america shouldn't be trying to get democracy, steel or steam power when the rest of the developed, relevant world is researching physics, military science and assembly line.
but i think the solution to the problem of america's starts is more related to the terms of its start. Onedreamer has a valid point that you can usually get ahead - far ahead by trading correctly, and to prove it:
Ultimately, America in the 600 AD start is a hellish experience and im sure some of the more advanced RFC vets can clean sweep through it. my experiences with it on 3000 BC are always fun but in 600 AD i struggle not because of the tech level (yes, it really hurts in combination with other factors) but the real kicker is all the euro-friends.
when europe is not competitive with each other and they all binge on colonization and nobody goes to war, they all turtle up and it becomes pretty impossible. however in this thread (and in another?) the issue is rather beaten to death and i hope Rhye - between all that is said about it has a few directions he can think about to rebalance this. i think all the feedback on america has been quality but check the details of this thread a little bit more because a few sub-discussions were started in it and america was one of them.
Edit: in the more modern start, america relatively starts off a full era behind in tech because it SHOULD spend its first several turns on libraries, universities then choosing between obsavatory/markets. all the time it can take to get these buildings while researching a tech at 60 turns - while still needing to build units to protect it and drop tile improvements on your naked land can make it take a very long time.\
in these cases if you can't get yourself out of that hole rather fast you might be researching assembley line while everyone else is on refrigeration.
but i think its less about giving america more techs and slightly improving its start in a few other ways: more plagues and wars during the time america is waiting. perhaps (for the AI) all units free upgrade to riflemen and (for the player) something to ensure you aren't that far behind.
normally its NOT hopeless but often it can feel like it is. the main thing to remember is in RFC, america can make its full expanse without leaving home. 6 cities east of the rockies, 1 city in them, 1/2 on the west. that gives about 8 cities you can use to cover your entire landmass and bring in all those resources. also, because your working almost all cities on BFC instead of 8x8, you get more for less, so you can make another internal city if you need to relieve city stability later.
and just because you kick europe out of america doesn't mean in any way that you can make it to your UHV, especially when your frigrates and riflemen stare down destroyers and infantry. trading techs is the ONLY way but its very tricky because you don't want the AI to start researching assembly line ahead of you. but thats also just it!
Once you have assembley line you can build the pentagon and assuming you got the statue that means the worst of it is over and you can trade your techs guilt free. also, as pointed out by others its good to stick to the center paths in the tech tree because the AI likes the top/bottom paths a lot.
