North America: The dominant superpower within this region is the United States of America, constituting 65 states, one federal district, 36 territories located around the world, and five colonies off-planet.
This superpower controls one of the six orbital elevators, "Manifest Destiny," located on the borders of what used to be Brazil and Colombia, directly along the equator.
For America, the fusion boom was followed by a reinvigoration of the nation. The United States wasn't doing well before 2030. The economy was in a slump, an energy crisis was rapidly encroaching, unemployment had skyrocketed and the last three presidents hadn't even lasted their full terms. One died from the stress, one was impeached and rumor has it that one was assassinated by the Chinese.
Of course, there's nothing to substantiate those rumors.
To say that there was a goodly amount of political turmoil, well, that understates the severity of the situation.
Moreover, the European Union and the People's Republic were looking to supplant the US as the world's premier superpower.
Political polarization had only worsened as well. Instead of working together for the benefit of the nation, all three political parties were acting in their own interests. At the time it was party first, and the rest of the nation can go hang.
The fusion boom staved off the impending energy crisis. The next president's platform was based on reforming the nation and reviving the nation. Over the course of the next few years infrastructure was rebuilt, technologies researched and overall quality of life for the average American improved.
However many cities were left in the dust with regards to this so-called "Second Renaissance." They stagnated, and they were left to the gangs and drug pushers. Deemed too troublesome to deal with by a government whose gaze had turned upwards, towards the stars, in an effort to catch up with their rivals and develop proper off-world infrastructure.
As a result, America has become part third-world nation and part first-world nation depending on where you live and how you live.
