To clarify, I mean how did it become one of the biggest modern superpowers? I'm Canadian and would like to know why it, of all countries, was able to become the country it is today. I personally don't believe that's it's the "greatest country on the planet" but there are many who do. What are the reasons behind this if it is in any way true?
The Mississippi River system makes the entire interior of the country accessible by ship. That is completely unprecedented for farming you can grow something in the middle of the U.S, get it on a ship and have it in the Eastern Seaboard or Europe in a matter of days. The quality of the farmland at the Mississippi River system touches is extraordinary as well. This is not the only reason, but it's very important. https://redd.it/5mrqsx the red part of that map illustrates it really well