Definition of United States

The United States is today the world's greatest power both politically, economically, as well as culturally and militarily. This huge country is located in North America and shares its borders with the countries of Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.

His territory it is divided into fifty states (hence its name) that are united in the form of a constitutional republic but that maintain their autonomy in matters of various kinds. The American capital is the city of Washington, federal district and seat of the White House or house of government. The United States is also the third largest and most populous country on the planet with almost ten million km2 of surface area and more than three hundred million inhabitants.

Brief review of its history

The United States of America (as it is also known) begins its history with the establishment of small and autonomous colonies on the east coast of the present country. These colonies were founded by English pilgrims who sought to escape the dominions of the English Crown, although they did not achieve this immediately. The land was inhabited by countless indigenous tribes with whom the English settlers established different relationships: mistreatment, exploitation, abuse but also economic exchanges and I respect. In 1776 the thirteen colonies on the east coast achieved independence from England and throughout the century XIX the territory grew at the cost of the expulsion of these tribes and the economic and military consolidation of States United.

Diversity

Due to its enormous territory, the United States is a country of great diversity not only in geographical terms (since it has climates and landscapes as diverse as plains, beaches, mountains, eternal snows and very tropical islands), but also in terms of identity. Each state and each locality maintains a type of identity that can be more or less traditional according to the immigration contribution it has received. While cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Miami have a significant number of immigrants and children of such, other smaller cities or rural localities seem to be still immersed in the nineteenth century in terms of their form of think, to live and to feel.

The United States is a powerhouse in every sense. While the political-economic decisions of this country affect the entire planet in a very profound way, cultural particularities (such as the gastronomy, entertainment, ideology highly capitalist and consumerist) are present all over the globe. Finally, his military power is also an element of great contribution to the American identity, an element that in many current countries is no longer present in the same way and with the same force.

Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president

The current president of the United States is the African American Barack Obama, who is serving his last year as president, in the second period of his government after being reelected in the year 2012.

Obama's election undoubtedly marked a before and after in the country's history, because with him, for the first time a man of color reaches the highest executive position in the country. In this regard, we must say that the United States has had a long and bloody history of segregation, especially in the first half of the last century.

Black men and women were absolutely discriminated against and mistreated. Some of the most ridiculous and tremendous decisions about it is that for example they were not allowed to attend the same places as white citizens and in public transport they had certain reserved places.

Fortunately, the situation in this regard has changed a lot and this is demonstrated by the election of Obama.

Two-party system. Presidential elections 2016

Continuing with the politicsWe must say that US politics is run by a two-party system, legendary now, that have come to power in a fairly alternate way. The Republican Party and the Democratic Party, currently in power. The former is characterized by a markedly conservative tendency, while the latter is associated with the center-left and progressivism.

In the presidential elections to be held this year towards the end of the year, it will be decided again which of these two parties will be in charge of the executive power for the next four years. Whether the Democrats will continue to govern, or the Republicans will return after eight years out of power.

The proposals are varied, the Democratic Party has presented as its candidates the current secretary Hillary Clinton, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. On the Republican side, there are many more proposals, among the most prominent are Jeb Bush, current governor of Florida and brother of former President George W. Bush, businessman Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Ted Cruz, among others.