"GOD BLESS THE USA" United States of America by miner

United States of America Travel Guide: 282,216 reviews and 645,756 photos

The Constitution of the United States has been the supreme law of the nation since 1788. Drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, it calls for a government of limited and delegated powers. George Washington was chosen to serve as president of the convention by the 55 delegates, who represented 12 states. The delegates drafted the document and sent it to the Congress of Confederation for approval. It was then sent to the states for ratification. All 13 states had ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790. The First U.S. Congress drafted 12 amendments, from which the states ratified 10. Those 10 amendments became known as the Bill of Rights.This occured 225 years after the first settlement in America by the Spanish in St. Augustine.Look at the changes from 1790 to today in almost the same time span.

The founding of Saint Augustine (in what is now Florida) by the Spanish in 1565 marked the beginning of European colonization within the present boundaries of the United States.

In 1585 an expedition sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh settled on Roanoke Island off the coast of present-day North Carolina. The colony soon failed. In 1587 Raleigh dispatched a larger group led by John White to the region, which he had named Virginia to honor Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin Queen. John White soon sailed back to England for additional supplies. The war with Spain prevented his returning to Roanoke until 1590, by which time the settlers had disappeared. The mystery of what happened to Raleigh’s Lost Colony has never been solved.

The first permanent English settlement in North America was Jamestown. Established in 1607, Jamestown was a project of the Virginia Company of London, a joint-stock corporation chartered in 1606 by King James of England.

The French quickly recognized the importance of controlling the Saint Lawrence River, the best available route to the interior. In 1608, as the first step in their strategic design, they founded Quebec. The brilliant achievements of such explorers as Jacques Marquette, Louis Jolliet, and René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle brought vast areas of the interior, including the entire Mississippi River valley, under nominal French ownership during the next 75 years.

The Dutch based their claims to North American territory on the explorations of Henry Hudson. An English mariner in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, Hudson had, in 1609, entered present-day New York Bay and explored the river that now bears his name. During the next few years the Dutch dispatched several trading vessels to the region, which they named New Netherland. Trading posts were founded on Manhattan Island and near the site of modern Albany in 1613 and 1614. Because of the profitable fur trade, the Dutch made no immediate attempt to colonize New Netherland. Permanent colonists began to arrive in 1624, and the settlement was named New Amsterdam (now New York City) in 1626. New Netherland grew slowly. Constant friction or warfare with the Native Americans, administrative incompetence, and internal unrest were characteristic, and the colony never attained the stability and vigor of Virginia or of the English colonies later founded in America.
This was the beginning of the nation to later be called the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.From it's humble beginning to it's growth to a "superpower" it has been a historically short evolution.
Once called a "Mongrel Race" I believe the U.S.is a composite of the best the entire world has to offer.We are represented by nearly every nation on Earth.

Pros and Cons

Pros:THIS A GREAT COUNTRY TO LIVE IN
In a nutshell:I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

Last visit to United States of America: Dec 2000
Intro Written Sep 14, 2002
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Reviews (18)

HIT THE BACKROADS Off The Beaten Path (1)

Get off the Interstates,away from the big cities,and away from the major tourist attractions and really see America. more travel advice

SPACE SHUTTLE - United States of America

SPACECAMP AND NASA Things to Do (2)

When visiting USA you absolutely must: HUNTSVILLE,ALBAMA: NASA Space Center and Spacecamp.This is an all day adventure... more travel advice

2 FAVORITE PLACES - United States of America

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' Things to Do (2)

There is something for everyone to enjoy more travel advice

CASTILLE de SAN MARCO - United States of America

OLDEST CITY IN U.S. Favorites (8)

St. Augustine,Florida is the oldest community in the U.S.For a slower paced visit to Florida this is a nice visit for a... more travel advice

Comments (35)

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volopolo Oct 15, 2006 at 12:56 PM

lovely page! Nikos
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globetrott Oct 15, 2004 at 6:25 PM

Air Albatross looks like a great way to travel ;-) , BUT I certainly prefer the Jaguar !!
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Stephen-KarenConn Jun 30, 2004 at 12:34 PM

Hi John, Excellent Intro. Nice job on these pages. God Bless America!
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deecat Jun 29, 2004 at 6:53 PM

Quite a wonderful presentation. Excellent intro., some unique tips on things like NASA, St. Augustine, The Indiana camping for hotel, St. Louis (yea); however, you forgot one important place, Mr. Midwest, and that would be CHICAGO. Serious, great work.
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Sweetberry1 Jun 8, 2003 at 6:24 AM

Excellent USA page... My next visit is gonna have to be a long one.. Thanx.. ;-)
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ymike2000 Mar 12, 2003 at 9:21 PM

So true, you'll never really "see" the USA from the interstate. Great job!
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bugalugs Jan 1, 2003 at 6:27 AM

excellent tips John, on a trip around your country. All the best for 2003 :-)
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hunterV Jul 28, 2002 at 8:34 PM

You will need lots of time to visit all those fine places...
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feline01 Jun 19, 2002 at 8:23 AM

Nice USA intro-who ever thought the USA could be summed up in
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AliJoe Jun 19, 2002 at 8:21 AM

Excellent comments & Coverage !! Hi John !!