Editing United States (section)

== History ==

=== Pre-Colonial Period ===
The first inhabitants of North America migrated from Siberia across the Bering land bridge approximately 12,000 years ago. These indigenous peoples developed sophisticated cultures, including the Mississippian culture, Hohokam, and Ancestral Puebloans.

=== Colonial Period (1607-1776) ===
European colonization began with the establishment of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, followed by Plymouth Colony in 1620. The British established thirteen colonies along the Atlantic coast, which developed their own systems of self-governance while remaining under British control.

=== American Revolution and Early Republic (1776-1800) ===
Following tensions with Great Britain over taxation and representation, the colonies declared independence on July 4, 1776. The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) resulted in the creation of an independent nation. The Constitution was ratified in 1789, establishing a federal system of government with three branches.

=== 19th Century Expansion ===
The nation expanded westward through:

* The Louisiana Purchase (1803)
* The acquisition of Florida (1819)
* The annexation of Texas (1845)
* The Oregon Treaty (1846)
* The Mexican Cession (1848)

The Civil War (1861-1865) resolved questions of slavery and state sovereignty, though at enormous human cost.

=== Rise to Global Power (1865-1945) ===
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw:

* Rapid industrialization
* Mass immigration
* Territorial expansion into the Pacific
* Emergence as a world power following World War I
* Transformation into a superpower after World War II

=== Cold War and Contemporary Era (1945-Present) ===
The post-World War II period has been marked by:

* Global leadership in the Cold War
* Technological innovation
* Cultural influence
* Economic dominance
* Political challenges and polarization
* Response to international terrorism
* Leadership in the digital revolution