America

America is a term with multiple meanings. In common usage, it most often refers to the United States of America, a country located in the central and eastern part of North America. In a broader geographic sense, 'America' can refer to the two continents of North and South America, together known as the Americas.

The United States spans a wide range of landscapes, from coastlines along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, deserts, and tropical Hawaii. Alaska extends across boreal and Arctic environments. The Americas as a whole cover varied climates, from tundra to rainforests.

Indigenous peoples long inhabited these lands before European colonization. The United States declared independence in 1776 and established a constitutional republic with three branches of government in 1789. Over time, it expanded westward, experienced industrialization, and emerged as a major international actor in politics, economics, and culture.

Demographically, the United States is highly diverse, with significant populations tracing ancestry from many regions of the world. It recognizes multilingualism and religious pluralism, though English is the de facto national language. The Americas exhibit extensive cultural variety, including languages, traditions, and cuisines rooted in Indigenous, African, European, and Asian heritages.

Economically, the United States has one of the largest economies by nominal GDP, with strengths in technology, finance, healthcare, and consumer goods. The region also plays a central role in global media and scientific research, and it exerts substantial influence on international trade and diplomacy.