United States of America (USA)

United States of America (USA) Overview Database

General Information:

• Official Name: United States of America (USA)

• Capital: Washington, D.C.

• Largest City: New York City

• Official Language: English (no official language at the federal level)

• Population (2025): Approximately 335 million

• Area: 9.83 million square kilometers (third largest country by land area)

• Currency: United States Dollar (USD)

• Time Zones: The USA spans six primary time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii-Aleutian.

Geography:

• Location: North America, bordered by Canada to the north, Mexico to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country also has territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
  
  

• States: The USA consists of 50 states, along with various territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  
  

• Major Landmarks and Natural Wonders:
  
  

  • Grand Canyon (Arizona)

  • Yellowstone National Park (first national park in the world)

  • Great Smoky Mountains

  • Yosemite National Park

  • Niagara Falls (shared with Canada)

  • Everglades National Park (Florida)

  • Alaska's Denali (formerly Mount McKinley), the highest peak in North America.

• Major Rivers:
  
  

  • Mississippi River

  • Missouri River

  • Colorado River

  • Columbia River

History and Key Historical Events:

1. Pre-Colonial History:
   
   

   • The Indigenous peoples of the Americas, including tribes like the Navajo, Cherokee, Sioux, Iroquois, and Pueblo, have inhabited the continent for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans.

2. Colonization and European Settlement:
   
   

   • 1492: Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World marks the beginning of European exploration in the Americas.

   • 1607: The first permanent English colony, Jamestown, was established in Virginia.

   • 1620: The Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, beginning a significant wave of British colonization.

3. American Revolution (1775-1783):
   
   

   • The Thirteen Colonies fought against British rule and declared independence with the Declaration of Independence in 1776, leading to the creation of the United States.

   • Key Figures: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams.

   • Treaty of Paris (1783): The end of the American Revolution and recognition of American independence by Great Britain.

4. Constitution and Early Republic:
   
   

   • 1787: The U.S. Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, establishing the foundational framework for the government.

   • 1791: The Bill of Rights was ratified, guaranteeing individual freedoms such as freedom of speech and religion.

5. Civil War (1861-1865):
   
   

   • A conflict between the northern states (Union) and the southern states (Confederacy) over issues like slavery and states' rights.

   • The war led to the abolition of slavery, with the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and the passing of the 13th Amendment (1865).

6. World Wars:
   
   

   • World War I (1914-1918): The U.S. entered the war in 1917, playing a decisive role in the Allied victory.

   • World War II (1939-1945): After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. became a leading Allied power, contributing significantly to the defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

7. Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s):
   
   

   • A major movement aimed at ending racial segregation and securing equal rights for African Americans.

   • Key Figures: Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall.

Government and Politics:

• Type of Government: Federal republic with a presidential system.

• President: The President is both the head of state and head of government, elected every four years.

  • Current President (2025): Joe Biden (46th President)

• Congress: The U.S. has a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

  • Senate: 100 members (2 from each state, serving 6-year terms)

  • House of Representatives: 435 members, apportioned by population, serving 2-year terms.

• Supreme Court: The highest judicial authority in the U.S. The Court interprets the Constitution and has the power of judicial review.

• Federalism: The U.S. is governed by a division of powers between the federal government and state governments. States have significant autonomy to enact their own laws.

Economy:

• GDP (2025): Approximately $25 trillion USD (the largest economy in the world).

• Currency: U.S. Dollar (USD)

• Economic Structure:

  • Largest Industries: Technology, financial services, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.

  • Global Influence: The U.S. dollar is the world's primary reserve currency.

  • Key Companies: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google (Alphabet), Tesla, ExxonMobil.

• Natural Resources: The U.S. is rich in resources such as coal, oil, natural gas, timber, and agricultural products.

• Exports: The U.S. is a global leader in technology, aerospace, agricultural products, and services.

Culture and Society:

Multiculturalism:

• The U.S. is known for its cultural diversity, with millions of immigrants from all over the world.

• Major communities: Latino, African American, Asian American, European American, and Native American.

Popular Culture:

• Music: The U.S. is the birthplace of iconic music genres such as jazz, blues, rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, and country. Hollywood is also the global center for the film industry.

• Movies: Hollywood is the global capital of the film industry, producing blockbuster films that dominate worldwide box offices.

• Television: TV shows like Friends, The Simpsons, and Game of Thrones have become cultural phenomena.

Sports:

• American Football: The National Football League (NFL) is one of the most popular and lucrative sports leagues in the U.S.

• Basketball: The National Basketball Association (NBA) has produced many legendary players, such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

• Baseball: Often referred to as "America's pastime," with the Major League Baseball (MLB) being the primary professional league.

• Ice Hockey: National Hockey League (NHL) is also popular, particularly in northern states and regions like Minnesota, Michigan, and New York.

Cuisine:

• American Cuisine: A mix of various regional and ethnic influences. Iconic foods include burgers, hot dogs, apple pie, and barbecue.

• Fast Food: The U.S. is home to fast food giants like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Subway.

Science and Technology:

• The USA is a leader in technology and innovation, producing ground-breaking technologies in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), space exploration, medicine, and renewable energy.

• The U.S. is home to many top universities and research institutions, such as MIT, Harvard, and Stanford.

• NASA, the United States space agency, has been at the forefront of space exploration, landing humans on the Moon and sending probes to distant planets like Mars.

Key Figures in U.S. History:

• George Washington: The first President of the United States and a Founding Father.

• Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President, who preserved the Union during the Civil War and abolished slavery.

• Thomas Jefferson: Principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the U.S.

• Franklin D. Roosevelt: U.S. President during the Great Depression and World War II.

• Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil rights leader and advocate for nonviolent resistance to racism.

• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates: Tech pioneers who founded Apple and Microsoft, respectively, transforming the personal computing world.