Background: Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
December 28th 2007North America » United States » Louisiana » Abbeville Louisiana highway eighty-two slopes south of Abbeville to the Gulf of Mexico. The raised and shoulderless byway uncovers a lifestyle, dramatic recent destruction, and geography that the parish seat q ... 5 photos[full story]
December 24th 2007North America » United States » Louisiana » Abbeville In order to get a true sense of traveling in the United States, I keep a vow to avoid corporate hotels. No Quality Inn, La Quinta, Super 8, or Clarion can ever blend into a community like a Mom and P ... 1 photos[full story]
December 31st 2007North America » United States » Louisiana » Abbeville The pretty thing behind the bar at Black’s with whom I speak to every night had been putting in a mighty effort for me to try the oysters, this time broiled instead of raw. It is a busy night, ... [full story]
December 28th 2007North America » United States » Louisiana » Abbeville It was time to head north and get back to Abbeville. The open wetlands stretch for several miles north of Cameron. The massive shallow lakes are a refuge to numerous waterfowl of which my favorite ar ... 3 photos[full story]
December 28th 2007North America » United States » Louisiana » Abbeville The unpaved side driveway of the Palmetto Estate has had its green iron bars of the gate twisted by Rita. Through them are over two dozen live oaks in perfect formation. Though they mysteriously lac ... 7 photos[full story]
December 28th 2007North America » United States » Louisiana » Abbeville “I think I’ll pass on the on the alligator bites for today, sweetie.” People here refer to pretty wait staff as “darling”, “sweetheart” or some other term of ... 2 photos[full story]
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