. They are the ''[[executive branch]]'', the ''[[legislative branch]]'', and the ''[[judicial branch]]''. State governments work very much like the federal government.

=== Executive branch ===
The [[executive branch]] is the part of the government that enforces the law. Members of the [[U.S. Electoral College]] elect a president who is the leader of the executive branch, as well as the leader of the [[armed forces]]. The president decides whether or not the bills that the Legislative branch passes will become laws, and the president may [[veto]] a bill. The President may also make "executive orders" to ensure that people follow the law. Two of the most famous executive orders were President [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s [[Emancipation Proclamation]] and President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]'s order to send 1,200 soldiers from the [[101st Airborne Division]] to allow the [[Little Rock Nine]] into a school that refused to admit [[African American]]s students. The president is in charge of many departments that control much of the day-to-day [[business]] of government. For example, [[Department of Commerce]] makes rules about trade and business. The president chooses the heads of these departments, and also nominates judges at the federal (nation-wide) level. However, the Senate, part of the legislative branch, must agree with all of the people the president chooses. The president may serve two 4-year terms.

=== Legislative branch ===
[[File:USCapitol.jpg|thumb|right|The west side of the [[United States Capitol]], which is home to the [[United States Congress]]]]
The [[legislative branch]] is the part of the government that makes laws. The legislative branch is called Congress. Congress is divided into two "houses".

One house is the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. The House of Representatives is made up of Representatives, who are each elected by voters from an set area within a state. The number of Representatives a state has is based on how many people live there: the more people a state has, the more representatives it gets. Every 10 years, the U.S. [[Census]] [[Bureau]] conducts a census, or count, of the [[population]] of the United States. States gain or lose Representatives based on their total population as shown by the census. Representatives serve two-year terms. The total number of representatives today is 435. The leader of the House of Representatives is the [[Speaker of the House]], who is also the person who would become president if the president and [[vice president]] were unable to serve.

The other house is the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. In the Senate, each state is represented equally, by two senators. Because there are 50 states, there are 100 senators. Before the President makes [[treaty|treaties]] or appoints [[official]]s, the Senate must approve them. Senators serve six-year terms. The Vice President of the United States serves as president of the Senate, but may only cast votes in order to break a tie vote. In practice, the vice president is usually absent from the Senate, and a senator is selected to serve as president pro tempore, or [[temporary]] president, of the Senate.

Representatives and senators [[proposal|propose]] laws, called "[[bill (law)|bill]]s", in their respective houses. A bill may be voted upon by the entire house right away or may first go to a small group of members of that house, known as a [[committee of the United States Senate|committee]], which may recommend a bill for a vote by the whole house. If one house votes to pass a bill, the bill then gets sent to the other house; if both houses vote for it, it is then sent to the president, who may sign the bill into law or [[veto]] it. If the president vetoes the bill, it is sent back to Congress. If Congress votes again and passes the bill with at least a two-thirds [[majority]], the bill becomes law and cannot be vetoed by the president.

Under the American system of [[federalism]], Congress may not make laws that directly control the states; instead, Congress may use the promise of federal funds or extenuating circumstances, such as national emergencies, to encourage the states to follow federal law. This system is both complex and unique.

=== Judicial branch ===
The [[Judicial Branch]] is the part of government that interprets what the law means. The Judicial Branch is made up of the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] and many lower courts. If the Supreme Court decides that a law is not allowed by the Constitution, the law is said to be "struck down" and is no longer a [[validity|valid]] law. The Supreme Court is made up of nine [[judge]]s, called [[justice]]s, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. One of these justices, called the [[Chief Justice of the United States|chief justice]], heads the court. A Supreme Court justice serves until he or she dies or [[resignation|resigns]] (quits in the middle of his or her term). When that happens, the president nominates someone new to replace the justice who left. If the Senate agrees with that choice, the person becomes a justice. If the Senate does not agree with the president's choice, then the president must nominate someone else.

Famous court cases such as ''[[Marbury v. Madison]]'' (which was decided in 1803) have firmly established that the Supreme Court is the ultimate interpreter of the [[United States Constitution]] and has the power to strike down any law that [[conflict]]s with it.<ref>http://www.landmarkcases.org/marbury/home.html</ref>

== History ==
{{main|History of the United States}}

== Politics ==
{{See also|States of the United States}}
[[File:Political System of the United States.svg|thumb|300px|The political system of the United States]]
The United States of America consists of [[States of the United States|50 states]], 5 territories and 1 district ([[Washington D.C]].). States can make laws about things inside the state, but federal law is usually about things dealing with more than one state or dealing with other countries. In some areas, if the federal government makes laws that say different things from the state laws, people only have to follow the federal government's law because the state law is not a law any more. Each state has a constitution of its own, different from the federal (national) Constitution. Each one of these is like the federal Constitution because they talk about how each state's government is set up, but some also talk about specific laws.

The federal and a lot of state governments are dominated today by two [[Political party|political parties]]: the [[United States Republican Party|Republicans]] and the [[United States Democratic Party|Democrats]]. The third largest political party is the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]]. Since people give money to the politicians, the politicians must listen those people's opinions. This is called lobbying. All Americans are allowed to lobby the government, but when small groups have a lot of money, they are better at [[lobbying]]. Some people think that this is a problem, and want rules to be made to change this.

Since 2009, the president is a Democrat, so Democrats have slightly more power in the federal government. However, there are still many powerful Republicans who can try to stop the Democrats from doing things that they believe will be bad for the country. Also, the Democrats do not always agree with each other on what to do. And if enough people decide to vote against Democrats in the next election, then they will lose power. In a republic like the United States, no party can do whatever they want. All politicians have to argue, compromise, and make deals with each other to get things done. They have to answer to the people and take responsibility for their mistakes.

The USA's large cultural, economic, and military influence has made [[Foreign relations of the United States|foreign relations]], or relations with other countries, an especially important topic in American politics, and the politics of many other countries.

[[File:GeorgeWashington.jpg|thumb|220px|[[George Washington]], [[List of Presidents of the United States|first President]].]]

== Land ==
The country grew from East to West. It conquered and bought lands.

The states are divided into [[county|counties]]. Two states do not use the word "county". Louisiana uses the word "[[parish]]". Alaska uses the word "[[borough]]".

The United States also consists of several other lands that are not states. Most of these are [[colony|colonial]] [[territory|territories]], and are not a part of the Mainland U.S. Some examples are:
* [[Puerto Rico]]
* [[American Samoa]]
* [[Guam]]
* [[U.S. Virgin Islands]]
* [[Northern Mariana Islands]]

The United States also includes one federal district that was split from a state:
* [[Washington, D.C.]], the capital.

The largest city is [[New York City|New York]].

The [[Philippines]] ([[island]]s) was once a [[possession]] of the United States, and before that, it was a possession of Spain. Now the Philippines is an [[sovereignty|independent country]]. [[Palau]], the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], and other [[Pacific]] island nations were once governed by the United States as a United Nations "Trust Territory", but are now [[independence|independent]].

The U.S. military has [[Military base|bases]] in many countries.
The U.S. Naval base at [[Guantanamo Bay]] was rented from [[Cuba]], even after that country had a [[Communist]] revolution.

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of the United States}}
The United States is the third biggest country in the world. Only [[Russia]] and [[Canada]] are bigger. Its [[geography]] varies a lot and includes:

* [[forest]]s and grass fields on the [[East Coast of the United States|east coast]]
* the [[Appalachian Mountains]] in the east
* the [[Great Plains]] in the middle of the country
* the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]-[[Missouri River|Missouri]] river in the middle of the country
* the [[Rocky Mountains]] west of the [[plain]]s
* [[desert]]s and coastal areas west of the Rocky Mountains
* [[forest]]s in the [[Pacific Northwest]]
* [[Arctic]] regions of Alaska
* [[volcano|volcanic]] islands in Hawaii
* a long [[coastline]] with many [[beach]]es

The [[climate]] varies along with the geography, from [[tropical]] (hot and wet in [[summer]], warm and dry in [[winter]]) in [[Florida]] to [[tundra]] (cold all year) in Alaska. Large parts of the country have warm summers and cold winters. Some parts of the United States, like parts of California, have a [[Mediterranean climate]].

== Economy ==
The United States has a [[capitalist]] [[economy]]. The country has low [[unemployment]] and [[inflation]], and a large trade deficit (meaning the United States buys more things from other countries than it sells).

The country has rich [[mineral]] resources, with many [[gold]], [[oil]], [[coal]] and [[uranium]] deposits. [[Farming]] makes the country among the top producers of, among others, [[corn]] ([[maize]]), [[wheat]], [[sugar]] and [[tobacco]]. American produces [[automobile|cars]], [[airplanes]] and [[electronics]]. About 3/4 of Americans work in the [[service industry]].

The top 15 trading partners in terms of total trade are:
# [[Canada]]
# [[China]]
# [[Mexico]]
# [[Japan]]
# [[Germany]]
# [[UK]]
# [[South Korea]]
# [[France]]
# [[Taiwan]]
# [[Netherlands]]
# [[Brazil]]
# [[Malaysia]]
# [[Italy]]
# [[Singapore]]
# [[Ireland]]

== Demographics ==
{{USCensusPop
| 1790=3929000
| 1800=5308000
| 1810=7240000
| 1820=9638000
| 1830=12866000
| 1840=17063000
| 1850=23192000
| 1860=31443321
| 1870=38558371
| 1880=50189209
| 1890=62979766
| 1900=76212168
| 1910=92228531
| 1920=106021568
| 1930=123202660
| 1940=132164569
| 1950=151325798
| 1960=179323175
| 1970=203211926
| 1980=226545805
| 1990=248709873
| 2000=281421906
| 2010=308745538
| footnote=}}
The United States of America has people of many different [[race (sociology)|race]] and [[ethnic group|ethnic]] backgrounds. 80% of the people in the United States [[:wikt:descend|descend]] from [[Europe]]an [[immigration|immigrants]]. Many people are descended from [[Germany]], [[England]], [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]], [[Africa]], and [[Italy]].<ref>http://www.geolytics.com/?gclid=CK7Nw9bgpJYCFRJ4xgod32jc5g</ref> 13% of the people in the United States are [[African-American]]. Most of them descend from the [[slave trade|African slaves that were brought to America]]. [[Asian]]-Americans make up only 5% of the population in America but make up a bigger portion in the west coast. For example in [[California]], Asian-Americans make up 13% of the population of that state. [[Hispanic]]-Americans or people of Latin origins make up 15% of the nation. The original peoples, called [[Native American]] or ''American Indian''s and [[Inuit]] ([[Eskimo]]s) are a very small group.

11% of the people in the United States are foreign born. 18% speak a language other than English at home. For people 25 and older, 80% have are [[high school]] [[graduation|graduates]] while 25% have a [[bachelor's degree]] or higher.

The 2000 Census counted self-reported [[ancestor|ancestry]]. It identified 43 million German-Americans, 30.5 million Irish-Americans, 24.9 million African-Americans, 24.5 million English-Americans, and 18.4 million Mexican-Americans.

=== Money ===
The [[social]] [[structure]] of the United States has a big range. This means that some Americans are much, much richer than others. The [[average]] ([[median]]) [[income]] for an American was $37,000 a year in 2002. However, the [[wealthy|richest]] 1% of Americans have as much money as the [[poor]]est 90%. 51% of all households have access to a [[computer]] and 41% had access to the [[Internet]] in 2000, a figure which had grown to 75% in 2004. [[Global]]ly, less than one percent of people own a computer. Furthermore, 67.9% of American families owned their homes in 2002. In addition, there are 200 million cars in the United States, two for every three Americans and roughly one-third of all cars in the world. The debt has grown to over $13,000,000,000,000.

=== Religion ===
[[Native American mythology|Native American religion]]s included various [[animism|animistic]] practises, including reverence for nature and spirits. There are multiple religions in the United States. Numerically, the largest religion is Christianity, including denominations such as [[Catholicism]], [[Protestantism]] and [[Mormonism]]. Other religions include [[Hinduism]], [[Islam]], [[Judaism]], [[Unitarian Universalism]], [[Wicca]], [[Druidry]], [[Baha'i]], [[Raelism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Taoism]] and [[Jainism]].<ref>Media, Minorities, and Meaning: A Critical Introduction - Page 88, Debra L. Merskin - 2010</ref> Religions which were founded within the United States include [[Eckankar]], [[Satanism]] and [[Scientology]].

The United States is one of the most [[religious]] countries in the Western World, and most Americans believe in [[God]]. The number of [[Christianity|Christians]] in the U.S. has gone down. 86.2% called themselves Christian in 1990 and 76.5% said this in 2001.<ref>http://www.gc.cuny.edu/studies/key_findings.htm ARIS 2001{{deadlink}}</ref> Others included [[Nones]] at 13.2%, 2% [[Buddhist]], [[Jew]]ish 1.3% and 0.5-0.3% for [[Muslim]], [[agnostic]], [[atheist]], [[Hindu]] and [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian Universalist]]. There is a large difference between those who say that they belong to a religion and those who are members of a religious body of that religion.<ref>http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/statab/sec01.pdf</ref>

Doubts about the existence of a God, gods or goddesses are higher among young people. Among the non-religious population of the U.S., there are [[deist]]s, [[humanist]]s, [[Ignosticism|ignotic]], [[atheist]]s, and [[agnostic]]s.<ref>Merica, Dan (2012-06-12). Pew Survey: Doubt of God Growing Quickly among Millennials</ref>

=== Languages ===
{| class="wikitable" border="1" table style="border:1px black; float:right; margin-left:1em;"
! style="background:#f99;" colspan="2"|Languages (2007)
|-
|English||225.5 million
|-
|Spanish, incl. [[Spanish-based creole languages|Creole]]||34.5 million
|-
|Chinese||2.5 million
|-
|French, incl. [[French-based creole languages|Creole]]||2.0 million
|-
|[[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]||1.5 million
|-
|[[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]||1.2 million
|-
|German||1.1 million
|-
|Korean||1.1 million
|}
</div>

The United States does not currently have an official [[language]], although the [[United States Congress]] has considered officially designating [[English language|English]] as such for many years, since it is the most used language, and the language in which the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] and [[United States Constitution]] are written. [[Spanish language|Spanish]] has increased in usage in certain sectors of society, due to a flow of immigrants—especially from Mexico and Cuba. French is also a main language in parts of Louisiana because France once owned the area as a colony.

== Culture ==

American [[popular culture]] goes out to many places in the world. It has a large [[influence]] on most of the world, especially the [[Western hemisphere|Western]] world. American [[music]] is heard all over the world, and American movies and [[television]] shows can be seen in most countries.

=== Federal holidays (For 2013) (Gregorian calendar) ===
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2013.asp |title=2013 Federal Holidays |publisher=U.S Office of Personnel Management |accessdate=5 December 2011}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=150| Date
! Name
! Description
|-
| [[January 1]]
| [[New Year's Day]]
| Celebrates the beginning of the year
|-
| [[January 21]]<br /><small>(3rd Monday in January)</small>
| [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] Day
| Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an [[African-American]] [[civil rights]] leader
|-
| [[February 18]]<br /><small>(3rd Monday in February)</small>
| [[Washington's Birthday]]
| Honors all of the American presidents, but specifically [[George Washington]] (b. February 22) and [[Abraham Lincoln]] (b. February 12)
|-
| [[May 27]]<br /><small>(Last Monday in May)</small>
| [[Memorial Day]]
| Honors military servicemen, who gave their lives, also marks the traditional start of [[summer]]
|-
| [[July 4]]
| [[Independence Day]]
| Celebrates the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]; otherwise known as "The Fourth of July"
|-
| [[September 2]]<br /><small>(1st Monday in September)</small>
| [[Labor Day]]
| Celebrates the achievements of workers, and marks the traditional end of summer
|-
| [[October 14]]<br /><small>(2nd Monday in October)</small>
| [[Columbus Day]]
| Honors [[Christopher Columbus]], the man who discovered [[the Americas]] for [[Europe]] (not celebrated in some states, like [[Montana]])
|-
| [[November 11]]
| [[Veterans Day]]
| Honors all [[military]] servicemen (past and present)
|-
| [[November 28]]<br /><small>(4th Thursday in November)</small>
| [[Thanksgiving]]
| Gives thanks for God's [[blessing]]s, and the [[autumn]] [[harvest]], and marks the [[tradition]]al beginning of the "holiday season"
|-
| [[December 25]]
| [[Christmas]]
| Celebrates the [[birth]] of [[Jesus Christ]] (non-[[Christian]]s celebrate it as a [[winter]] holiday of [[peace]], [[friendship]], and [[gift]]-giving)
|}

===Flag===
The American [[flag]] is made up of 50 stars on a blue background, and has 13 stripes, 7 red and 6 white. It is one of many symbols of the United States like the [[Bald Eagle]]. The 50 stars represent the 50 states. The red stands for [[courage]]. The blue stands for justice. The white represents peace and cleanness. The 13 stripes represent the 13 original [[colony|colonies]].<ref>USA Flag Meaning. 2009 Retrieved from http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/usa-flag/usa-flag-meaning.html on 16th of September 2010</ref>
[[File:Flag of the United States.svg|thumb|The US Flag]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Other websites ==
{{commons|United States}}

=== United States government ===
* [http://www.geocities.com/johnfkosanke/USConstitutionBasic.html US Constitution in basic English]
* [http://www.firstgov.gov Official website of the United States government] - Gateway to governmental sites
* [http://www.whitehouse.gov The White House] - Official site of the Presidential residence
* [http://www.senate.gov Senate.gov] - Official site of the United States Senate
* [http://www.house.gov House.gov] - Official site of the United States House of Representatives
* [http://www.supremecourtus.gov SCOTUS] - Official site of the Supreme Court of the United States
* [http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/factover/homepage.htm Portrait of the USA] - Published by the United States Information Agency, September 1997.
* [http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/ US Census Housing and Economic Statistics] Updated regularly by US Bureau of the Census.
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html CIA world factbook]

=== Other ===
* [http://www.religioustolerance.org/nat_mott.htm National Motto: History and Constitutionality]
* [http://www.nationalcenter.org/HistoricalDocuments.html Historical Documents]
* [http://www.travel-directory.org/Destinations/North_America/United_States/index.html Reference: US specific web resources sorted by state]
* [http://www.dinksoftware.com/geography_trainer_us_states.php Geography Trainer US States 1.1 game]

{{United States topics}}
{{United States}}
{{North America}}
{{G8}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}

{{Use American English}}

[[Category:United States| ]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries]]

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<!-- interwiki -->

[[ace:Amirika Carékat]]
[[kbd:Америкэ Штат Зэгуэт]]
[[af:Verenigde State van Amerika]]
[[als:USA]]
[[am:አሜሪካ]]
[[ang:Ȝeānedu Rīcu American]]
[[ab:Америка Еиду Аштатқәа]]
[[ar:الولايات المتحدة]]
[[an:Estatos Unitos]]
[[arc:ܐܘܚܕܢܐ ܡܚܝܕܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Vãsãliili Diadunu ali Americhia]]
[[frp:Ètats-Unis d’Amèrica]]
[[as:আমেৰিকা যুক্তৰাষ্ট্ৰ]]
[[ast:Estaos Xuníos d'América]]
[[gn:Tetã peteĩ reko Amérikagua]]
[[av:Америкалъул Цолъарал Штатал]]
[[ay:Istadus Unidus]]
[[az:Amerika Birləşmiş Ştatları]]
[[bm:Amerika ka Kelenyalen Jamanaw]]
[[bn:মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্র]]
[[zh-min-nan:Bí-kok]]
[[map-bms:Amerika Serikat]]
[[ba:Америка Ҡушма Штаттары]]
[[be:Злучаныя Штаты Амерыкі]]
[[be-x-old:Злучаныя Штаты Амэрыкі]]
[[bcl:Estados Unidos]]
[[bi:Yunaeted Stet blong Amerika]]
[[bg:Съединени американски щати]]
[[bar:Vaeinigte Staatn]]
[[bo:ཨ་མེ་རི་ཁ་རྒྱལ་ཕྲན་མཉམ་འབྲེལ་རྒྱལ་ཁབ།]]
[[bs:Sjedinjene Američke Države]]
[[br:Stadoù-Unanet Amerika]]
[[bxr:Амеэрикын Нэгэдэһэн Улас]]
[[ca:Estats Units d'Amèrica]]
[[cv:Америкăри Пĕрлешӳллĕ Штатсем]]
[[ceb:Estados Unidos]]
[[cs:Spojené státy americké]]
[[cbk-zam:Estados Unidos de America]]
[[sn:United States of America]]
[[co:Stati Uniti d'America]]
[[cy:Unol Daleithiau America]]
[[da:USA]]
[[pdc:Amerikaa]]
[[de:Vereinigte Staaten]]
[[dv:އެމެރިކާ]]
[[nv:Wááshindoon Bikéyah Ałhidadiidzooígíí]]
[[dsb:Zjadnośone staty Ameriki]]
[[dz:ཡུ་ནའིཊེཊ་སི་ཊེས]]
[[et:Ameerika Ühendriigid]]
[[el:Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες Αμερικής]]
[[eml:Stat Unî]]
[[en:United States]]
[[myv:Американь Вейтьсэндявкс Штаттнэ]]
[[es:Estados Unidos]]
[[eo:Usono]]
[[ext:Estaus Unius]]
[[eu:Ameriketako Estatu Batuak]]
[[ee:United States]]
[[fa:ایالات متحده آمریکا]]
[[hif:United States]]
[[fo:USA]]
[[fr:États-Unis]]
[[fy:Feriene Steaten]]
[[ff:Dowlaaji Dentuɗi]]
[[fur:Stâts Unîts di Americhe]]
[[ga:Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá]]
[[gv:Steatyn Unnaneysit America]]
[[gag:Amerika Birleşik Devletläri]]
[[gd:Na Stàitean Aonaichte]]
[[gl:Estados Unidos de América - United States of America]]
[[gan:美國]]
[[ki:United States]]
[[glk:آمریکا]]
[[gu:સંયુક્ત રાજ્ય અમેરિકા]]
[[got:𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐌾𐌰]]
[[hak:Mî-koet]]
[[xal:Америкин Ниицәтә Орн Нутгуд]]
[[ko:미국]]
[[ha:Amurika]]
[[haw:‘Amelika Hui Pū ‘ia]]
[[hy:Ամերիկայի Միացյալ Նահանգներ]]
[[hi:संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका]]
[[hsb:Zjednoćene staty Ameriki]]
[[hr:Sjedinjene Američke Države]]
[[io:Usa]]
[[ig:Njikota Obodo Amerika]]
[[ilo:Estados Unidos iti Amerika]]
[[bpy:তিলপারাষ্ট্র]]
[[id:Amerika Serikat]]
[[ia:Statos Unite de America]]
[[ie:Unit States de America]]
[[iu:ᐊᒥᐊᓕᑲ]]
[[ik:United States of America]]
[[os:Америкæйы Иугонд Штаттæ]]
[[xh:IYunayithedi Steyitsi]]
[[zu:IMelika]]
[[is:Bandaríkin]]
[[it:Stati Uniti d'America]]
[[he:ארצות הברית]]
[[jv:Amérika Sarékat]]
[[kl:Naalagaaffeqatigiit]]
[[kn:ಅಮೇರಿಕ ಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ಸಂಸ್ಥಾನ]]
[[pam:Estados Unidos]]
[[krc:Американы Бирлешген Штатлары]]
[[ka:ამერიკის შეერთებული შტატები]]
[[csb:Zjednóné Kraje Americzi]]
[[kk:Америка Құрама Штаттары]]
[[kw:Statys Unys]]
[[rw:Leta Zunze Ubumwe z’Amerika]]
[[rn:Leta z’Unze Ubumwe za Amerika]]
[[sw:Marekani]]
[[kv:Америкаса Ӧтувтчӧм Штатъяс]]
[[ht:Etazini]]
[[ku:Dewletên Yekbûyî yên Amerîkayê]]
[[ky:Америка Кошмо Штаттары]]
[[mrj:Америкын Ушымы Штатвлӓжӹ]]
[[lad:Estatos Unitos d'Amerika]]
[[lbe:Американал ЦачӀунхьу Штатру]]
[[lez:Америкадин Садхьанвай Штатар]]
[[ltg:Amerikys Saškierstuos Vaļsteibys]]
[[la:Civitates Foederatae Americae]]
[[lv:Amerikas Savienotās Valstis]]
[[lb:Vereenegt Staate vun Amerika]]
[[lt:Jungtinės Amerikos Valstijos]]
[[lij:Stati Unïi d'America]]
[[li:Vereinegde State van Amerika]]
[[ln:Lisangá lya Ameríka]]
[[jbo:mergu'e]]
[[lg:Amereka]]
[[lmo:Stat Ünì d'America]]
[[hu:Amerikai Egyesült Államok]]
[[mk:Соединети Американски Држави]]
[[mg:Etazonia]]
[[ml:അമേരിക്കൻ ഐക്യനാടുകൾ]]
[[mt:Stati Uniti tal-Amerika]]
[[mi:Hononga-o-Amerika]]
[[mr:अमेरिकेची संयुक्त संस्थाने]]
[[xmf:ამერიკაშ აკოართაფილი შტატეფი]]
[[arz:امريكا]]
[[mzn:متحده ایالات آمریکا]]
[[ms:Amerika Syarikat]]
[[cdo:Mī-guók]]
[[mwl:Stados Ounidos de la América]]
[[mdf:Америконь Соткс]]
[[mn:Америкийн Нэгдсэн Улс]]
[[my:အမေရိကန်ပြည်ထောင်စု]]
[[nah:Tlacetilīlli Tlahtohcāyōtl Ixachitlān]]
[[na:Eben Merika]]
[[nl:Verenigde Staten]]
[[nds-nl:Verienigde Staoten van Amerika]]
[[ne:संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका]]
[[new:संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका]]
[[ja:アメリカ合衆国]]
[[nap:State Aunite d'Amereca]]
[[ce:Ӏамерикан ХӀоьттина Мехкаш]]
[[frr:Feriind Stoote foon Ameerikaa]]
[[pih:Yunitid Staits]]
[[no:USA]]
[[nn:USA]]
[[nrm:Êtats Unnis d'Améthique]]
[[nov:Unionati States de Amerika]]
[[oc:Estats Units d'America]]
[[mhr:АУШ]]
[[or:ଯୁକ୍ତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ଆମେରିକା]]
[[om:USA]]
[[uz:Amerika Qoʻshma Shtatlari]]
[[pa:ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ]]
[[pfl:Verainischde Schdaade vun Ameriga]]
[[pag:United States]]
[[pnb:امریکہ]]
[[pap:Estadonan Uni di Merka]]
[[ps:د امریکا متحده ایالات]]
[[koi:Америкаись Ӧтлаасьӧм Штаттэз]]
[[km:សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក]]
[[pcd:États-Unis Anmérikes]]
[[pms:Stat Unì d'América]]
[[tpi:Ol Yunaitet Stet]]
[[nds:USA]]
[[pl:Stany Zjednoczone]]
[[pt:Estados Unidos]]
[[kaa:Amerika Qurama Shtatları]]
[[crh:Amerika Qoşma Ştatları]]
[[ty:Fenua Marite]]
[[ksh:Vereenichde Staate van Amerika]]
[[ro:Statele Unite ale Americii]]
[[rm:Stadis Unids]]
[[qu:Hukllachasqa Amirika Suyukuna]]
[[rue:Споєны Штаты Америцькы]]
[[ru:Соединённые Штаты Америки]]
[[sah:Америка Холбоһуктаах Штааттара]]
[[se:Amerihká ovttastuvvan stáhtat]]
[[sm:Iunaite Sitete o Amerika]]
[[sa:संयुक्तानि राज्यानि]]
[[sg:ÂKödörö-ôko tî Amerîka]]
[[sc:Istados Unidos de Amèrica]]
[[sco:Unitit States]]
[[stq:Fereende Stoaten fon Amerikoa]]
[[nso:United States of America]]
[[tn:USA]]
[[sq:Shtetet e Bashkuara të Amerikës]]
[[scn:Stati Uniti]]
[[si:ඇමරිකානු එක්සත් ජනපදය]]
[[sd:آمريڪا]]
[[ss:IMelika (live)]]
[[sk:Spojené štáty]]
[[sl:Združene države Amerike]]
[[cu:Амєрїканьскꙑ Ѥдьнѥнꙑ Дрьжавꙑ]]
[[szl:Zjednoczůne Sztaty]]
[[so:Mareykanka]]
[[ckb:ویلایەتە یەکگرتووەکانی ئەمریکا]]
[[srn:Kondre Makandrameki]]
[[sr:Сједињене Америчке Државе]]
[[sh:Sjedinjene Američke Države]]
[[su:Amérika Sarikat]]
[[fi:Yhdysvallat]]
[[sv:USA]]
[[tl:Estados Unidos]]
[[ta:அமெரிக்க ஐக்கிய நாடு]]
[[kab:Iwunak Yedduklen]]
[[roa-tara:Statère Aunìte d'Americhe]]
[[tt:Америка Кушма Штатлары]]
[[te:అమెరికా సంయుక్త రాష్ట్రాలు]]
[[tet:Estadu Naklibur Sira Amérika Nian]]
[[th:สหรัฐอเมริกา]]
[[tg:Иёлоти Муттаҳидаи Амрико]]
[[to:Puleʻanga fakatahataha ʻAmelika]]
[[chr:ᏌᏊᎢᏳᎾᎵᏍᏔᏅᏍᎦᏚᎩ ᎾᎿ ᎠᎺᏰᏟ]]
[[chy:United States]]
[[tr:Amerika Birleşik Devletleri]]
[[tk:Amerikanyň Birleşen Ştatlary]]
[[tw:USA]]
[[udm:Америкалэн Огазеяськем Штатъёсыз]]
[[uk:Сполучені Штати Америки]]
[[ur:ریاستہائے متحدہ امریکہ]]
[[ug:ئامېرىكا قوشما شىتاتلىرى]]
[[za:Meijgoz]]
[[vec:Stati Unii de ła Mèrica]]
[[vep:Amerikan Ühtenzoittud Valdkundad]]
[[vi:Hoa Kỳ]]
[[vo:Lamerikän]]
[[fiu-vro:Ameeriga Ütisriigiq]]
[[wa:Estats Unis]]
[[zh-classical:美國]]
[[vls:Verênigde Stoaten van Amerika]]
[[war:Estados Unidos]]
[[wo:Diiwaan yu Bennoo]]
[[wuu:美国]]
[[ts:United States]]
[[yi:פאראייניקטע שטאטן פון אמעריקע]]
[[yo:Àwọn Ìpínlẹ̀ Aṣọ̀kan Amẹ́ríkà]]
[[zh-yue:美國]]
[[diq:Dewletê Amerikayê Yewbiyayey]]
[[zea:Vereênigde Staeten]]
[[bat-smg:JAV]]
[[zh:美国]]

Revision as of 17:53, 28 February 2013

United States of America
Motto: In God We Trust  (official)
[E Pluribus Unum] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)  (traditional)
(Latin: Out of Many, One)
Anthem: 
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
Location of the United States
CapitalWashington, D.C.
Largest cityNew York City
Official languagesNone at federal level[a]
National languageEnglish (de facto)[b]
Demonym(s)American
GovernmentFederal presidential constitutional republic
• President
Barack Obama (D)
Joe Biden (D)
John Boehner (R)
John Roberts
LegislatureCongress
Senate
House of Representatives
Independence 
• Declared
July 4, 1776
September 3, 1783
June 21, 1788
Area
• Total
9,826,675 km2 (3,794,100 sq mi)[1][c] (3rd/4th)
• Water (%)
6.76
Population
• 2011 estimate
339,281,000[2] (3rd)
• Density
33.7/km2 (87.3/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2011 estimate
• Total
$15.065 trillion[3] (1st)
• Per capita
$48,147[3] (8th)
GDP (nominal)2011 estimate
• Total
$15.065 trillion[4] (1st)
• Per capita
$48,147[3] (15th)
Gini (2007)45.0[1]
Error: Invalid Gini value · 39th
HDI (2011)Increase 0.910[5]
Error: Invalid HDI value · 4th
CurrencyUnited States dollar ($) (USD)
Time zoneUTC−5 to −10
• Summer (DST)
UTC−4 to −10
Date formatm/d/yy (AD)
Driving sideright
Calling code+1
ISO 3166 codeUS
Internet TLD.us .gov .mil .edu
^ a. English is the official language of at least 28 states—some sources give a higher figure, based on differing definitions of "official".[6] English and Hawaiian are both official languages in the state of Hawaii.

^ b. English is the de facto language of American government and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language.

^ c. Whether the United States or the People's Republic of China is larger is disputed. The figure given is from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook. Other sources give smaller figures. All authoritative calculations of the country's size include only the 50 states and the District of Columbia, not the territories.

^ d. The population estimate includes people whose usual residence is in the fifty states and the District of Columbia, including noncitizens. It does not include either those living in the territories, amounting to more than 4 million U.S. citizens (most in Puerto Rico), or U.S. citizens living outside the United States.

The United States of America (also known as America, the U.S., or the U.S.A.) is a country on the continent of North America. It is made up of 50 states and a federal district. The United States was on the winning side of two world wars (see WW1 and WW2) and became one of the world's superpowers. It is famous for its influence over finance, trade, culture, military, politics, and technology.

Government

The United States is a federal republic. The federal government is set up by the Constitution. There are three branches of government. They are the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. State governments work very much like the federal government.

Executive branch

The executive branch is the part of the government that enforces the law. Members of the U.S. Electoral College elect a president who is the leader of the executive branch, as well as the leader of the armed forces. The president decides whether or not the bills that the Legislative branch passes will become laws, and the president may veto a bill. The President may also make "executive orders" to ensure that people follow the law. Two of the most famous executive orders were President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and President Dwight D. Eisenhower's order to send 1,200 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division to allow the Little Rock Nine into a school that refused to admit African Americans students. The president is in charge of many departments that control much of the day-to-day business of government. For example, Department of Commerce makes rules about trade and business. The president chooses the heads of these departments, and also nominates judges at the federal (nation-wide) level. However, the Senate, part of the legislative branch, must agree with all of the people the president chooses. The president may serve two 4-year terms.

Legislative branch

The west side of the United States Capitol, which is home to the United States Congress

The legislative branch is the part of the government that makes laws. The legislative branch is called Congress. Congress is divided into two "houses".

One house is the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is made up of Representatives, who are each elected by voters from an set area within a state. The number of Representatives a state has is based on how many people live there: the more people a state has, the more representatives it gets. Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a census, or count, of the population of the United States. States gain or lose Representatives based on their total population as shown by the census. Representatives serve two-year terms. The total number of representatives today is 435. The leader of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House, who is also the person who would become president if the president and vice president were unable to serve.

The other house is the Senate. In the Senate, each state is represented equally, by two senators. Because there are 50 states, there are 100 senators. Before the President makes treaties or appoints officials, the Senate must approve them. Senators serve six-year terms. The Vice President of the United States serves as president of the Senate, but may only cast votes in order to break a tie vote. In practice, the vice president is usually absent from the Senate, and a senator is selected to serve as president pro tempore, or temporary president, of the Senate.

Representatives and senators propose laws, called "bills", in their respective houses. A bill may be voted upon by the entire house right away or may first go to a small group of members of that house, known as a committee, which may recommend a bill for a vote by the whole house. If one house votes to pass a bill, the bill then gets sent to the other house; if both houses vote for it, it is then sent to the president, who may sign the bill into law or veto it. If the president vetoes the bill, it is sent back to Congress. If Congress votes again and passes the bill with at least a two-thirds majority, the bill becomes law and cannot be vetoed by the president.

Under the American system of federalism, Congress may not make laws that directly control the states; instead, Congress may use the promise of federal funds or extenuating circumstances, such as national emergencies, to encourage the states to follow federal law. This system is both complex and unique.

Judicial branch

The Judicial Branch is the part of government that interprets what the law means. The Judicial Branch is made up of the Supreme Court and many lower courts. If the Supreme Court decides that a law is not allowed by the Constitution, the law is said to be "struck down" and is no longer a valid law. The Supreme Court is made up of nine judges, called justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. One of these justices, called the chief justice, heads the court. A Supreme Court justice serves until he or she dies or resigns (quits in the middle of his or her term). When that happens, the president nominates someone new to replace the justice who left. If the Senate agrees with that choice, the person becomes a justice. If the Senate does not agree with the president's choice, then the president must nominate someone else.

Famous court cases such as Marbury v. Madison (which was decided in 1803) have firmly established that the Supreme Court is the ultimate interpreter of the United States Constitution and has the power to strike down any law that conflicts with it.[8]

History

Politics

The political system of the United States

The United States of America consists of 50 states, 5 territories and 1 district (Washington D.C.). States can make laws about things inside the state, but federal law is usually about things dealing with more than one state or dealing with other countries. In some areas, if the federal government makes laws that say different things from the state laws, people only have to follow the federal government's law because the state law is not a law any more. Each state has a constitution of its own, different from the federal (national) Constitution. Each one of these is like the federal Constitution because they talk about how each state's government is set up, but some also talk about specific laws.

The federal and a lot of state governments are dominated today by two political parties: the Republicans and the Democrats. The third largest political party is the Libertarian Party. Since people give money to the politicians, the politicians must listen those people's opinions. This is called lobbying. All Americans are allowed to lobby the government, but when small groups have a lot of money, they are better at lobbying. Some people think that this is a problem, and want rules to be made to change this.

Since 2009, the president is a Democrat, so Democrats have slightly more power in the federal government. However, there are still many powerful Republicans who can try to stop the Democrats from doing things that they believe will be bad for the country. Also, the Democrats do not always agree with each other on what to do. And if enough people decide to vote against Democrats in the next election, then they will lose power. In a republic like the United States, no party can do whatever they want. All politicians have to argue, compromise, and make deals with each other to get things done. They have to answer to the people and take responsibility for their mistakes.

The USA's large cultural, economic, and military influence has made foreign relations, or relations with other countries, an especially important topic in American politics, and the politics of many other countries.

George Washington, first President.

Land

The country grew from East to West. It conquered and bought lands.

The states are divided into counties. Two states do not use the word "county". Louisiana uses the word "parish". Alaska uses the word "borough".

The United States also consists of several other lands that are not states. Most of these are colonial territories, and are not a part of the Mainland U.S. Some examples are:

The United States also includes one federal district that was split from a state:

The largest city is New York.

The Philippines (islands) was once a possession of the United States, and before that, it was a possession of Spain. Now the Philippines is an independent country. Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and other Pacific island nations were once governed by the United States as a United Nations "Trust Territory", but are now independent.

The U.S. military has bases in many countries. The U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo Bay was rented from Cuba, even after that country had a Communist revolution.

Geography

The United States is the third biggest country in the world. Only Russia and Canada are bigger. Its geography varies a lot and includes:

The climate varies along with the geography, from tropical (hot and wet in summer, warm and dry in winter) in Florida to tundra (cold all year) in Alaska. Large parts of the country have warm summers and cold winters. Some parts of the United States, like parts of California, have a Mediterranean climate.

Economy

The United States has a capitalist economy. The country has low unemployment and inflation, and a large trade deficit (meaning the United States buys more things from other countries than it sells).

The country has rich mineral resources, with many gold, oil, coal and uranium deposits. Farming makes the country among the top producers of, among others, corn (maize), wheat, sugar and tobacco. American produces cars, airplanes and electronics. About 3/4 of Americans work in the service industry.

The top 15 trading partners in terms of total trade are:

  1. Canada
  2. China
  3. Mexico
  4. Japan
  5. Germany
  6. UK
  7. South Korea
  8. France
  9. Taiwan
  10. Netherlands
  11. Brazil
  12. Malaysia
  13. Italy
  14. Singapore
  15. Ireland

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
17903,929,000
18005,308,00035.1%
18107,240,00036.4%
18209,638,00033.1%
183012,866,00033.5%
184017,063,00032.6%
185023,192,00035.9%
186031,443,32135.6%
187038,558,37122.6%
188050,189,20930.2%
189062,979,76625.5%
190076,212,16821.0%
191092,228,53121.0%
1920106,021,56815.0%
1930123,202,66016.2%
1940132,164,5697.3%
1950151,325,79814.5%
1960179,323,17518.5%
1970203,211,92613.3%
1980226,545,80511.5%
1990248,709,8739.8%
2000281,421,90613.2%
2010308,745,5389.7%

The United States of America has people of many different race and ethnic backgrounds. 80% of the people in the United States descend from European immigrants. Many people are descended from Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, Africa, and Italy.[9] 13% of the people in the United States are African-American. Most of them descend from the African slaves that were brought to America. Asian-Americans make up only 5% of the population in America but make up a bigger portion in the west coast. For example in California, Asian-Americans make up 13% of the population of that state. Hispanic-Americans or people of Latin origins make up 15% of the nation. The original peoples, called Native American or American Indians and Inuit (Eskimos) are a very small group.

11% of the people in the United States are foreign born. 18% speak a language other than English at home. For people 25 and older, 80% have are high school graduates while 25% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

The 2000 Census counted self-reported ancestry. It identified 43 million German-Americans, 30.5 million Irish-Americans, 24.9 million African-Americans, 24.5 million English-Americans, and 18.4 million Mexican-Americans.

Money

The social structure of the United States has a big range. This means that some Americans are much, much richer than others. The average (median) income for an American was $37,000 a year in 2002. However, the richest 1% of Americans have as much money as the poorest 90%. 51% of all households have access to a computer and 41% had access to the Internet in 2000, a figure which had grown to 75% in 2004. Globally, less than one percent of people own a computer. Furthermore, 67.9% of American families owned their homes in 2002. In addition, there are 200 million cars in the United States, two for every three Americans and roughly one-third of all cars in the world. The debt has grown to over $13,000,000,000,000.

Religion

Native American religions included various animistic practises, including reverence for nature and spirits. There are multiple religions in the United States. Numerically, the largest religion is Christianity, including denominations such as Catholicism, Protestantism and Mormonism. Other religions include Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Unitarian Universalism, Wicca, Druidry, Baha'i, Raelism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism and Jainism.[10] Religions which were founded within the United States include Eckankar, Satanism and Scientology.

The United States is one of the most religious countries in the Western World, and most Americans believe in God. The number of Christians in the U.S. has gone down. 86.2% called themselves Christian in 1990 and 76.5% said this in 2001.[11] Others included Nones at 13.2%, 2% Buddhist, Jewish 1.3% and 0.5-0.3% for Muslim, agnostic, atheist, Hindu and Unitarian Universalist. There is a large difference between those who say that they belong to a religion and those who are members of a religious body of that religion.[12]

Doubts about the existence of a God, gods or goddesses are higher among young people. Among the non-religious population of the U.S., there are deists, humanists, ignotic, atheists, and agnostics.[13]

Languages

Languages (2007)
English 225.5 million
Spanish, incl. Creole 34.5 million
Chinese 2.5 million
French, incl. Creole 2.0 million
Tagalog 1.5 million
Vietnamese 1.2 million
German 1.1 million
Korean 1.1 million

The United States does not currently have an official language, although the United States Congress has considered officially designating English as such for many years, since it is the most used language, and the language in which the United States Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution are written. Spanish has increased in usage in certain sectors of society, due to a flow of immigrants—especially from Mexico and Cuba. French is also a main language in parts of Louisiana because France once owned the area as a colony.

Culture

American popular culture goes out to many places in the world. It has a large influence on most of the world, especially the Western world. American music is heard all over the world, and American movies and television shows can be seen in most countries.

Federal holidays (For 2013) (Gregorian calendar)

[14]

Date Name Description
January 1 New Year's Day Celebrates the beginning of the year
January 21
(3rd Monday in January)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an African-American civil rights leader
February 18
(3rd Monday in February)
Washington's Birthday Honors all of the American presidents, but specifically George Washington (b. February 22) and Abraham Lincoln (b. February 12)
May 27
(Last Monday in May)
Memorial Day Honors military servicemen, who gave their lives, also marks the traditional start of summer
July 4 Independence Day Celebrates the Declaration of Independence; otherwise known as "The Fourth of July"
September 2
(1st Monday in September)
Labor Day Celebrates the achievements of workers, and marks the traditional end of summer
October 14
(2nd Monday in October)
Columbus Day Honors Christopher Columbus, the man who discovered the Americas for Europe (not celebrated in some states, like Montana)
November 11 Veterans Day Honors all military servicemen (past and present)
November 28
(4th Thursday in November)
Thanksgiving Gives thanks for God's blessings, and the autumn harvest, and marks the traditional beginning of the "holiday season"
December 25 Christmas Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ (non-Christians celebrate it as a winter holiday of peace, friendship, and gift-giving)

Flag

The American flag is made up of 50 stars on a blue background, and has 13 stripes, 7 red and 6 white. It is one of many symbols of the United States like the Bald Eagle. The 50 stars represent the 50 states. The red stands for courage. The blue stands for justice. The white represents peace and cleanness. The 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies.[15]

The US Flag

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "United States". The World Factbook. CIA. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2010-01-05 (area given in square kilometers). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. "U.S. POPClock Projection". U.S. Census Bureau. Figure updated automatically.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "United States". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  4. Cite error: The named reference IMF GDP was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  5. "Human Development Report 2011" (PDF). United Nations. 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  6. Feder, Jody (2007-01-25). "English as the Official Language of the United States—Legal Background and Analysis of Legislation in the 110th Congress" (PDF). Ilw.com (Congressional Research Service). Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  7. {{cite web|url=http://www.footprintnetwork.org/images/uploads/Ecological_Footprint_Atlas_2010.pdf%7Ctitle=Ecological Footprint Atlas 2010|publisher=Global Footprint Network|accessdate=11 July 2011}}
  8. http://www.landmarkcases.org/marbury/home.html
  9. http://www.geolytics.com/?gclid=CK7Nw9bgpJYCFRJ4xgod32jc5g
  10. Media, Minorities, and Meaning: A Critical Introduction - Page 88, Debra L. Merskin - 2010
  11. http://www.gc.cuny.edu/studies/key_findings.htm ARIS 2001[dead link]
  12. http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/statab/sec01.pdf
  13. Merica, Dan (2012-06-12). Pew Survey: Doubt of God Growing Quickly among Millennials
  14. "2013 Federal Holidays". U.S Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  15. USA Flag Meaning. 2009 Retrieved from http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/usa-flag/usa-flag-meaning.html on 16th of September 2010

Other websites

United States government

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