United States of America (French Trafalgar, British Waterloo)

The United States of America, also known as the United States, U.S., USA, and America, is a Federal Constitutional Republic composed of 30 States and a Federal District, the District of Columbia. The country spans the North American continent, and is surrounded by, and  to the north, and the ,  and  to the south, and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west.

The U.S. is one of the most prosperous countries in the world, and one of the first true democratic states in the world, and the first to gain freedom from the colonial motherland, in the American Revolution (1775-1783). The United States Constitution is the oldest, and the shortest, used today. America is also one of the first countries to grant all citizens certain, unalienable rights, as defined in the Bill of Rights.

The United States is one of the largest economies in the world, with one of the highest incomes and GDP's of all nations. The USA is one of the most multi-cultured nations in the world, with immigration from all corners of Earth, which have greatly increased the power of the US. With world class healthcare and education systems, the United States is considered one of the most progressive and industrious countries in the world.

From Colonies to Independence
The first European colony established in America were at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, though Native Americans have lived in North America for thousands of years before. After a tenacious start, a series of British controlled colonies stretched along the Eastern coast of North America, labeled the Thirteen Colonies. New England in the north was mostly settled by Puritans, while the Middles colonies (present day New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland) were populated by a variety of European's seeking to escape religious and political persecution. The Southern colonies very early on developed a plantation system of growing crops and instituted slavery, first with unwilling and prone to fleeing Indians, and later imported Africans.

Struggles with between England and France eventually spilled over into the colonies, leading to a series of wars that eventually would see France expelled from Quebec in 1763. The cost of the war nearly bankrupted the British treasury, so efforts to increase taxes on the colonies to raise funds for their defense were put in place. This lead to much anger and resentment, and the rallying cry of "No taxation without representation". Boston, Massachusetts, was the primary center of the revolt, and locals participated int he Boston Tea Party, which lead to a series of harsher and harsher laws to try to quell the colonies. This lead to many in the colonies to seek freedom and independence, which came to a head in 1776, with the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.

Despite setbacks such as lack of supplies and morale, the American armies under George Washington eventually managed to gain the upper hand over the overwhelmed British who were not used to the American's use of unconventional military tactics, which lead to a string of victories that convinced France to recognize the colonies. With French help, the Americans were able to finally decisively defeat the British at Yorktown, gaining their independence from the Motherland.

The early Republic worked on trying to build a strong nation within the confines of the first democratic constitution written, and within a few years, and the energetic policies of the Founding Father's, the nation had established itself as a beacon of freedom to the world, attracting immigrants and economic investment from the many nations of Europe.

First American War and Alliance with France
The United States, after purchasing the Louisiana Purchase in 1804, was experiencing a time of rapid economic growth and immigration, with many British and other European Immigrants traveling to the New World. However, the American Revolution had left bitter memories on both sides of the Atlantic, and Great Britain was looking for ways to try to halt the growth of the US, while War Hawks in congress where trying to force the President to take over Canada and bring it into the Union. The culmination of this rising conflict was the the, which was a resounding American defeat, forcing the United States to give up all the land west of 102° from the Prime Meridian of the Louisiana Purchase to Britain. This effectively quashed all hopes for westward Expansion to the Pacific for almost a century.

This let the Federalist Party's Presidential Candidate be elected in 1816, who then turned all former Federalist policies, especially anti-French/Pro-British attitudes, as President King sought help from Napoleon I and the Empire to help build the United States to a point where they could take on Britain, and the Emperor was happy to do so, helping to industrialize the United States and train the army to become a force to be reckoned with. The first railroads in the New World were built to link New York, Baltimore and Washington, and American industry grew exponentially. Although re-elected in 1820, Rufus King's Federalist's were unable to survive without his leadership, and war hero and his Democrat-Republican Party managed to win the 1824 election. A de-centralization of the federal government took place, giving more rights to the States and abolishment of the national banks established under his predecessor, but the foreign policy of maintaining ties with France was kept.



American Restlessness and Expansion
Andrew Jackson continued his policies when he was re-elected in 1828, and his successor continued in his footsteps in 1832. Spanish Florida was bought in 1834, and despite a resistance movement in the Everglades, the territory became a state a few years later. In 1834, National Republican was elected president, and a new wave of Federalism took place, though Congress was increasingly coming under control of the Manifests, who pushed the administration to expand the US's borders, especially in Mexican control Texas and British held Canada. However, the assassination of Harrison by a Georgian states-rights activist brought to the presidency, who actively promoted a more robust and active foreign policy. However, this lead to the with Mexico in 1846, and succeed in freeing the Mexican province of California, which became the  and  brought Texas into the Union.

This victory also made America strong once again, having triumphed over an opponent that many commentators of the time saw as equal or even more powerful than the US. However this also lead to increasing divisions within the nation, especially between Southern, slave owning plantation owners and Northern Industrialists.