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the usa is consisted of fat people ,gay people and peole who cannot talk
{{dablink|This page is about the country United States of America. For other uses, see the disambiguation pages for ], ] and ].}}
{{Infobox Country <!-- START INFOBOX -->
|native_name = United States of America
|common_name = the United States
|image_flag = Flag of the United States.svg
|image_coat = Great Seal of the US.png|20px
| symbol_type = Great Seal
| national_motto = <br />{{lang|la|'']''}} (1789 to 1956)<br>(] for "Out of many, one")<br>'']'' (1956 to present)
| image_map = LocationUSA.png
| national_anthem = "]"
| official_languages = ];<br>] (])
| capital = ]
| latd=38|latm=53|latNS=N|longd=77|longm=02|longEW=W
| government_type = ]
| leader_title1 = ]
| leader_title2 = ]
| leader_name1 = ]&nbsp;(])
| leader_name2 = ]&nbsp;(])
| largest_city = ]
| area = 9,631,418
| areami² = 3,718,711 <!--Do not remove -->
| area_rank = 3rd<sup>1</sup>
| area_magnitude = 1 E12
| percent_water = 4.87
| population_estimate = 298,217,215 <!-- 2006 midyear population projection from census bureau website http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/usinterimproj/usproj2000-2050.csv (Add male and female figures for RTT row (total resident population) for year 2006 -->
| population_estimate_year = 2006
| population_estimate_rank = 3rd
| population_census = 281,421,906
| population_census_year = 2000
| population_density = 30
| population_densitymi² = 83 <!--Do not remove -->
| population_density_rank = 143rd
| GDP_PPP_year = 2006
| GDP_PPP = $13,049 billion
| GDP_PPP_rank = 1st
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $43,555
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 3rd
| HDI_year=2003
| HDI=0.944
| HDI_rank=10th
| HDI_category=<font color="#009900">high</font>
| sovereignty_type = ]
| established_events = - ]<br>- ]| established_dates = From ]<br> ], ]<br>], ]
| currency = ] ($)
| currency_code = USD
| country_code = USA
| time_zone =
| utc_offset = -5 to -10
| time_zone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST = -4 to -10
| cctld = ] ] ] ] ]
| calling_code = 1
| HDI = 0.944
| HDI_rank = 10th
| footnotes = 1.) Area rank is '']'' with China and sometimes is ranked 3rd or 4th.
}}

The '''United States of America''' (the '''U.S.''', the '''U.S.A.''', the '''States''', the '''United States''', '''America'''<ref>In the U.S., ''America'' is more commonly used to describe the United States and less often to refer to the ] (] and ]). '']'' as a noun to describe an inhabitant or a citizen or national of the United States, and as an adjective meaning "of the United States," has no straightforward unambiguous synonym in ]. Many ] have been proposed, but none has been widely accepted. Also see ].</ref>>, or (poetically) ''']''') is a ] in ]. Founded in 1776, it is the oldest existing ] in the world.<ref>. 2005. ''URL Accessed May 3, 2006.''</ref>
The U.S. originated from thirteen ] in ] that ]. After winning the ], it was recognized as an independent nation by the ] following the ] in 1783. Since then, the U.S. has grown from thirteen to fifty states.

Following the collapse of the ] after the ], the U.S. emerged as the world's ]. <ref>. July/August 2004. Council on Foreign Relations. ''URL accessed May 3, 2006.''</ref>
==History==
{{main|History of the United States}}
Before the ], a process that began at the end of the 15th century, the present-day U.S. was inhabited exclusively by ]s, who arrived on the ] between 50,000 and 11,000 years ago.<ref>. 1999. Smithsonian Institution. ''Accessed May 2, 2006.''</ref> The first successful English settlement was at ], Virginia, in 1607, followed by the ]' landing at ], ]. Within the following two decades, several ] settlements, including ] (later ]), were established; ] was founded by the Swedes in Delaware, and extensive ] settlement of the east coast continued making up the original thirteen colonies that would form the United States of America in 1783.

]
Tensions between American colonials and the British during the ] of the 1760s and 1770s led to open military conflict by 1775. ] commanded the Continental Army during the ] (1775-1783) as the ] signed the ] on ], ]. The ] was formed to found the ], but did not have the authority to levy ]es or make federal laws. In 1787, the ] was ratified by the ] to establish a federal union of sovereign states and the federal government to operate it.<ref>Yanak, Ted and Cornelison, Pam. ''The Great American History Fact-finder: The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of American History''. Page 114. Houghton Mifflin; 2nd Updated edition: August 27, 2004. ISBN 0618439412</ref>

From 1803 to 1848, the size of the new nation nearly tripled as settlers (many entrenched with the concept of ] as an inevitable consequence of ]) pushed beyond national boundaries even before the ].<ref>. Crossroads of Earth Resources and Society. URL accessed on May 4, 2006.</ref> The expansion was tempered somewhat by the stalemate in the ], but was subsequently reinvigorated by victory in the ] in 1848.

], Virginia, 1865. The victory of the Union kept the country unified.]]

As new territories were being incorporated, the nation was divided over the issue of ], the role of the federal government, and the expansion of slavery by the 1820s. The ] were opposed to the expansion of slavery whereas the ] saw the opposition as an attack on their way of life, since their economy was dependent on ]. The failure to resolve these issues led to the ], following the secession of many ]s in the South to form the ] after the ] of ].<ref>Morrison, Michael A ''Slavery and the American West: The Eclipse of Manifest Destiny and the Coming of the Civil War''. Page 176. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0807847968.</ref> The 1865 ] victory in the Civil War effectively ended slavery, as well as settling the question of whether a state had the right to secede. The event was a major turning point in American history, with an increase in federal power.<ref>De Rosa, Marshall L. ''The Politics of Dissolution: The Quest for a National Identity and the American Civil War''. Page 266. Transaction Publishers: January 1, 1997. ISBN 1560003499</ref>

], 1902. Immigration helped spur the American economy.]]
After the Civil War, an unprecedented influx of ], who helped to provide labor for American industry and create diverse communities in ] together with high tariff protections, national infrastructure building, and national banking regulations, hastened the country's rise to international power. The United States subsequently gained new territories as a result of its growing power status, including the annexation of ] after a victory in the ],<ref>Spielvogel, Jackson J. ''Western Civilization: Volume II: Since 1500''. Page 708. Wadsworth Publishing: January 10, 2005. ISBN 0534646042</ref> which marked the beginning of the U.S. as a ].

At the start of the ] in 1914, the U.S. initially decided to maintain its neutrality, but eventually helped the ] turn the tide against the ]. For historical reasons, American sympathies were very much in favor of the British and French, even though a sizable number of citizens, mostly Irish and German, were opposed to intervention.<ref>Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, ''The Reader's Companion to American History.'' Page 576. October 21, 1991. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395513723.</ref> After the war, the Senate did not ratify the ], because of a fear that it would pull the U.S. into European affairs which President Washington had warned against. Instead, the country chose to pursue a policy of ] that bordered at times on being ].<ref>McDuffie, Jerome, Piggrem, Gary Wayne, and Woodworth, Steven E. ''U.S. History Super Review''. Page 418. Research & Education Association: June 21, 2005. ISBN 0738600709</ref>

], 1936.]]
The Depression ruined the lives of many people in the United States, and led to the rise of greater government intervention in the economy beyond that advocated by Hamilton, considered then a patron saint of American capitalism.

During most of the 1920s, the U.S. enjoyed a period of unbalanced prosperity as farm prices fell and industrial profits grew. A rise in debt and an inflated ] culminated in a ] in 1929, triggering the ]. The nation did not fully recover until 1941, when the U.S. was driven to join the ] against the ] after a surprise ] by the Japanese. ] was the costliest war in American history, but helped to pull the economy out of depression as the required production of military materiel provided much-needed jobs and woman entered the workforce in large numbers for the first time.<ref>Walker, John F, and Vatter, Harold G ''The Rise of Big Government in the United States''. Page 63. M.E. Sharpe: May 1997. ISBN 0765600676.</ref>

After World War II, the United States and the ] became rival superpowers in an era of ideological rivalry dubbed the ] (to denote the lack of open, direct military conflict). The U.S. represented ] and ], while the USSR represented ] and a centrally ]. The result was a series of ]s, including the ], the ], and the tense nuclear showdown of the ]. The perception that the U.S. was losing the ] increased government efforts to encourage greater math and science skills in the education system.<ref>Rudolph, John L. ''Scientists in the Classroom: The Cold War Reconstruction of American Science Education''. Page 1. Palgrave Macmillan: May 3, 2002. ISBN 0312295715.</ref>

]" speech, 1963. The ] was of major significance for the U.S.]]

Meanwhile, American society experienced a period of sustained economic expansion. At the same time, discrimination across the U.S., especially in the ], was increasingly challenged by a growing ] headed by prominent African Americans such as ], which led to the abolition of the racist ] in the South.<ref>Klarman, Michael J. ''From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality''. Page 552. Oxford University Press, USA: May 4, 2006. ISBN 0195310187.</ref>

After the ] in 1991, the United States continued to involve itself in military action overseas, such as the ].

Following the ], U.S. foreign policy focused on the threat of ] attacks. In response, the government under ] began a series of military and legal operations termed the ], beginning with the overthrow of Afghanistan's ] government in October 2001. Soon after, the "War on Terror" continued with the controversial ], with support from 30 governments known as ']. This invasion resulted in a wave of ] and large homegrown anti-war movement that increased with the duration of the war. <ref> Steve Schifferes. BBC News. March 18,, 2003. Accessed April 17,, 2006.</ref>

==Government==
The United States is the longest surviving ]al ] with the oldest written ] in the world. Its government operates as a ] through a set of powers specified in the ]. There are three levels of government: federal, state, and local. Officials at all three levels are either elected by voters in a ] or are appointed by other elected officials. Almost all executive and legislative offices are decided by a ] with judicial and cabinet level offices appointmented by the governing party in all but a few cases.

The ] is comprised of three branches designed to apply ] on each other (a ] Branch led by ], an ] Branch led by the ], and a ] Branch led by the ]). The relationship between the state and national governments is complex due to the country's ]; under U.S. law, states are considered sovereign entities. However, the ] and '']'' established that states do not have the right to secede, and under the ], they are not allowed to conduct ]. ] overrides ] in the areas that the federal government is empowered to act, but the powers of the federal government are subject to limits outlined in the ]. All powers not granted to the federal government in the Constitution are duly appropriated to the states or the people themselves. However, the "]" and "]" clauses of the Constitution legally allows the extension of federal powers into other affairs.

===Civil rights and liberty===
{{main|Human rights in the United States}}
] signing the controversial ], October 26, 2001.]]

The Constitution of the United States contains a dedication to "preserve ]" with a "]" that guarantees ], ], ], the ], ], ], and ]. However, although the United States is committed to the Western ideology to pursue human rights, the extent to which these rights are available in practice is debated as various forms of ethnic ] were not legally prohibited until the 1964 ]. However, discrimination is fading with a more tolerant culture and the passage of numerous anti-discrimination laws, embraced by the majority of Americans.

Following the ] and the ensuing ], the continuation of this debate has surrounded the ] and other measures including domestic spying,<ref></ref> which opponents criticize as unnecessary and see them as a potential danger to traditional ] and functional ]. However, proponents claim they are necessary to preserve the country's security.<ref>. July 21, 2003. Common Dreams News Center. ''Accessed May 2, 2006''.</ref>

===Foreign relations===
{{main|Foreign relations of the United States}}
] and ], with first ladies ] and ], wave from the White House. The ] with the ] is complex and closely watched by international observers.]]
The United States has large economic, political and military influence on a global scale, which makes its foreign policy a subject of great interest and discussion around the world. Almost all countries have embassies in ] and ]s around the country. However, a few do not have formal diplomatic relations with the United States, which include ], ], ], and ].<ref>. February 2003. U.S. Department of Justice. ''URL accessed May 30, 2006''.</ref> The U.S. is a founding member of the ] (with a permanent seat on the ]), among many other ].

In the effort to contain the Soviets during the ], the U.S. founded ], which compels the country to defend against a foreign invasion of any NATO state in North America and Europe. In an example of ], the U.S. also established diplomatic relations with Communist countries that were antagonistic to the Soviet Union, like the ] during the ]. In recent times, the United States has not only fought against terrorism but the proliferation of ]. Calls by an overwhelming majority of American citizens continue for increased border security against ] and the shipment of ], with their primary goal of protecting American interests and the safety of its citizens at home and abroad, including terrorists coming across the Mexican-United States border.<ref name=ISSUES>. April 20, 2006. CIA World factbook. Accessed April 30, 2006.</ref>

There are several territorial disputes, such as the ], ], ], and areas around ] and ] with ], and ], which is claimed by ]. There is also a maritime boundary dispute with the ].<ref name=ISSUES>. April 20, 2006. CIA World factbook. Accessed April 30, 2006.</ref>

==Military==
{{main|Military of the United States}}
]s like the ] are a major component of the U.S.'s system of ].]]

The United States has a long standing tradition of civilian control over military affairs. The Armed Forces of the United States are highly respected across the country and are honored with monuments in almost every community to the heroic deeds of past generations.

The ] administers the United States ] (consisting of the ], the ], and the ], which includes the ]). The ] falls under the jurisdiction of the ] in ], but is placed under the ] in times of ].

The military of the United States comprises 1.4 million ] on ],<ref>. 2002. ''Accessed May 2, 2006.''</ref> along with several hundred thousand each in the ] and the ]. Service in the military is voluntary, though conscription may occur in times of war. The U.S. is considered to have the most powerful high-tech military in the world because it spends a significant amount on traditional-warfare power projection capabilities, and American defense expenditures are estimated to be greater than the ]. However, this budget is only about 4% of the country's GDP,<ref>. June 1, 2006. ]. ''URL accessed June 3, 2006.''</ref> which is historically fairly low.<ref>{{cite web | author = Truth and Politics | title = Relative Size of US Military Spending from 1940 to 2003 | url = http://www.truthandpolitics.org/military-relative-size.php | accessdate = May 26 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> As of September 2004, the U.S. maintains ] worldwide on every continent besides ].<ref>. ''Accessed June 1 2006.''</ref>

==States and territories==
{{main|Political divisions of the United States}}
] and the ] ] are omitted from this map.</ref>]]
The contiguous part of the U.S. (i.e. without ] and ]) is called the ] and consists of forty-eight states. Alaska exists apart from the mainland with Canada in-between whereas Hawaii exists as an Island state in the Pacific making in total fifty states that have grown from the original thirteen states.

The United States also holds several other territories, districts, and possessions, notably the ] of the ], which contains the nation's capital city of Washington, and several overseas ]s, the most significant of which are ], ], the ], ], and the ]. ] is the United States' only ], however it is currently ] and uninhabited. In addition, the ] possesses a lease to an extensive ] in ], ] since 1898.

==Geography and climate==
{{main|Geography of the United States}}
]
] vegetation and ]s prevail in the east, transitioning to ], ] forests, and the ] in the west, and ]s in the southwest. In the northeast, the coasts of the ] and ] host much of the country's population.
]]
], near the ] in the southwest.]]
], an active volcano in the northwest.]]
The United States is the world's third largest country by land area after ] and ].<ref>. April 20, 2006. CIA World Factbook. ''URL accessed May 3, 2006.''</ref> It is bounded by the ] to the east, the ] to the west, ] to the south, and ] to the north. Alaska also borders Canada and has the Pacific Ocean to the south, and the ] to the north. The island state of Hawaii is situated in the Pacific, southwest of the ]n mainland.

The U.S. has the most varied geography of any country. The eastern seaboard has a ] which is widest in the south and almost nonexistant in the north. Beyond the coastal plain, the rolling hills of the ] region end at the ] which rise above 6,000&nbsp;feet (1,830&nbsp;m) in ] and ]. From the west slope of the Appalachians, the ] ] is relatively flat and is the location of the ] as well as the ]-], the world's fourth longest river system.<ref>. 2004. Visit Bemidji- First City on the Mississippi. ''URL accessed May 3, 2006.''</ref> West of the Mississippi River, the prairie slopes uphill and blends into the relatively flat and featureless ]. The abrupt rise of the ] at the western edge of the great plains, extends the entire width of the continental U.S., reaching altitudes over 14,000&nbsp;feet (4,270&nbsp;m) in ].<ref>Peakbagger.com, , ''URL accessed May 3, 2006.''</ref> Dozens of mountain ranges and valleys are found in the ] region which also has deep chasms including the ] and ]. At the western end of the great basin, ] lies below sea level and is the lowest point in the western hemisphere. Immediately to the west, the ] mountain range has ], the highest peak in the continental U.S. Along the Pacific coast, the ] and the ] ] extend across the width of the country. Alaska has numerous mountain ranges, including ], the highest peak in North America. Numerous volcanoes can be found throughout the ] and ] extending south and west of the Alaskan mainland. The Hawaiian islands are ] extending over 1,500&nbsp;miles (2400&nbsp;km), and consisting of six larger islands and another dozen smaller ones that are inhabited.

The ] of the U.S. is as varied as its landscape. Along the northern reaches of Alaska, ] and ] conditions can be found. Here, the temperature has been recorded as low as minus 80 °F (&minus;62 °C).<ref>Williams, Jack , ''USA today'', ''URL accessed June 13, 2006.''</ref> On the other end of the spectrum, Death Valley once posted the second highest temperature ever recorded on Earth at 134 °F (56.7 °C).<ref>Death-Valley.us, , ''Death Valley Weather Facts'', ''URL accessed June 13, 2006.''</ref> The northern states near the Canadian border receive the most snowfall with the greatest quantities in the northeast, the Cascade Range in ] and on the highest peaks of the northern Rocky Mountains. Generally, the east is moist and the west is dry with quantities of rainfall diminishing significantly in the great plains. Along the northwestern Pacific coast, moisture levels are higher than anywhere else in the continental U.S., but Hawaii receives even more, with 250&nbsp;inches (635&nbsp;cm) measured annually on some islands. Some areas of the southwestern deserts receive less than 10&nbsp;inches (25&nbsp;cm) annually.<ref>Hereford, Richard, et al, , ''U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 117-03'', ''URL accessed June 13, 2006.''</ref> In the central portions of the U.S., ]es are more common than anywhere else on Earth, with the spring and summer being the most likely seasons for them. Deadly and destructive ]s occur almost every year along the Atlantic seaboard and the ]. The Appalachian region and midwest experience the worst floods, though virtually no area is immune to them.<ref>O'Connor, Jim E. and John E. Costa, , ''U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1245'', ''URL accessed June 13, 2006.''</ref>

==Flora and Fauna==
The U.S. has over 17,000 native plant and tree species that have been identified, including 5,000 just in the state of California.<ref>Morse, Larry E., et al, , ''Our Living Resources, U.S. Department of the Interior'', ''URL accessed June 14, 2006.''</ref> With habitats ranging from tropical to arctic, the flora of the U.S. is the most diverse of country, yet thousands of non-native ] species sometimes adversely affect indigenous plant and animal communities. Over 400 species of mammals, 700 species of birds, 500 species of reptiles and amphibians and 90,000 species of insects have been documented. Many plants and animals are very localized in their distribution and some are in danger of extinction.<ref>National Biological Service, , ''URL accessed June 14, 2006.''</ref> The U.S. enacted the ] in 1973, to protect native plant and animal species and the habitats they reside in.

Conservation has a long history in the U.S., and in 1872 the world's first ] was established at ]. Over 50 more national parks and hundreds of other federally managed parks and forests have been created since.<ref>National Park Service, , ''National Park Service News release'' (February 28, 2006), ''URL accessed June 13, 2006.''</ref> In some sections of the country, ] areas have been established to ensure long term protection for pristine habitats. The ] monitors ] and ] and has set aside numerous areas for species protection. Altogether, the U.S. government owns 653,299,090&nbsp;acres (2,643,807&nbsp;km²) which is 28.8% of the total land area of the U.S.<ref>Republican Study Committee, , (May 19, 2005), ''URL accessed June 13, 2006.''</ref> The bulk of this land is protected park and forestland, but some is leased for ] exploration, ] and to cattle ranchers.

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of the United States}}
===Overview===
], in ], ], represents the status of the US as a major global financial power.]]
]. ] is a major contributor to the American economy.]]
The ] has its roots in the marginally successful colonial economies that progressed to largest industrial nation in the world by the turn of the 20th Century. Over the course of the 19th Century and early 20th Century, the United States grew into a large industrialized ], making up approximately a fifth of the ].<ref>. April 26, 2000. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. ''URL accessed May 3, 2006.''</ref>

The economic system of the United States can be described as a ]-], in which ]s and other private firms make the majority of ] decisions, and governments prefer to take a smaller role in the domestic economy, although the combined role of all levels of government is relatively large, at 36% of the GDP. The U.S. has a small ], and regulation faced by ] is slightly below the average of developed countries.<ref> by ]. ''URL accessed May 13, 2006.''</ref>

Economic activity varies greatly across the country. For example, ] is the center for ], ], ], and ] industries, while ] is the most important center for ] and ] production. The ] is a major center for technology. The ] is known for its reliance on manufacturing and heavy industry, with ] serving as the center of the American ]. The ] is a major area for ], ], and the ] industry.

The largest sector in the United States economy is ], which employs roughly three quarters of the work force.<ref>. 2006. Toward a Learning Economy. ''URL accessed May 3, 2006.''</ref> The economy is fueled by an abundance in ]s such as ], ], and ]s. However, the country still depends much of its energy source on foreign countries. In ], the country is a top producer of ], ], ], and ], with the ] labeled as the "breadbasket of the world" for their tremendous agricultural output.<ref>Frazier, Ian. ''Great Plains.'' Page 9. May 4, 2001. Picador; 1st Picado edition. ISBN 0312278500</ref> The U.S. has a large tourist industry, ranking third in the world,<ref>. May 8, 2000. ITA Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. ''URL accessed May 3, 2006.''</ref> and is also a major exporter in ] such as ]s, ]s, ], and ]. The largest trading partner of the United States is ] (19%), followed by the ], ], and ].

===Income distribution===
While the per-capita income of the United States is among the highest in the world, the wealth is comparatively concentrated, with approximately 40% of the population being worse off than most of ] and the top 20% being substantially richer.<ref>. September 1995. Nuffield College in Oxford. ''URL accessed June 3, 2006.''</ref> In addition, the ] of the U.S. is relatively low and has been characterized since 1975 as a "two-tier labor market," in which practically all the income gains have gone to the top 20% of households. The low social mobility has been blamed on how many at the bottom of American society lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top (mainly because of high tuition costs and practices like ]) and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits.<ref>. June 1, 2006. ]. ''URL accessed June 3, 2006.''</ref><ref>. December 29, 2004. ]. ''URL accessed June 6, 2006.''</ref>

===Science and technology===
{{main|Science and technology in the United States}}
] poses for ] on the moon during the ] mission, 1969.]]
The United States is an influential country in scientific and technological research and the production of ]. During ], the U.S. was the first to develop the ], ushering in the ]. Since the country was relatively undamaged by the war, it was able to revive scientific and technological progress in a short period of time. During the beginnings of the ], the U.S. began emulating ] successes in space science and technology, leading to a ] between the two nations. Two-way demonstrations of technological might were a prominent feature in the race, which led to rapid advances in ], ], ], ], and many other areas, culminating the first visit of a man to the moon, when ] stepped off of ] in July 1969.<ref>. September 20, 2002. NASA. ''Accessed May 2, 2006.''</ref>
In the sciences, the United States has a large share of ], especially in the fields of ] and ]. The ], a focal point for biomedical research in the United States, has contributed to the completion of the ].<ref>. 2006. National Human Genome Research Institute- National Institutes of health. ''Accessed May 2, 2006''.</ref> The main governmental organization for ] and space research is the ]. Many corporations also play an important role, such as ] or ].

===Transportation===
{{main|Transportation in the United States}}
], a sophisticated and well maintained road network near ].]]

The ] industry took off very early in the United States in comparison with other countries; so much of the transportation development in the country has been centered around the construction of a network of high-capacity ]s. From data taken in 2004, there are about 3,981,521 ]s (6,407,637&nbsp;]) of roadways in the U.S., the most in the world.<ref>. April 20, 2006. CIA World Factbook. Accessed April 30, 2006.</ref>

Despite the popularity of cars, ] systems are also available in large cities, such as ], which operates one of the busiest ] systems in the world. However, in comparison to ] and ], the United States has an underdeveloped ] network, lacking ] connecting major cities.

] is the preferred means of travel for long distances, the busiest being ]. There are also several major ]s in the United States, with the three busiest being the ], the ], and the ].

==Demographics==
{{main articles|] and ]}}

As of June 2006, there are an estimated 298,967,801 people in the United States, with a population growth rate of about 0.59%.<ref name=POP>. June 12, 2006. American Fact Finder. Accessed June 13th, 2006.</ref> According to ], about 79 percent of the population lives in urban areas,<ref>. United States Census 2000. ''URL accessed May 29, 2006.''</ref> and the country has 31 ethnic groups with at least one million members each, with numerous others represented in smaller amounts.<ref>. Ancestry: 2000 - Census 2000 Brief. ''URL accessed May 29, 2006.''</ref>

The United States has dozens of ], which play an important role in U.S. culture, heritage, and economy. In 2004, 251 ]s had populations of at least 100,000 and nine had populations greater than 1,000,000, including 11 of the world's 55 ], such as ], ], and ]. In addition, there are fifty ] with populations over 1,000,000.{{fact}}
===Population===
]
The majority of Americans descend from ]an ]; this majority, which has been declining since 1965, is expected to be reduced to a ] by 2050 if current immigration trends continue.

The largest ethnic group of European ancestry is ] at 15.2 percent, followed by ] (10.8%), ] (8.7%), ] (5.6%) and ]n (3.7%). Many immigrants also hail from ] countries, such as ] and ], as well as from ].<ref>. 2000. U.S. Census Bureau. ''URL accessed May 30, 2006.''</ref> ], or Blacks, first arrived as slaves from ], particularly between 1690 and 1808. In the early years, most of the African American population was concentrated in the ]; but today African Americans live throughout the country, with a concentration in the ] of the ]. ], such as ] and ], make up only a very small percentage of the total population, with about 35 percent of them living on ].<ref>. March 2006. fedgazette. ''URL accessed May 3, 2006''.</ref>

Current demographic trends include the immigration of ] from ] into the ], a region that is home to about 60 percent of the 35 million Hispanics in the U.S. Immigrants from ] make up about 66 percent of the Hispanic community,<ref>. United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. ''Accessed May 2, 2006.''</ref> are second only to the German-descent population in the single-ethnic category. The Hispanic population, which has been growing at an annual rate of about 58 percent since the 1990s, is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades, due largely to illegal migration .<ref>. January 5, 2006. FacsNet. ''Accessed May 2, 2006''.</ref> Most ], including ] and ], are concentrated on the ] and ],<ref>. 1996. AskAsia.org. ''Accessed May 2, 2006''.</ref> with a growing concentration in the ] metropolitan area, as well as the northern Virginia suburbs of ]. The largest groups are from the ], ], ], ], ], and ].

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the population of the United States will reach 300 million people in October 2006.<ref>. January 13 2006. ABC News. ''Accessed May 21, 2006.''</ref>

===Language===
{{Main|Languages in the United States}}
Although the U.S. has no official language, it is largely monolingual with ] being the ],<ref>. May 21, 2006. The Associated Press. ''URL accessed May 21, 2006.''</ref> which is spoken by about 82 percent of the population as a native language and nearly everyone as a daily language. There have been moves in the past to make English the ], but so far, this has been a minor political issue. Even though English is not the official language, knowledge of it is required to become a naturalized citizen. Twenty-seven states recognize English as an official language, and three states recognize other languages along with English - ] in ], ] in ], and ] in ].<ref>. Englishfirst.org. ''URL accessed May 21, 2006.</ref>

===Religion===
{{main|Religion in the United States}}
]. The ] is well-known for its large Christian population.]]

The United States is overwhelmingly Christian with ] denominations making up the majority at 52 percent, followed by ] (24%), Mormon (1%), Jewish (1-3%), Muslim (1%), other (10%), and none (variously estimated at 10% to 15%).<ref name=POP>. April 20, 2006. CIA World Factbook. Accessed May 1, 2006.</ref> The country is also noteworthy for its relatively high level of religiosity among developed nations. About 46 percent of American adults attend church at least once a week (not counting weddings, funerals and christenings), compared with 14 percent of adults in Great Britain, 8 percent in France, and 7 percent in Sweden. Moreover, 58 percent of Americans say they often think about the meaning and purpose of life, compared with 25 percent of the British, 26 percent of the Japanese, and 31 percent of West Germans.<ref>. November 17, 2003. University of Michigan News Service. ''URL accessed May 29, 2006.''</ref> However, this rate is not uniform across the country as regular attendance is more common in the ], composed largely of ] and ] states, than in the ] or the ].<ref name=RELIGION>. 2004. ABC News. ''Accessed May 2, 2006.''</ref> Examples of the prevalence of religious conviction in the U.S. are local laws forbidding the selling of alcoholic beverages on Sunday.

In the South, ] constitute the largest group, followed by ].<ref>. May 2001. Documenting the American Truth. ''Accessed May 2, 2006.''</ref> Roman Catholicism is predominant in the Northeast, the Southwest, and in large parts of the Midwest.<ref>Erwin Fahlbusch (Editor), Jan Milic Lochman (Editor), John Mbiti (Editor), Jaroslav Jan Pelikan (Editor), Lukas Vischer (Editor), Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Translator). ''The Encyclopedia of Christianity: J-O.'' Page 597. August 2003. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 0802824153</ref> The ], or the Mormon Church, is the predominant religion in the state of ], with significant populations in other parts of the country as well.<ref>Hinckley, Gordon B. July 1997. Wall Street Journal. ''Accessed May 2, 2006''.</ref>

The ] explicitly forbids the establishment of religion by the government or restrictions on the freedom of religious expression, and the ] has held up what is called the rule of ]. However, in practice, some elected representatives make decisions on a religious basis.

===Education===
{{main|Education in the United States}}
]s include the ], one of many highly regarded public universities supported by taxpayers at the state level of government.]]
Education in the United States, has been a state or local, not federal, responsibility, which means the laws and standards vary considerably. However, the ] of the federal government exerts some influence through its ability to control funding. In most states, students are generally obliged to attend mandatory schooling in ]s starting with ], and ending with the 12th grade, which is normally completed at age 18, but many states may allow students to drop out at the age of 16. Besides ]s, parents may also choose to educate their own children at ] or to send their children to ] or ]s.

After ], students may choose to attend universities, either ] or ]. Public universities receive funding from the federal and state governments, as well as other sources, but students still have to pay student loans after graduation. Tuition at private universities is generally much higher than at public universities.

There are many competitive ] in the United States, both private and public. The United States has 168 universities in the world's top 500, 17 of which are in the top 20.<ref> by Shanghai Jiao Tong university. URL accessed on May 16, 2006.</ref> There are also many smaller universities and ] colleges, and local ]s of varying quality across the country with open admission policies.

The United States has a low literacy rate as compared to other developed countries, with a reading ] at 86-98% of the population over age 15,<ref name=EDU>, U.S. Department of Education, 2003. Accessed May 13, 2006. 2% of the population do not have minimal literacy and 14% have Below Basic prose literacy.</ref> while ranking below average in science and mathematics.<ref>, ], reading literacy, science literacy and mathematics literacy all rank near the bottom of OECD-countries.</ref>

===Public health===
{{main|Health care in the United States}}

The United States has a health-care system that is ranked 37th by the ] (WHO), far below the average of developed nations.<ref> 1997. World Health Organization. Accessed May 1, 2006.</ref> However, the country spends a notable amount on research. For example, research done at the ] (NIH) has contributed to a sharp decrease in mortality from ], the number-one killer in the United States, which dropped 41 percent between 1971 and 1991.<ref name=HEALTH>. USINFO.STATE.GOV. ''Accessed May 2, 2006''.</ref> The death rate for ]s decreased by 59 percent during the same period.<ref>. 2002. American Heart Association. ''Accessed May 2, 2006.''</ref> Since 1964, when the ] first warned Americans about the ], the percentage of smokers has declined from almost 50 percent to approximately 25 percent.<ref name=HEALTH>. USINFO.STATE.GOV. ''Accessed May 2, 2006''.</ref> Smoking is no longer permitted in most public buildings or on trains, buses, and airplanes due to concerns over second-hand smoke, although many oppose these restrictions due to liberty concerns. Like most countries, the federal government encourages Americans to exercise regularly and to eat healthily, including large quantities of ]s and ]s, which contributed to a per capita increase in fruit consumption of about 20 percent since 1970. More than 40 percent of Americans ] or play a ] as part of their regular routine.<ref name=HEALTH>. USINFO.STATE.GOV. ''Accessed May 2, 2006''.</ref>

Compared to other developed countries, health level in the United States is ranked low (72nd) by WHO and infant mortality rate is high (5 per 1,000); only ]'s is higher at 6 per 1,000.<ref> 1997. World Health Organization. Accessed May 1, 2006.</ref> <ref>. May 9, 2006. Associated Press. ''URL accessed May 9, 2006''.</ref> ] is also a ] problem, which is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars every year.<ref>. January 21, 2004. BBC News. ''URL accessed May 12, 2006.</ref> ] has affected about 950,000 people as of 2003.<ref name=POP>. April 20, 2006. CIA World Factbook. Accessed May 1, 2006.</ref> Unlike most Western governments, the U.S. government does not guarantee ] to its citizens, leading to a notably high number of people suffering from lack of proper healthcare. Several proposals have been made but failed to gain support among lawmakers and several initiatives have failed as well, notably in Massachusetts and Oregon.<ref>. October 18, 2004. The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. ''URL accessed May 24, 2006.''</ref><ref>. December 2002. The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. ''URL accessed May 24, 2006.''</ref> However, government spending on health care is the highest of any country in the world with major programs like ] and ].<ref>, by Yves Engler, ''ZMag'', April 2004, Volume 17, Number 4.</ref> Private charities also play a huge role in providing health care. Health insurance in the United States is traditionally a benefit of employment, which is mandated by law in many cases. Also, emergency care facilities are required to provide service regardless of the patient's ability to pay. However, medical bills are overwhelmingly the most common reason for personal bankruptcy in the United States.<ref>, by David U. Himmelstein, Elizabeth Warren, Deborah Thorne, and Steffie Woolhandler, published at Health Affairs journal in 2005, ''Accessed May 10, 2006''.</ref>

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of the United States}}
], ], and the ].]]

Due to immigration in United States history, American culture has been a ] of different cultures around the world. This is apparent in areas such as ], where Native American ingredients like ], ], ], and ] have become integral parts of American culture. Such popular icons as ]s, ], and ]s are all derived from European dishes. ] and ]s similarly have their origins in Mexico. However, many of the food items now enjoyed worldwide either originated in the United States or were substantially altered by American chefs.
===Music===
The ] also traces to the country's melting pot population through a diverse array of styles. ], ], ], ], and ] are among the country's most internationally renowned ]s. Since the beginning of the 20th century, popular recorded music from the United States has become increasingly known across the world, to the point where some forms of American ] are listened to almost everywhere.<ref>Provine, Rob with Okon Hwang and Andy Kershaw. "Our Life Is Precisely a Song" in the ''Rough Guide to World Music, Volume 2'', pg. 167. ISBN 1858286360.</ref>
===Cinema===
However, not all American culture is derived from some other form found elsewhere in the world. For example, the birth of ], as well as its radical development, can largely be traced back to the United States. In the early 20th century, the first recorded instance of photographs capturing and reproducing motion was ]'s series of photographs of a ], which he captured in ] using a set of still cameras placed in a row. Since then, the American film industry, centered in Hollywood, California, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world. Other areas of development include the ] and ]'s ]s, which saw widespread popularity and influence, especially in Japanese ], and ].

{{see also|Arts and entertainment in the United States|Media of the United States|Dance of the United States|Architecture of the United States|Holidays of the United States|Lists of Americans}}
===Sports===
{{main|Sports in the United States}}
], 2006. ] is the most popular ] in the United States.<ref>Maccambridge, Michael. ''America's Game : The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation''. October 26, 2004. Random House. ISBN 0375504540</ref>]]

The United States is predominantly a ] society with the majority of the adult population having little or no leisure-time for physical activity.<ref> by ], 2005</ref> Watching ]s is a national pastime, and playing sports, especially, ], ], and ] is very popular on the ] level. Professional sports in the U.S. is big business and its athletes are well compensated. The majority of the world's highest paid athletes play team sports in the United States.<ref>. June 24, 2004. Forbes.com. ''Accessed May 2, 2006.''</ref> The "Big Four" sports include ], ], ], and ]. Other popular sports include ] especially NASCAR. ], originally played by some of the indigenous tribes, is a visible sport and growing. ](football elsewhere) is a popular participatory sport, especially among children, but it does not yet have a large following as a ] in contrast to its extreme popularity in other countries. The United States is among the most influential regions in shaping three popular ]&mdash;], ], and ]&mdash;which have many competitions and a large dedicated subculture. Eight ] have been hosted in the ]. The U.S. generally fares very well in them, especially the ]&mdash;for instance, in the ], the country topped the ] with a record 103 medals (35 gold, 39 silver and 29 bronze).<ref>. ABC News. ''Accessed May 3, 2006''.</ref>

===American Dream===
{{main|American Dream}}
] in ]]]
The ''American Dream'' is a faith held by many in the United States that through hard work, courage, and determination, rather than being born in a particular social class, one can ], usually in terms of financial prosperity and often through ].<ref>Boritt, Gabor S. ''Lincoln and the Economics of the American Dream''. Page 1. December 1994. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252064453.</ref> It is related to a historic belief that the country is a "], a light unto the nations,"<ref>]. . January 14, 1989. ''URL accessed June 3, 2006.''</ref> which were values held by many early European settlers that have been passed on to subsequent generations. The American Dream has been a major factor in attracting immigrants to the United States.

==See also==
{{portal}}
{{main|List of United States-related topics}}
*]
*]

==References==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>

==Further reading==
{{sisterlinks|United States}}
<div class="references-small">
*Johnson, Paul M. ''A History of the American People''. 1104 pages. Harper Perennial: March 1, 1999. ISBN 0060930349.
*Litwak, Robert S. ''Rogue States and U.S. Foreign Policy : Containment after the Cold War''. 300 pages. Woodrow Wilson Center Press: February 1, 2000. ISBN 0943875978.
*Nye, Joseph S. ''The Paradox of American Power : Why the World's Only Superpower Can't Go It Alone''. 240 pages. Oxford University Press, USA; New Ed edition: May 1, 2003. ISBN 0195161106.
*Susser, Ida (Editor), and Patterson, Thomas C. (Editor). ''Cultural Diversity in the United States: A Critical Reader''. 476 pages. Blackwell Publishers: December 2000. ISBN 0631222138.
*Whalen, Edward. ''The United States Of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy''. 320 pages. The Penguin Press HC: November 4, 2004. ISBN 1594200335.
*Pierson, Paul. ''Politics in Time : History, Institutions, and Social Analysis''. 208 pages. Princeton University Press: August 9, 2004. ISBN 0691117152.
</div>

==External links==
'''Government'''
* - Gateway to governmental sites
* - Official site of the President of the United States
* - Official site of the United States Senate
* - Official site of the United States House of Representatives
* - Official site of the Supreme Court of the United States

'''Overviews'''
* Updated regularly by U.S. Bureau of the Census.
* - Published by the United States Information Agency, September 1997.
*
*

'''History'''
*
*
* - Links to historical statistics of USA

'''Maps'''
* at ]
*
*

'''Immigration'''
* USCIS.gov.
* Immihelp.com - from an immigrant to future immigrants.
*

{{US ties}}
{{US_topics}}
{{United States}}
{{North America}}

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Revision as of 08:54, 14 June 2006

the usa is consisted of fat people ,gay people and peole who cannot talk