{"id":1684,"date":"2021-05-23T03:10:32","date_gmt":"2021-05-23T07:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mapsofworld.com\/answers\/?p=1684"},"modified":"2024-03-28T06:24:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T10:24:52","slug":"how-old-is-united-states-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mapsofworld.com\/answers\/united-states\/how-old-is-united-states-america\/","title":{"rendered":"How Old is the United States – as of 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\"How<\/a>
Map of US showing the Date of Independence<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Historians often label the <\/span>United States<\/span><\/a> as a young country because of its relatively brief history and its colonial ties to Britain before the Revolutionary War. But the question still persists – \u201c<\/span>How old is the United States\u201d,<\/b> \u201c<\/span>how old is America\u201d<\/b>. Are both the questions different?<\/span><\/p>\n

How Old is the USA?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When we talk about when the United States officially became its own country, it goes back to the <\/span>Declaration of Independence<\/span><\/span><\/a>. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. So, if we start counting from the declaration, <\/span>the United States of America will turn 248 years old on July 4, 2024<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other significant dates that can be considered in determining the age of the United States include:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    May 14, 1607 – Jamestown Settlement<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The story of the United States began in Jamestown in 1607, which was the first place where English people settled in North America. When the colonists decided to stay there, they didn’t know it yet, but they were starting something important \u2013 like planting a new country. If we count the years from that time to 2024, the United States would be 417 years old.<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    November 11, 1620 – Mayflower Compact<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    In 1620, a group of people called Pilgrims wrote down some rules known as the Mayflower Compact. They did this because they wanted to have the freedom to practice their religion. These rules helped them work together and make decisions, kind of like the first set of instructions for how to live. If we count the years from that time to 2024, the United States would be 404 years old, starting from when these rules were first made.<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Articles of Confederation (Ratified in 1781)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1781 was an early attempt at forming a union. Considering this date, the U.S. would be 243 years old in 2024.<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    September 3, 1783 – Treaty of Paris<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally ended the American Revolutionary War. The treaty made it clear that the United States was now its own country. If we start counting the years from this to 2024, the United States would be 241 years old.<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    February 21, 1787 – The Northwest Ordinance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 helped in planning out how new areas should be set up and governed. It also prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory. If we start counting the years from when these rules were made to 2024, the United States would be 237 years old.<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    March 4, 1789 – First U.S. Congress Convenes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The inauguration of the first U.S. Congress on March 4, 1789, marked the official implementation of the newly adopted Constitution. By 2024, counting from this, the United States would be 235 years old.<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    November 21, 1789 – Establishment of the Bill of Rights<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    With the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1789, everyone in the United States had certain freedoms and rights. If we start counting the years from this moment to 2024, the United States would be 235 years old.<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    August 18, 1920 – 19th Amendment Ratified<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granted women the right to vote, which meant they could have a say in important decisions. Counting from this milestone, the United States would be 104 years old in 2024.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How Old is America<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    When we talk about “America,” we’re not just talking about the official start of the United States. We’re looking at a much bigger picture that goes way back in time. Humans migrated to the Americas across the Bering land bridge at least 12,000 years ago, meaning there has been human presence for millennia. Even before that, the continent has an even longer geological history dating back hundreds of millions of years. Therefore, there’s no single answer to how old “America” is.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What is the First State of the United States<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Delaware<\/span><\/a> was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution on December 7, 1787. This was an important decision because it showed other states that it was a good idea to agree to these rules. It helped bring all the states together under a shared system of government. The dates of other states to ratify the US Constitution are:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Delaware<\/strong> – December 7, 1787<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Pennsylvania<\/strong> – December 12, 1787<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. New Jersey<\/strong> – December 18, 1787<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Georgia<\/strong> – January 2, 1788<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Connecticut<\/strong> – January 9, 1788<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. Massachusetts<\/strong> – February 6, 1788<\/span><\/li>\n
    7. Maryland<\/strong> – April 28, 1788<\/span><\/li>\n
    8. South Carolina<\/strong> – May 23, 1788<\/span><\/li>\n
    9. New Hampshire<\/strong> – June 21, 1788<\/span><\/li>\n
    10. Virginia<\/strong> – June 25, 1788<\/span><\/li>\n
    11. New York<\/strong> – July 26, 1788<\/span><\/li>\n
    12. North Carolina<\/strong> – November 21, 1789<\/span><\/li>\n
    13. Rhode Island<\/strong> – May 29, 1790<\/span><\/li>\n
    14. Vermont<\/strong> – March 4, 1791<\/span><\/li>\n
    15. Kentucky<\/strong> – June 1, 1792<\/span><\/li>\n
    16. Tennessee<\/strong> – June 1, 1796<\/span><\/li>\n
    17. Ohio<\/strong> – March 1, 1803<\/span><\/li>\n
    18. Louisiana<\/strong> – April 30, 1812<\/span><\/li>\n
    19. Indiana<\/strong> – December 11, 1816<\/span><\/li>\n
    20. Mississippi<\/strong> – December 10, 1817<\/span><\/li>\n
    21. Illinois<\/strong> – December 3, 1818<\/span><\/li>\n
    22. Alabama<\/strong> – December 14, 1819<\/span><\/li>\n
    23. Maine<\/strong> – March 15, 1820<\/span><\/li>\n
    24. Missouri<\/strong> – August 10, 1821<\/span><\/li>\n
    25. Arkansas<\/strong> – June 15, 1836<\/span><\/li>\n
    26. Michigan<\/strong> – January 26, 1837<\/span><\/li>\n
    27. Florida<\/strong> – March 3, 1845<\/span><\/li>\n
    28. Texas<\/strong> – December 29, 1845<\/span><\/li>\n
    29. Iowa<\/strong> – December 28, 1846<\/span><\/li>\n
    30. Wisconsin<\/strong> – May 29, 1848<\/span><\/li>\n
    31. California<\/strong> – September 9, 1850<\/span><\/li>\n
    32. Minnesota<\/strong> – May 11, 1858<\/span><\/li>\n
    33. Oregon<\/strong> – February 14, 1859<\/span><\/li>\n
    34. Kansas<\/strong> – January 29, 1861<\/span><\/li>\n
    35. West Virginia<\/strong> – June 20, 1863<\/span><\/li>\n
    36. Nevada<\/strong> – October 31, 1864<\/span><\/li>\n
    37. Nebraska<\/strong> – March 1, 1867<\/span><\/li>\n
    38. Colorado<\/strong> – August 1, 1876<\/span><\/li>\n
    39. North Dakota<\/strong> – November 2, 1889<\/span><\/li>\n
    40. South Dakota<\/strong> – November 2, 1889<\/span><\/li>\n
    41. Montana<\/strong> – November 8, 1889<\/span><\/li>\n
    42. Washington<\/strong> – November 11, 1889<\/span><\/li>\n
    43. Idaho<\/strong> – July 3, 1890<\/span><\/li>\n
    44. Wyoming<\/strong> – July 10, 1890<\/span><\/li>\n
    45. Utah<\/strong> – January 4, 1896<\/span><\/li>\n
    46. Oklahoma<\/strong> – November 16, 1907<\/span><\/li>\n
    47. New Mexico<\/strong> – January 6, 1912<\/span><\/li>\n
    48. Arizona<\/strong> – February 14, 1912<\/span><\/li>\n
    49. Alaska<\/strong> – January 3, 1959<\/span><\/li>\n
    50. Hawaii<\/strong> – August 21, 1959<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If you are interested in exploring more about these states, check out our: <\/span>US State Map<\/span><\/a>. You can see all the 50 states and click on any state to see its own map.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n