Knowledge is a very important aspect of any person’s life.Humans have been learning something new each day, each minute, and each second. Our ability to gain knowledge and use it makes us the superior living being on the planet.A person grows with knowledge, and their life gets better the more they learn. The most helpful piece of knowledge humans gained in ancient times was the knowledge of the world’s geography. With knowledge in geography came the knowledge of people, of different cultures, and different ideas. The world became one. When the knowledge of people all around the world was put together, the world started becoming a better place to live in. Hence, learning about the world we live in is incredibly important. Like so many other countries, the United States of America forms a big, significant part of our world. Let’s learn about this wonderful country in this article.If this article has been fun so far, you would also like Argentina map for kids and Honduras major industries.America’s HistoryThe United States of America is also called ’the United Sates’ or ‘America’ or ’the USA’ as a short form. Though The United States of America is a relatively young nation (approximately 250 years old), it is considered to be among the most powerful countries of present times. America achieved this feat because of the incredible history it has. The way this nation was formed amidst struggle and by improving and empowering itself step by step is truly inspirational. American history will teach a person a lot of things. The 13 colonies along the East coast expanded into the large country it is today by the purchase of the Louisiana region from the French in 1803 and the expansion to the pacific coast due to the belief in manifest destiny. Did you know why America is called America? It is so because it is named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci! For more on America and its history, continue reading.The history of the land of America dates back several thousand years. Roughly around 15,000 BC, Paleo Indians have been known to come and settle in America. Over the next several centuries, many indigenous tribes and cultures formed and were established all around the USA till the 16th century. These cultures and tribes were called the native Americans or American Indians. Some native American tribes are still intact to this date. However, most other tribes have either scattered or met with an unfortunate end due to various diseases, colonization, and climatic conditions.In 1492 AD, an Italian explorer named Christopher Columbus mistakenly found America and called the foreign land ‘New World.’ Following Columbus, many European countries came to American lands and started colonizing them. By the decade 1760-70, 13 British colonies were formed east of the Appalachian mountains and along the Atlantic ocean coast. In 1765, the British government imposed heavy taxes on the British colonies in America through the Stamp Act of 1765. Resistance to this act and other conflicts like the Boston Tea Party in 1773 led to the revolutionary war between the 13 colonies of America and Great Britain. The war was led and won by general George Washington, who became the first president of the United States of America right after declaring independence on July 4, 1776. The peace treaty of 1783, signed in Paris, successfully secured the borders of the new nation. In 1989, The United States adopted its constitution, and in 1791 a Bill of Rights was added to the constitution.As the lands grew, so did the population and economic growth. Unfortunately, even after independence, not everyone was free. Slavery was widely in practice among many regions, especially the southern part of the country. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln became the president on the promise of halting slavery. Some south states didn’t approve of this notion and formed a confederacy and attacked fort Sumter in 1861, which instigated the American civil war. The civil war ceased in the year 1865 with the confederacy’s defeat, which led to the abolition of slavery in the country.By the onset of the 20th century, the USA had become one of the leading industrial powers in the world, with millions of people immigrating to the country from around the world. America remained neutral at first in world war I but declared war on Germany and funded the Allied forces in 1917. All was good in the nation until the Wall Street Crash in 1929 and the great depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented New Deal programs to recover the nation from the Great Depression.When the Japanese struck pearl harbor in 1941, the USA entered World War II by financing the allied forces against Nazi Germany and by dropping nuclear weapons on two important cities of Japan. After World War II, the USA emerged as one of the world’s superpowers along with the Soviet Union, resulting in a cold war between them.In the 1960s, the civil rights movement effectuated voting rights and freedom of movement to African Americans and other racial minorities. After that, America kept growing and prospering in all fields of life. Today the nation stands as a massive global power by dominating the majority of the global economy. In the 21st century, it faced unfortunate incidents like the September 11 attack on the World trade center in 2001, the Great Recession in 2008, and the global pandemic of Covid-19 in 2019. Still, the country stands tall and keeps going and growing into the world’s super nation.America’s Flag, Symbols, And MeaningA country’s flag represents its values, history, and memories. This national symbol gives us a feeling of belonging and pride towards our country, and it is hoisted as an act of patriotism.The American flag is rectangular with 50 white stars on its upper left corner and 13 red & white horizontal stripes along the rest of its surface. The 50 stars are dedicated to the 50 states of the nation. The seven red and six white stripes represent the 13 original British colonies. The colors red, white, and blue, painting the American flag, each have a meaning behind them. Red symbolizes valor, white represents purity and innocence, and blue stands for justice, vigilance and perseverance.While a flag is a national symbol, there are many other things that can represent a nation, like the national bird, national emblem, national anthem, etc. The national bird of the USA is the Bald Eagle, and the national mammal is the North American Bison. The national anthem is ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ the national flower emblem is the rose, and the national tree is the Oak. The nation of America does not have an official language, though, but most states have declared English as their official language. Some states have another language (like Spanish or French, or Hawaiian) as an addition to English as the official language.America’s Geographic Location And StatesThe USA is famous for its diverse population. Due to the immense immigration the country witnessed over the last few centuries, the USA became home to people from almost every race, ethnicity, culture, and religion on this planet. Similarly, this nation also boasts a wide palate of climatic and geographic conditions.The USA is the most populous country in the North American continent. It is also the second-largest country on the continent after Canada and the fourth largest country on the planet. It is located in the Northern & Western hemispheres of the planet. The 48 states of the contiguous United States are surrounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and west by the Pacific Ocean. The nation of Canada acts as America’s northern border, whereas Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico are situated along its southern border. Alaska is situated on the north-western corner of the continent, and the island state of Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean, 2,000 miles away from the mainland USA.The United States of America covers all types of geographic diversities because of its vast expanse. From cold arctic conditions to dry desert climates to moist rainforests to subtropics, the USA covers it all. This country also has various topographies ranging from rugged mountains to vast plains. The highest point of this country is Denali in Alaska, whereas the lowest point is the Badwater Basin in Death Valley. The Death Valley, a desert valley in the northern Mojave Desert in California, is regarded as one of the hottest places on Earth.There are two prime mountain ranges in the country. The first one is the Appalachian mountains which are present along the east border of the country. The other mountain range is the Rocky mountains which stretch all the way from Canada to Mexico, running through the US states of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. These mountains, also called the Rockies, are known for their dramatic wilderness and Alpine lakes.Just like mountain ranges, America also has a few major rivers. These two natural formations are an important part of the USA’s geography as they play huge roles in population distribution. The main rivers in the USA are the Missouri River, the mighty Mississippi River, Columbia River, Rio Grande River, and the Colorado River. The Missouri River and Mississippi river end up merging together in St. Lois in Missouri. Other interesting waterbodies of the USA include the Great Lakes, which is a collection of large interconnected freshwater lakes. They include Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, and Michigan. Lake Superior, which holds 10% of the total surface freshwater of the planet, is the largest freshwater lake.The states of the USA are grouped unofficially into different regions based on their topography, history, culture, and climate. The major five groups are Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. Northeast region states include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. These states have cool summers and freezing snowy winters. Major geographical bodies include the Great Lakes and Appalachian mountains. New England is a smaller region made up of the northernmost of these states. This region is given this name because this is where people from England first came to settle down. European settlers are said to have come in search of religious freedom in the 17th century.The Southeast region is made up of states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. This division has a humid subtropical climate, and the coastal states are known to experience many hurricanes in summers and autumn. Geographic figures are Appalachian mountains, Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi river.The Midwest region is home to North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin states. The climate is humid continental, and it snows in northern states during winter. Also home to Great lakes, Great plains, and the Mississippi River.The East of the region has a humid climate. The west has a semi-arid to an arid desert climate. The main geographical features are the Gulf of Mexico, Colorado River, Grand Canyon, and the Rockies.The American West region is a compilation of the states of Colorado, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Utah. The Rocky and Sierra Mountains regions have semi-arid and alpine climates. California has a Mediterranean feel to it, whereas Southern Cali and Nevada have hot desert conditions. Mojave desert and Pacific Ocean are the geographical features other than the mountains.Alaska state on the far north, separated by Canada, observes an arctic climate with some regions covered in snow year-round. Major geographical features include Arctic coastal plains, Alaskan mountain ranges, the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Gulf of Alaska. The archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands observes a tropical climate year-round. Some of the most prime geographical features of this state are its several volcanic mountains and tropical beaches.America’s Famous Monuments And PlacesEvery country has a few famous places that represent the country to the rest of the world. These famous places also help to attract lots of tourists and grow its economy.New York City is among the most favored cities in the world. This city is popular for its vibrant streets, skyscrapers, fast-paced lifestyle, flashy nightlife, varied cuisines, and various art forms. New York City is also famous because it houses some of America’s famous monuments and places like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Broadway, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Time Square, and the Empire State building. A part of the world-famous Niagara Falls is also located in the state of New York. The Other half of the falls are located in Canada.The Golden Gate bridge built across San Francisco Bay is also a famous national landmark. The two-mile-long, orange-red Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco and Marin County. The Yellowstone national park, sitting atop a volcano, consists of various canyons, forest areas, hot springs, geysers, waterfalls, and a variety of wildlife. This national park also offers beautiful camping grounds. Yosemite National park in Cali, Zion National Park in Utah, Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, and Glacier National Park in Montana’s Rocky Mountains are a few other famous places for nature lovers.The Grand Canyon, located in the searing hot desert state of Arizona, is a one-of-a-kind destination in the world. The Presidential residence, The White House located in the capital city, is also a must-visit place in America. The White House offers tours for people, but they must be booked in advance. The Walt Disney World in Florida is every kid’s dream holiday destination.Other famous places and monuments in the USA include Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, The Gateway Arch in Missouri, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Las Vegas Strip, South Beach in Miami, Florida, the Washington Monument in DC, and the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, California.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 57 note-worthy America facts that everyone should know! then why not take a look at phobos mythology, origin, powers, worshippers, parents and more, or 47 colorado springs facts that you may not have heard of before!
Knowledge is a very important aspect of any person’s life.
