United States consists of 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state is divided into smaller administrative units — the county , the number of which each state defines itself . The capital of the United States since 1800 is the city of Washington (DC). The head of state is the President of the United States.Since the time of the first permanent English settlement in America , founded in 1607 in Virginia, settlers life was filled with constant struggle for survival in the confrontation with nature, indigenous and European authorities . Go to the head of "The History of the U.S. "UK government policy , concerned the rapid development and enhancement of its colonies , tried to limit by introducing more stringent fiscal and legal barriers , which ultimately led to the outbreak of the war for independence.The famous Declaration of Independence was adopted by the representatives of the 13 colonies in 1776, although the British government officially recognized the independence of the United States , only 7 years later in 1783. In 1787 the Constitution was adopted , which is preserved to this day with little change .The US- Mexican War 1846-1848 gg. over joining the United States in Mexico , which now are California, Utah , Nevada and several other states .One of the most important results of the Civil War (War of the North and the South) 1861 1865gg . was the adoption of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution , which proclaimed the abolition of slavery.In 1803, the acquisition was held by the U.S. government of French possessions area of more than 2 million square kilometers.In 1867, America made another bargain at this time of the Russian Empire — for $ 7,2 million was purchased Alaska.The Great Depression of the 30s of the last century threw the U.S. economy a few years ago.After World War II America , which suffered much less damage than the countries of Europe , was able to win the status of a superpower on par with the Soviet Union.
