The United States has become the richest and most influential country on Earth. This book is a complete overview of how this happened. It covers the entire history of the United States from the first settlements to the events of September 11. The continuous chronological line of the directory is accompanied by brief essays, for example, about the appearance of horses in North America, the myth of the Old South, the ritual "Ghost Dance," Elvis Presley, Malcolm X and the Iran-Contra affair. The abundance of illustrations and the availability of maps make the book indispensable for both travelers and students.