The US sits over a large landmass which provides it a great opportunity for demographic expansion. It would never sit on its own because like countries in Europe there is an interest in keeping it within a balance of power. The US's rise wasn't a "wank," it was the result of some pretty firm geographic and strategic advantages, as well as one engendered by its (for the time) democratic form of governance that provides more opportunity than the then-class stratified Europe.
Just the French relations alone are a wank. Britain populates its colonies, while France doesn't. The two entities are bitter enemies in North America, until Britain decides to break with long standing tradition and makes NA the centerpiece of the 7 yr war, and then opts to keep the frozen tundra over a quite profitable sugar island. a decade later, France bankrupts itself for no gain in helping British colonies gain independence. Remarkably, 13 colonies opt to unify, and even more remarkably, succeed. a bare year or so after almost going to war, France re-attains Louisiana and then sells it for pennies to the US.
The wank continues on well beyond that.
At every step along the way, there were good reasons why things went the way they did. Add it all up, and it's unbelievable.