>> How did the United States of America achieve this miraculous feat? How was an empty space on a map, a vast and roaring wilderness, so utterly transformed in a few short centuries?
Wow, empty space, huh?
The article doesn't mention slavery or Native Americans, but the mentioned book Americana by Bhu Srinivasan apparently does go over the economic impact of those.
The phrase "empty space on a map" speaks to the ignorance of the map creators, the early explorers. All three books talk about the exploitation of natives and slaves.