No, it doesn't.
If you want an easy game, do not try the US, unless you are playing on a low difficulty/knowing how to rush properly.
I'll tell you what the civs do :
China and Persia usually run away, getting lots of territory.
Russia sometimes runs away, getting lots of territory.
Greece usually founds 1-3 cities, and is, err, nothing. (Although I saw them conquering Persia once! That was quite amazing actually :lol)
Arabia usually expands properly into the middle east and Africa, founds a religion and converts half the world to it. They are a decent techer.
Egypt usually expands properly into Africa and techs decently. However, they tend to found Judaism, convert to it and become an international pariah.
Mansa Musa usually underexpands, but because he is a good techer, he can sometimes keep up in power.
Montezuma usually takes over the whole of America, vassaling/destroying the United States.
Huayna Capac usually stays on his side of the Andes, being another backwater. He sometimes founds the religion of the Americas, though.
England settles Scandinavia and, err, England. They tech decently, but do not found colonies and the like.
Japan sometimes gets crushed by China, sometimes founds a colonial empire in Indonesia/Australia. They also tend to get one or two cities on the mainland.
Mongolia underexpands and vassals to someone.
France builds a lot of wonders and does usually not found any extra cities.
Spain usually founds a religion, converts half the world to it, builds the Apostolic Palace and keeps OCCing in Madrid.
Germany occasionaly gets strong by settling in Scandinavia.
Rome usually gets only 2-3 cities and is a backwater.
I'd suggest playing as Rome, China, Mali or Japan, if you want it easy. But if executed properly, a settling of North America can be effective. Take out Montezuma ASAP though!
France has a very strong wonderspamming capital : if you like a change, you can try OCC with it. I won a Space Race on noble with it.
