Historical Timeline
1776 (July 4, Thursday): Declaration of Independence from Great Britain
1781 (October 19, Friday): Victory at the Battle of Yorktown, effectively ending the Revolutionary War
1787 (September 17, Monday): The U.S. Constitution is signed
1803 (April 30, Monday): Louisiana Purchase doubles the size of the U.S.
1812 (June 18, Thursday): U.S. declares war on Great Britain (War of 1812)
1846 (May 13, Wednesday): U.S. declares war on Mexico (Mexican-American War)
1861 (April 12, Friday): Civil War begins with the Battle of Fort Sumter
1865 (April 9, Sunday): Civil War ends, General Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House
1929 (October 29, Tuesday): Stock Market Crash, beginning of the Great Depression
1941 (December 7, Sunday): Attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan, U.S. enters World War II
1963 (August 28, Wednesday): Martin Luther King Jr. delivers “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington
1969 (July 20, Sunday): Apollo 11 Moon landing, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the Moon
1974 (August 9, Friday): President Richard Nixon resigns due to the Watergate scandal
1991 (December 26, Thursday): Dissolution of the Soviet Union, Cold War officially ends
2001 (September 11, Tuesday): Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon
2008 (September 15, Monday): Lehman Brothers collapse, triggering a global financial crisis
2011 (May 2, Monday): Osama bin Laden killed in Pakistan by U.S. Navy SEALs
2020 (March 13, Friday): COVID-19 declared a national emergency
2021 (January 6, Wednesday): Capitol Riot as supporters of President Trump storm the U.S. Capitol
2024 (July 20, Saturday): Historic heatwave and wildfires in California, Alaska, and other western states due to climate change
General Information
Continent: North America
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
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Language: English (official), with Spanish and other languages spoken
Currency: United States Dollar (USD)
Population: ~333 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Various (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, Hawaii-Aleutian)
Topography
Borders: Canada, Mexico
Landscape: Varies greatly, from coastal plains to mountainous regions, deserts, and forests
Major Rivers: Mississippi, Missouri, Colorado, Rio Grande, Ohio, Columbia, Snake
Major Mountains: Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, Alaska Range
Deserts: Mojave, Sonoran, Great Basin
Lakes: Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario), Lake Tahoe, Great Salt Lake
Volcanoes: Mount St. Helens, Kilauea, Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, Mount Hood
Highest Point: Denali (Alaska, 6,190 m / 20,310 ft)
Lowest Point: Badwater Basin, Death Valley (California, 86 m / 282 ft below sea level)
Climate: Diverse, ranging from arctic conditions in Alaska to tropical in Florida, temperate in the Midwest, arid in the West
Geological Features: Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Pacific coastline, Appalachian foothills, Great Plains
Demography
Ethnic Groups: Predominantly White (63%), African American (13%), Hispanic or Latino (18%), Asian (6%), Native American (1%)
Religion: Christianity (Protestantism, Catholicism, Mormonism, etc.), Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, secular and unaffiliated
Urban Population: ~82% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~16% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)
Culture
Famous For: Diversity, technological innovation, pop culture (Hollywood, music, sports), democracy, military power
Cuisine: Hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ, pizza, apple pie, fast food, diverse ethnic cuisines (Mexican, Chinese, Italian, etc.)
Arts: Hollywood films, Broadway theatre, jazz, rock, pop music, literature (Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, etc.)
Sports: American football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, tennis, athletics
Popular Festivals: Thanksgiving, Independence Day (July 4), Halloween, Mardi Gras, Superbowl Sunday
Economy
Economy Type: Mixed economy, largest in the world
GDP: Approx. $26.7 trillion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Technology, finance, defense, healthcare, entertainment, agriculture, manufacturing
Key Exports: Machinery, vehicles, electronics, oil, agricultural products, military equipment
Unemployment Rate: ~3.6% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Northeast (finance, tech, education), South (energy, agriculture), Midwest (manufacturing), West (technology, entertainment)
Government
Government Type: Federal republic with a presidential system
Head of State: President Joe Biden (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: President Joe Biden (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral (House of Representatives and Senate)
Constitution: In effect since 1787
Political Parties: Two major parties—Democratic Party, Republican Party
Important Note: The United States also includes several territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Travel Attractions
New York City: Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Empire State Building, Central Park
Washington, D.C.: National Mall, White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial
Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Yellowstone National Park: First national park in the world, located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
Las Vegas: The Strip, casinos, and entertainment
Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park, beaches, and scenic landscapes
Alaska: Denali National Park, Northern Lights
San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Disneyland, Universal Studios
Miami: Beaches, Art Deco district, Everglades National Park