Updated: March 2009
The United States of America
Overview | World Vision's history in the United States | World Vision in the United States today
OverviewLocated in North America, the United States of America, a country consisting of 50 states, is the third largest country in the world in area, surpassed by only Canada and Russia. The 48 contiguous states lie south of Canada and north of Mexico, bordered by the Pacific Ocean along the western coastline and by the Atlantic Ocean along the eastern coastline. The islands of Hawaii, in the Pacific Ocean, and Alaska, to the northwest of Canada, are also part of the United States. The country’s climate is largely varied, with arctic temperatures in Alaska, arid to semiarid conditions in the west and southwest, and tropical extremes in Hawaii and Florida. In the south, the Gulf of Mexico provides seasonal weather extremes, including hurricanes. The U.S. has a wide-ranging terrain, with the Rocky Mountains in the west and northwest, the Appalachians in the east, and a large plain covering the central states. The Mississippi River, which runs from the north to the south, intersects several other rivers. Natural resources include coal, copper, lead, phosphates, uranium, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, silver, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, and timber. |  |
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| The United States is a true melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, having attracted immigrants from nearly every corner of the globe. Only two countries—China and India—exceed the U.S. in population. Caucasians account for nearly 80 percent of the population, though within this large percentage, heritage and ethnic roots are extremely diverse. The country’s diversity extends to include blacks (12.85%) and Asians (4.43%), as well as native and Hispanic populations. English is the primary language of the U.S.; it is designated as official in 24 states and is spoken by 82.1 percent of the population. Spanish is also widely spoken, while small pockets of people speak Indo-European and Asian languages. Hawaiian remains the official language in Hawaii. Following more than a century of Spanish exploration, North America was first settled by the English in the 1600s. The next several years saw the birth of 13 British colonies. In 1775, growing frustrations with British rule led to the American Revolution, a fight for independence that lasted until 1783 when the colonies were officially recognized as the United States. With the drafting of a constitution, the new country formed a federal republic, electing the first president in 1789. Each of the original 13 colonies became an individual state, and eventually, 37 more states were added. In 1861, following the southern state’s secession from the union, civil war broke out between the north (the Union) and south (the Confederacy). Among the causes of the war was a disagreement over slavery, an asset that was vital to the survival of southern plantations, and the southern economy. The region’s brutal war, which took more American lives than any other up to that time, ended in 1865 with the surrender of the Confederacy. Though the Civil War put massive strain on the U.S. economy, the country proved resilient, bouncing back to become a world power. The U.S. participated in both World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945). A vast economic recession, known as the Great Depression, hit the U.S. hard during the interwar period. Since recovering from the Great Depression of the 1930s, America’s free-market economy has characteristically been marked by growth, technological advances, and low unemployment and inflation rates. In recent years, the United States economy and infrastructure have been tested by terrorist attacks (2001), war in Iraq (2003), natural disasters (Hurricane Katrina, 2005), and soaring oil prices (2007 and 2008). Despite these challenges, America remains a world economic and political leader. As the world’s leading international power and an important member of the United Nations and the G8, the U.S. continues to play a vital role in international affairs. Children under the age of 18 are required to attend school, and elementary and secondary schools are funded by American tax dollars. More than 80 percent of students enroll in schools of higher education; this includes both private and state-run universities. Back to top World Vision's history in the United StatesWorld Vision began in the United States in the 1950s, when Dr. Bob Pierce returned from a trip to China and made widespread appeals for churches in the United States to help children living in need. World Vision’s initial efforts focused on sponsorship for children in Korea.Global relief efforts began in the 1960s, with disaster relief and appeals for gifts-in-kind—donations of surplus items from businesses and corporations. World Vision continued to grow, and over the years, sponsorship was expanded to include countries in other parts of Asia, as well as Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. As the scope of its work expanded, World Vision recognized the need for communities to become self-sustaining. In addition to sponsorship, World Vision began offering agricultural and vocational training. In the 1980s, World Vision responded to the famine in Ethiopia, providing millions of dollars worth of food and medical assistance. Clean water also became an important aspect of World Vision intervention, and the installation of wells in developing communities helped to decrease infant mortality rates. In the early 1990s, the 30 Hour Famine program was launched in the United States, with the goal of helping youth experience hunger and raise money for children around the world. With the growth of the AIDS pandemic that same decade, World Vision began addressing the needs of children orphaned by the disease and launched educational efforts to raise awareness and stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. Back to top World Vision in the United States todayToday, World Vision continues to provide sponsorship, clean water, self-sustaining education, disaster relief, HIV and AIDS prevention, and other necessities to children and families in nearly 100 countries across the globe. Of the 3.3 million children currently sponsored by World Vision, roughly 921,000 are supported by the monthly contributions of United States donors. In 2006, World Vision distributed 225,000 metric tons of food for the United Nations’ World Food Program and United States government-funded programs.World Vision also works with families living in impoverished communities in the United States. By connecting and assisting leaders, churches, and organizations, World Vision was able to supply 1.6 million children and adults with items such as clothing and school supplies in 2007. World Vision also provided mentoring and tutoring for at-risk American youth. For more information on World Vision’s programs in the U.S. and around the world, please contact the World Vision United States office. please contact the United States office. Back to top | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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