The history of humanity has always been full of ups and downs. Successes and failures, treaties and war. And just like human history, a human life can get lost in its own challenges and experiences. Often unaware of the plight of others, most simply live their lives. Taking what they have for granted, they live inside their glass shell, unable to imagine an outside world. Take for example the United States of America. With a GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of $47,400, the United States of America is the 10th richest country in terms of GDP. ("CIA- World Factbook: Country Comparison") While as another country, let's say Ivory Coast is ranked 194th with a GDP of $1800. ("CIA- World Factbook: Country Comparison") It would be really difficult, if not impossible, for any of the citizens of these countries to understand each other's problems since each exists in completely different economic worlds. But what makes these countries so different? Why has the United States become such an economic power while Ivory Coast has experienced so many difficulties over the years? In the following paragraphs, these two countries will be compared and contrasted, in search of a complex answer to these seemingly simple questions. To help find an answer to the question posed, it is important to understand at least the basis on which these countries have come to be. The United States officially became a country in its own right on July 4, 1776 ("CIA-World Factbook: United States") with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in Congress. ("Library of Congress, Today in History: July 4") They had suffered under an authoritarian British monarchy. So, to escape the tyranny of the British king ("Oval Office Watch"), they had no other choice than to fight for their... middle of paper... United States, Today in History: July 4, 2011. The web February 28, 2011. “Declaration of Independence –. Why America Exists.” Oval Office Watch.com, April 30, 2009. Web. Unbound States. Leland, Anne and Mari-Jana Oboroceanu. United States. Casualties of American War and Military Operations: Lists and Statistics. DC: CRS, 2010. Web. 'Ivory'. Federal Research Division, 1991. Web. 2011. .