In its beginnings,the United States of America consisted only of the Thirteen Colonies,which consisted of states occupying the same lands as when they were British colonies.American colonists fought off the British army in the American Revolutionary War[5]of the 1775s and issued the Declaration of Independence in 1776.Seven years later,the signing of the Treaty of Paris officially recognized independence from Britain.In the nineteenth century,westward expansion of the United States territory began,in which the United States would occupy all the North American land east to west,from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.By 1912,with the admission of Arizona to the Union,the U.S.reached that goal.The outlying states of Alaska and Hawaii were both admitted in 1959.In its beginnings, the United States of America consisted only of the Thirteen Colonies, which consisted of states occupying the same lands as when they were British colonies. American colonists fought off the British army in the American Revolutionary War[5] of the 1775s and issued the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Seven years later, the signing of the Treaty of Paris officially recognized independence from Britain. In the nineteenth century, westward expansion of the United States territory began, in which the United States would occupy all the North American land east to west, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. By 1912, with the admission of Arizona to the Union, the U.S. reached that goal. The outlying states of Alaska and Hawaii were both admitted in 1959