United States of America

The United States of America is one of the world's largest nations, and in many respects the foremost. It occupies a large portion of North America, with posessions in various other geographic regions. It is considered part of Western civilization, and its history is mostly modern.

History

Although what is now called the United States was inhabited by American Indian peoples during prehistory, through antiquity, and into classical and medieval history, the history of the United States of America is considered entirely modern. English colonization began in the 16th century, but only a few expeditions and explorations were made. Colonization began in earnest in the 17th century. In the 18th century, colonization continued and it gained independence. In the 19th century, it grew and developed substantially. It became recognized as a world power in the 20th century. Its future has not yet been carefully examined here.

Sociology

Athough the United States has been assigned to the general category of sociology, there are so many other aspects to be considered that they require a separate page to be considered. Social structure and hcange, communities, and the various peoples of the world, as well as subdivisions of the US itself, are described in more detail on this page.

Institutions

The institutions of the United States are rich, complex, and highly interconnected. Connections to religion, government, economics, education, and families are discussed on the Institutions page.

Culture

Information on the arts is included in this section.

Behavioral culture

Cultural events such as miscellanous events, disasters, fairs and conventions, and holidays can be noted. Recreation and entertainment such as music, dance, theater, games, and sports can be connected.Occupations including food related, building related, transportation related, communication related, industrial, and service occupations can all be considered. Customs such as vital customs, living and dwelling customs, dress and adornment, social interactions, and Institutional customs can be connected.

Conceptual culture

Philosophy in the US tends to be associated with specialized academic professions. Topics such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, special topics, and particular schools and doctrines are often difficult to follow. Applied science including measurement, engineering, navigation, medical science, information and computing science, accounting, and applied social science is well developed in the US. Mathematics including mathematical foundations, arithmetic, algebra, analysis, geometry, and statistics can be connected and applied. Literature including oral traditions, forms, types and genres, and literary works is rich and complex. Graphic arts including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and computer graphics can be considered. Language including linguistics, writing, and languages of the world is essential.

Material culture

Material culture such as foodstuffs, clothing, buildings, and industrial technology is important. Transportation technology including packaging, land stransportation, water transporttion, and space transportation is important. Communication technology including written communication, graphic communication, and electrical communication is abundant and extensiveOther artifacts including toys, weaponry, medicines, musical instruments, and sculpture will be significant.

  • 1729 - 1757. Franklin establishes reputation as printer, civic leader, inventor, and scientist, especially noted for his work with electricity and weather.

  • Starting in England, rapid progress in transportation, communication, and energy technology brings about the Industrial Revolution.

  • c. 1846 Morton introduces use of ether for surgical anesthesia.

  • c. 1863 - 1883 Edison invents or improves numerous electrical and communication devices and begins building electrical power networks.

  • c. 1875 Bell invents the telephone.

  • 1903 Ford establishes the Ford Motor Company.

  • 1903 - 1908 Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville, make the first trials of powered, sustained, and controlled flight and develop the first airplanes.

  • 1905 Ford introduces the Model T, which makes automobiles affordable for most American families.

  • 1913 Ford introduces assembly line techniques of mass production of automobiles.

  • c. 1938 - c. 1945 Physicists including Einstein warn the United States government of the possibility that Germany could develop nuclear weaponry. Fermi heads the Manhattan project which demonstrates controlled nuclear fission and develops an atomic bomb.

2 Oct 2008 - A search team found the wreckage of the airplane flown by adventurer Steve Fossett in the mountains of Madera County, California, and what appear to be some of his personal effects nearby. Fossett had disappeared on September 3, 2007.

3 Oct 2008 - Investigators in the United States announced that they had found human remains in what is believed to be the wreckage of Steve Fossett's plane, which went missing over California a year ago.

24 Oct 2008 - The mother and the brother of American actress and singer Jennifer Hudson were murdered.

16 Nov 2008 - Jimmie Chohnson won NASCAR's 2008 Sprint Cup Series championship, becoming the second driver to win three in a row.

Anthropology

Studies of social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group behavior, and group types that apply to the United States can be identified here.

Demography including birth and fertility, migration, morbidity and mortality, and population structure can be connected. Estimated population as of 3 July 2008 is 304.506 Million. Physical anthropology including human origins, racial variation, and human dispersion can also be connected. Human ecology including effects of the environment, other life forms, and human effects can be considered. Most of human geography is only indirectly useful, but North America is most important. Total area is estimated at 9 829 630 km2, 9 629 091 km2, or 9 522 955 km2, depending on the source, giving it a mean population density of 30.978 to 31.976 persons/km2. European geography is only weakly connected. South America is weakly connected. African geography is only weakly connected. Asian geography is only weakly connected. Particular groups can also be connected. These include, for example, the Wright Brothers

Personal studies

The human body including body systems, body functions, disease, life cycle, form and appearance is for the most part indirectly useful. Psychology including behavioral elements, mind, behavior patterns, developmental psychology, mental disorders, personality, and social psychology seems to be indirectly useful.

Links to areas of Personal Studies: Not yet developed

Biography is applicable. Americans with biographical entries include:

Science

The application of science to the United States will be considered in more detail as the site develops. Connections include physics, chemistry, and astronomy.

Links to areas of Science: Not yet developed

Earth science including geology, hydrospheric science, atmospheric science, and physical geography including mapping, Oceanic geography, and terrestrial geography, can be connected. Geohistory including the Precambrian, Paleozoic, Cenozoic, and Mesozoic can be considered.

Biology including molecular biology, cell biology and organism biology can be connected. Systematics including microbes, protists, plants, fungi, and animals, and ecology including behavioral ecology, population ecology, community ecology, systems ecology, evolution, ecosystems, and biogegraphy can be connected. Biohistory including the Precambrian, Paleozoic, Cenozoic, and Mesozoic can be connected.

  • 1729 - 1757. Franklin establishes reputation as printer, civic leader, inventor, and scientist, especially noted for his work with electricity and weather.

  • 1801 - 1803 Jefferson as 3rd president of US purchases large section of North America from Napoleon and orders its exploration.

  • c. 1938 - c. 1945 Physicists including Einstein warn the United States government of the possibility that Germany could develop nuclear weaponry. Fermi heads the Manhattan project which demonstrates controlled nuclear fission and develops an atomic bomb.


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© 2004 -2010 Thad Coons
Created 8 Jan 2004, Updated 16 Feb 2010