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| Official Abbreviation US | Currency United States Dollar (USD) | Population 295,734,000 | Language English |
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| News for United States | | news |
| The United States of America is, in historical terms, the world's upstart. Although it has been a home to native Americans for more than 12,000 years, and was visited by intrepid Asian and Scandinavian explorers, America in its current incarnation began with the European exploration of the area in the 16th and 17th centuries. Spanish colonists settled parts of the southwest and Florida and the first British colony, Jamestown, was founded on the country's east coast in 1607.
This British settlement expanded but the colonies weren't happy with the management. In 1775 the Revolutionary War broke out, which lasted nearly a decade and eventually guaranteed the new United States their independence. The nascent country grew, eventually expanding to the pacific coast by the mid-1800s. In the 1860s the country was divided, north against south, over the issue of slavery, and a bloody civil war ensued. Slavery was eventually abolished but the civil rights movement continued throughout the 1900s and racial inequality remains an issue today.
During the first and second World Wars, the United States became a major international force, and emerged form WWII as the globe's hegemon. Since then it got embroiled in the long "Cold War" against the USSR and currently finds itself tangled up in the Middle East.
The 20th century has been called the "American Century." We'll see what the 21st century has in store. But America remains an incredible place to visit. Although the history here is relatively new, it is powerful. The statue of liberty and the Civil War battlefields are incredible testaments to the country's inspiring roots and growing pains. America has also become a cultural powerhouse, pioneering art movements and new musical genres like jazz and hip-hop, and providing pop culture to the world via Hollywood. The country has many world-class museums, theaters and music venues, which tend to be concentrated in New England and California. And the country also has some of the most breathtaking and varied natural scenery in the world, from the giant sequoias to the Grand Canyon to the Florida everglades.
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