Summary

• United States of America


  • Third-largest country in the world by landmass and population
  • Situated in North America between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
  • Varied landscape of mountains, rivers, deserts, and islands
• Official name


  United States of America
• Governance


  Constitution-based federal republic
• Capital


  Washington, D.C.
• Population


  Over 330 million
• Languages


  • Primarily English and Spanish
• Geography


  • Towering mountain ranges like the Rockies and Appalachians
  • Iconic rivers such as the Mississippi and Missouri
  • Great Lakes, including Superior and Michigan
• The U.S. has welcomed immigrants from across the globe, shaping its people and culture
• Regions of the U.S.


  • New England
  • Mid-Atlantic
  • South
  • Midwest
  • Southwest
  • West
• Alaska and Hawaii, located apart from the continental mainland, add further richness to the nation's diversity
• United States


  • Federal republic comprising 50 states
  • Showcases remarkable geographic and demographic diversity
  • Physical landscape encompasses mountains, deserts, forests, and plains
• Population


  • Shaped by centuries of immigration
  • Rich blend of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds
  • Includes surviving Native American communities, descendants of enslaved Africans, and millions of immigrants
• The U.S. has rapidly evolved into a global power, initially focused on territorial expansion and economic growth, weathering social upheavals, including civil war, to emerge as a dominant force in the 20th century
• Physical environment


  • Shaped by both geological and atmospheric factors
  • Expansive interior lowland, flanked by the Appalachian Mountains to the east and the Cordillera mountain range to the west
  • Low Coastal Plain along the Atlantic to the rugged Pacific coastal chain
  • Vast intermontane complex between the Rockies and the Pacific chain
• Around 35,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, humans crossed a land bridge from Asia to North America, eventually settling across the continent
• Groups like the Hohokam and Anasazi built villages, practiced agriculture, and developed unique cultures tied closely to the land
• By the time Europeans arrived in the late 15th century, Native American societies thrived across the continent
• Norse explorers, including Leif Erikson, reached North America around 1000 AD, but permanent European settlements didn't emerge until the 16th century
• Christopher Columbus's voyages in 1492 opened the door for subsequent European powers like Spain, Britain, France, and the Netherlands to claim territories in the "New World"
• Spanish explorers like Juan Ponce de León and Hernando de Soto ventured into present-day Florida and beyond, while others, including Giovanni da Verrazzano and Jacques Cartier, explored the northern reaches of the continent
• The Spanish established the first permanent European settlement at St. Augustine in Florida in the mid-1500s
• It was the English, French, and Dutch who established the enduring colonies that would later form the United States
• Settlements along the Atlantic coast, such as Jamestown, Massachusetts Bay, and New Amsterdam, attracted waves of European immigrants seeking new opportunities in the New World
• The conflict between England and Spain provided an opportunity for English adventurers like Sir Francis Drake to harass Spanish ships and ports, leading to tensions between the two powers
• The Spanish Armada's failed attempt to conquer England marked the end of Spanish dominance at sea and opened the door for English colonization in North America
• The Lost Colony of Roanoke represents one of England's earliest efforts to establish a permanent settlement in America, but it saw repeated failures
• The Virginia Company's establishment and the subsequent founding of Jamestown in 1607 marked a turning point
• The introduction of tobacco cultivation, under the guidance of John Rolfe, provided a lucrative source of income and encouraged private land ownership in Jamestown
• Jamestown's governance evolved over time, with the introduction of representative government through the House of Burgesses in 1619
• The arrival of women and Africans in Jamestown further transformed the colony, leading to changes in social dynamics and labor practices
• Jamestown persisted, eventually becoming England's first royal colony in America in 1624
• Reasons for founding the New England Colonies


  • Seeking religious freedom, notably the Puritans and Separatists
• Mayflower Compact


  Laid the groundwork for self-government and democratic principles in America
• Squanto and Samoset helped Pilgrims survive and forge alliances with local tribes like the Wampanoag
• The Massachusetts Bay Colony, founded in 1630 by the Massachusetts Bay Company, attracted Puritan migrants during the Great Migration, led by John Winthrop
• Strict Puritan beliefs led to the establishment of other colonies like Connecticut and Rhode Island, promoting religious freedom and tolerance
• The Pequot War (1636) and King Philip's War (1675) resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of Native American tribes
• 17th-century England saw political strife between Puritans and King Charles I, leading to civil war and the king's execution in 1649
• Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan leader, rose to power as Protector until his death in 1658
• The monarchy was restored under Charles II, marking the Restoration period