United States: An Introduction

Background

In 1776, thirteen of Britain's American colonies declared independence from the United Kingdom and subsequently gained recognition as the United States of America after the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the nation saw the incorporation of 37 additional states as it expanded across the North American continent and secured various overseas territories. Among the most significant events in the nation's history are the Civil War (1861-65), where the northern Union prevailed over the secessionist Confederacy comprised of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic crisis that resulted in approximately a quarter of the workforce being unemployed. Following triumphs in World Wars I and II, along with the conclusion of the Cold War in 1991, the United States has maintained its status as the world's leading nation-state. Since World War II, the economy has experienced relatively consistent growth, low unemployment rates, and swift technological advancements.