United States

The United States, also known as the U.S.A., U.S., United States, and America, was a pre-War country. The location serves as the setting for the Fallout game series, depicted both before and after the Great War.

Space exploration
The United States Space Administration was credited with successfully sending human beings into space onboard the space capsule Defiance 7, making a full revolution around the Earth in twelve minutes and seven seconds. Captain Carl Bell died on May 5, 1961 when the capsule crashed on its return.

On July 16, 1969, the Virgo II lunar lander "Valiant 11," piloted by Captains Richard Wade, Mark Garris, and Michael Hagen, became the first manned space vehicle to touch down on the moon. On November 14, 1969, the Virgo III "Valiant 12" also landed on the moon, leaving behind its flag. Constructed with special materials to withstand the harsh environment, the flag survived on the surface until it was found in 2052 by the crew of the last manned flight to the moon's surface.

In 2020, the USSA commissioned Delta IX rocket, one of the most successful rockets in the nation's history with over 77 successful launches. The longest recorded spaceflight in a Delta IX rocket was the 17-day Zeus 12 mission to the moon. The spacecraft was the last of the manned rockets to the moon, converted afterward for military use, removing the crew and instrument sections in order to hold a nuclear warhead.

Resource Wars
The United States was involved in the Resource Wars, a series of conflicts beginning in 2052, brought on by an unsustainable global economy that heavily relied on finite resources such as petroleum and uranium. Disagreement on the world's last remaining resources caused the dissolution of the United Nations in July 2052. Wartime censorship enabled the government to confiscate and destroy any material deemed seditious. Defense contractors and industrial complexes were put under military command.

Under Executive Order 99066, Chinese-American citizens were taken from their homes, placed in concentration camps without trial, transported by private security contractors. The Turtledove Detention Camp in Maryland was one such camp. Many ended up disappearing in the various research facilities across the United States.

Organized labor and unions pushed back against the government and corporations, struggling for wages, benefits, and safe working conditions. In Appalachia, Hornwright Industrial, Atomic Mining Services, and RobCo Industries, supported by Governor Evans, pushed for replacing human labor with robotics and leaving workers unemployed. The unrest culminated in automation riots.

Regions
Both state and commonwealths were used to distinguish regions within the United States. In Appalachia, documents used the distinction "Territory of Appalachia" and "Appalachian Territory." The country utilized several varieties of national flag. The country shared borders with Mexico to the south, Canada to the north, and Russia across the Bering Strait from Alaska.

Government
In the years prior to the war, the government was led by the president, who worked with their respective cabinet. The House of Representatives and the Senate were legislative bodies capable of the impeachment of a president. The Senate was comprised of department committees that engaged in various initiatives, while Congress was briefed on plans concerning national security. The government included multiple departments and agencies as followed.

The government consisted of several agencies. The Defense Intelligence Agency was one of the most technologically advanced. The structure of the United States government included the Executive Branch. Governmental positions were determined by vote, such as senators who could run for re-election to the United States Senate. A governmental advisory board was known as the Joint Chiefs. Legislation invoked by the Census Bureau include a section of the "Patriotic Patriots of America True Patriotism Act."

Military
The United States Armed Forces served as the unified military of the United States, and was composed of the United States Army, United States Navy, US Marines, United States Air Force, and the US Coast Guard.

Appearances
All games in the Fallout series are set within the United States.

Behind the scenes

 * Selections from the Library of Congress were included in every Garden of Eden Creation Kit.
 * Federal courts are mentioned in a design document for Van Buren.