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The '''United States of America''' (commonly referred to as '''the United States''', '''the USA''', '''the US''', '''the States''', or simply as '''America''') is a North American nation that consists of a federal union of fifty individual states and the federal [[District of Columbia]]. Its origins lie in the [[British Empire]]: it was founded on July 4, 1776 with the signing of the [[Declaration of Independence]], and its independence from Britain was formally recognized in 1783, following the [[American Revolutionary War|War of Independence]]. The US is currently the world's sole [[superpower]]; it has the world's largest economy, and is recognized as having the world's most powerful military.

The '''United States of America''' (commonly referred to as '''the United States''', '''the USA''', '''the US''', '''the States''', or simply as '''America''') is a North American nation that consists of a federal union of fifty individual states, along with territories and a capital district. Founded originally as 13 colonies in the [[British Empire]], they united to become a nation on July 4, 1776 with the [[Declaration of Independence]]. After defeating Britain in the [[American Revolutionary War|War of Independence]], the U.S. expanded westward thanks to rapid growth from high birth rates, low death rates and high immigration from Europe, Africa (slaves) and Asia. It wrote a Constitution in 1787 that remains in effect today. and is based on [[republican]] political principles. The Americans created the world's first political parties and, since abolishing slavery in a bloody [[American Civil War|civil war]] in the 1860s, has been committed to democracy at home and abroad. Its capitalist economy grew rapidly, becoming the largest in the world by the 1870s. After defeating Communism in the [[Cold War]], the U.S. emerged as the world's only [[superpower]], boasting the largest economy and most powerful military. It exerts enormous cutural and intellectual influence worldwide, and in return is the target of the enemies of democracy and capitalism.

==Overview==

==Overview==

The Founding Fathers formally established the current structure of the United States by ratification of the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1788.

The Founding Fathers formally established the current structure of the United States by ratification of the [[U.S. Constitution]] in 1788.

Since then, that constitution has been the only official governing document.<!-- What does this mean?  Aren't laws "governing documents"? -->

Since then, that constitution has been the basic governing document.  

Although officially a [[republic]], the United States has been governed by two or more [[political parties]] under the rules of a "[[representative democracy]]."  Presently, the two major political parties are the [[Democratic Party]], and the [[Republican Party]], the latter being created in 1854, making it the younger of the two.

The U.S. is politically dedicated to [[republicanism]] with its commitment to civic virtue, and opposition to corrpution and aristocracy. The United States invented popular parties in the 1790s; currently the two major political parties are the [[Democratic Party]], and the [[Republican Party]]. Minor parties are of little importance.

== The Role of Religion in Government ==

== The Role of Religion in Government ==

Americans overwhelmingly consider the U.S. a [[Christianity|Christian]] nation.  A Pew Report showed 76% of Republicans, 63% of Democrats,and 67% of independents view the U.S. a Christian nation. [[Humanism#Secular_Humanism|Secular]] categories are the only subgroup in which fewer than a majority sees the U.S. as a Christian country. <ref>[http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=153#1 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life], August 24, 2006.  Retrieved June 7, 2007.</ref>  

The U.S. is  a predominantly Christian nation.  A Pew Report showed 76% of Republicans, 63% of Democrats,and 67% of independents view the U.S. a Christian nation. [[Humanism#Secular_Humanism|Secular]] categories are the only subgroup in which fewer than a majority sees the U.S. as a Christian country. <ref>[http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=153#1 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life], August 24, 2006.  Retrieved June 7, 2007.</ref>  

The [[Declaration of Independence]] acknowledges the existence of a [[God]] when it refers to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" and says all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  That statement was inserted by the author,  [[Thomas Jefferson]], whose religious beliefs were Deistic.

The [[Declaration of Independence]] acknowledges the existence of a [[God]] when it refers to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" and says all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  That statement was inserted by the author,  [[Thomas Jefferson]], whose religious beliefs were Deistic.