The United States: Modernization at Top Speed < The Modernization of Nations

Two sets of statistics dramatically point up the speed of American growth. In 1790 the United States comprised 892,000 square miles, and in 1910, 3,754,000 square miles.

Even more important, the population of the United States was 3,929,000 in 1790, and 91,972,000 in 1910—a total greater than that of either of the most powerful European states, Germany and Great Britain, and second only to that of Russia.

And, still more important, the combined industrial and agricultural capacities of America by 1910 were greater than those of any other single country.