The USPS delivers mail and packages to not only people throughout the United States but also to more than 190 countries worldwide. Customers can use USPS' various fast delivery options to send their items faster, including the Priority Mail and First-Class Mail choices. The USPS delivers everything from letters and postcards to packages from various businesses or retailers. The USPS has nearly 35,000 post offices throughout the country and its many territories. The United States Postal Service consists of nearly half a million career employees working to provide mail service to all Americans regardless of the price, location, or other factors. It became the Post Office Department in 1792 following the introduction of the Postal Service Act, and it became an independent agency in 1971. The operation was introduced in the Second Continental Congress as a group devoted to monitoring mail services in the American colonies. The Postal Service's roots go back to 1775. The USPS supplies postal services to people and businesses throughout the country. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the American government.