Colonial Era and Independence
The United States of America was settled originally by the British, predominantly separatist Puritans in the New England region, wealthy tradesmen in the middle colonies of New York and New Jersey, devout Quakers in Pennsylvania, and rich plantation-owning Anglicans in the South. This vibrant colonial culture experienced great deals of self-government, but when the British used tighter grips upon the colonists, the colonists fought back.
Starting in April of 1775, and formalizing on July 4, 1776, the US declared independence from Great Britain. Fighting until 1783, the colonists managed to gain independence with the help of the French Empire. The new nation operated under the Articles of Confederation until 1789, when the current Constitution was adopted by the needed 8 of 13 states.
Growth and Civil WarIn 1803, President Thomas Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase, more than doubling the size of the nation. The new lands were quickly settled, and soon Americans began to pour into Oregon Territory and Republic of Texas. Both of these regions were added to the US in the early 1840s. By 1846, a war with Mexico to determine the power in North America ended in a decisive victory for the US, adding even more land to the American nation.
By the 1860s, however, divisive sectional politics urged the Southern states, led by rebellious South Carolina, to secede from the Union. This led to the Civil War, between the Confederate States of America and the loyal Union states. The victory of the North led to the Reconstruction Era.
The US as an Emerging Power
The US began massive industrialization following the Reconstruction, and then became the world's largest economic power, a position which it maintains to the current day. In 1898, the Spanish-American War secured American dominance over the Western Hemisphere.
With the outbreak of World War I in Europe, the US' eventual entry, notable for the economic and productivity increases in the Allied nations, solidified America's place as the leader of the Free World.
With World War II's outbreak, the US attempted to maintain neutrality, but as with World War I, the US fought on the side of liberty against Nazi Germany. By the end of World War II, Europe was divided between the free world and the Soviet Union.
Conservative EraAs a result of the Korean War, the first proxy conflict between the US and the Soviet Union,
Government and Politics
The United States, being a federal constitutional presidential republic, is known throughout the world for its free elections and its republican government. There also exists in the US a system where politicians typically align themselves with a political party which fits a general description of their ideological doctrines.
The government of the United States is organized into three co-equal branches. This system of government is outlined in the Constitution of the United States, written by James Madison and drawing largely from Montesquieu's idea of separation of powers.
The Executive Branch, headed by the President, is typically considered to be the most powerful of the three branches of government, although the Founding Fathers of the US wanted all branches to be equally powerful. This trend began under Theodore Roosevelt, and continued until Franklin Delano Roosevelt solidified the policy with the establishment of many bureaucratic departments.
During the Cold War, the strength of the Executive Branch
The Republican Party is one of two primary political parties in the United States. Typically considered to have been the dominant party in domestic politics since the Election of 1952, in recent years the Fifth Political Realignment has placed more conservative roots in the Democratic Party and has made it a worthy competitor.
Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is the second largest political party in the United States. After 24 years of Democratic leadership (from 1939-1953) under Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, the Democratic Party would go on to have eight years of Democratic leadership (under John F. Kennedy) in forty years.
EconomyThe American economy is the world's largest national economy controlling approxiamately one-fourth of the world's total GDP. The US' economy is mixed between services - notably in the financial sector - agriculture, trade, and manufacturing.
The financial sector is especially powerful in New York City, the "Financial Capital of the World." Huge mega-corporations and investment banks control monetary liquidity in conjunction with the Federal Reserve.Agriculture has always been an important American economic sector. Notably in the central United States and along major rivers such as the Ohio and Mississippi, agriculture is an extremely important industry. The three largest crops in terms of total revenue in the United States are corn, wheat, and soybeans.
The trade industry in the United States is vital to maintaining the national economy. Most American companies ship their goods abroad through American shipping companies. In addition to oceanic shipping, freight, rail, and air shipping are also important sectors of the American trade industry.
Manufacturing in the United States has a long and rich history dating back to the First Industrial Revolution.
The military of the United States is currently the world's foremost and most efficient fighting machine. Led by the President, who serves as Commander-in-Chief, the US military also plays a large role in the NATO and APTO alliances, providing the largest army and navy to both collective defense alliances.
There are three primary branches of the United States Military, with two sub-brances. They are:
- United States Army
- United States Navy
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Coast Guard
- United States Air Force
The American culture is a diverse amalgam of different cultures from the Old World, but generally speaking is quite homogenous. The primary cultural group in which the United States would fall is Anglo-American, since English is the de facto official language and the primary language of almost all native-born Americans.
Most major musical movements have taken place about ten years after OTL. In addition, there is very little "urban" music, whether that be hip-hop or rap.1950s - Elvis
Early 1960s - Beach Boys
Late 1960s - Beatles
1970s - Beatles-esque music
1980s - Dance music
1990s - Hard rock
2000s - Pop Music