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Forming the United States

At the beginning of the nation, following the American Revolution, there were only 13 states:

From 1776, the nation began to expand westward and gain new states to the nation. The expansion was a mixed blessing, though, as while white settlers found new opportunities and added states to the union, the displacement of Mexicans as well as Indian tribes was detrimental to their communities.

Unfortunately, the internal conflict became significant in the mid-1850s due to the call for the abolition of slavery in the South. This eventually led to the Civil War. After the settlement and mass exploration to the west, the final states to join the union were Alaska and in 1959.

The People Who Call the United States Home

Considering the United States was built on the principle of immigration, the demographics of ethnicity are widely spread. It is also equally distributed regarding economic performance, employment, and income, with small variations. Population-wise, the states also vary due to the number of cities and size. The largest state in America is Alaska, which is 665,384 square miles, though it is sparsely populated because of its geographic location. Rhode Island is the smallest state in America, covering an area of 1,545 square miles. New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country, with 1,259 people every square mile. Unsurprisingly, Alaska is the least densely populated, with 1.3 people per square mile.

As of the most recent data, the population of the United States is estimated to be around 331 million. This population can be broken down into different demographic categories:

These numbers reflect a diverse and aging society, with a significant proportion of the population in the working age, which has implications for the workforce and economy.

Moreover, the U.S. is characterized by its ethnic diversity, with no single ethnic group holding a majority. The largest ethnic groups include White Americans (including Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites), Black or African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and others, each contributing to the rich cultural mosaic of the nation.

Economically, the United States exhibits significant variation across different states and regions, influenced by factors like industrial history, natural resources, and access to ports. States like California and New York are known for their large economies and high per capita incomes, whereas others may have economies more reliant on agriculture or manufacturing.

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