Historical Maps of United States of America

The United States of America was originally formed as a sovereign country in the 18th century by 13 British Colonies on the eastern side of North America. The current territory of the continental United States is the result of fierce battles, political conflicts and economic interests between Native Americans and European powers, especially Great Britain, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Russia (which once owned Alaska). Africans also played important role in the process. They were brought here since the early settlements as enslaved laborers, but they also fought as soldiers in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and in the Civil War (1861-1865).

The first inhabitants of these lands arrived many thousands years ago and formed several linguistic groups. At the time of the first attempts of European settlements in this territory, in the 16th century, there were probably about 1.5 million inhabitants in what is now the contiguous United States. Establishment of successful European colonies in this territory began in 1565, with St. Augustine, Florida (Spanish), followed by St. Marys, Georgia (1566, Spanish), Española and New Mexico (1598). Establishment of successful English colonies began with Jamestown, Virginia (1607), followed by Hampton, Virginia (1610). The Dutch settlements began in 1615 with Fort Nassau, near present-day Albany. In 1626, they bought Manhattan Island from the Native Americans living there and established a citadel known as New Amsterdam, now New York. The successful French settlements began in 1634 with La Baye des Puants (now Green Bay, Wisconsin). In 1664, the English took over New Netherland from the Dutch and renamed it New York.

In the 18th century, Great Britain continued to gain more and more territory in North America, specially after the French and Indian War (1754–1763). The war, however, weakened the economy of Great Britain, which tried to impose new taxes on its colonies. This resulted in the Revolutionary War and the independence of 13 British colonies, transformed into the 13 original states of the United States of America.

In the 19th century, US territory continued to expand through wars, treaties or purchases. The original 13 states were expanded to 50 with new territories. The United States entered the 20th century as the most powerful nations in the world.

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