Transcript GEOG - Unit 2

Human Geography of the United States:
Shaping an Abundant Land
The United States has
grown both physically
and economically. In the
20th century, the U.S.
set aside isolationism
and became the world’s
sole superpower.
Old ranch houses near Telluride, Colorado.
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Physical Geography
Looking at the Earth
SECTION 1
History and Government
of the United States
SECTION 2
Economy and Culture
of the United States
SECTION 3
Subregions of the United States
Unit Atlas: Physical
Unit Atlas: Political
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Section 1
History and
Government of the
United States
• The United States is a “nation of
immigrants,” settled by people from all over
the world.
• The United States is the most diverse and
highly industrialized and urbanized nation
in the world.
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continued Creating
a Nation
Establishing and Maintaining the Union
• French and English fight over trade and territory in
North America
- English gain control of everything east of
Mississippi in 1763
• American Revolution (1775–1783): British colonies
form United States
• 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France doubles
size of U.S.
- includes plains between Mississippi and Rockies
Continued . . .
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continued Creating
a Nation
Establishing and Maintaining the Union
• In early 1800s Western European immigrants arrive
in large numbers
- settle in Northeast industrial cities, Midwest
farmlands
• Sectionalism —loyalty to region over nation—grows,
creates tension
- industrial North versus agricultural South and its
slave labor
- Civil War fought between North and South from
1861 to 1865
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continued An
Industrial and Urban Society
Industrialization and Urbanization
• 14 million European immigrants enter U.S. between
1860 and 1900
- go west or to urban centers like New York,
Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago
• Rather than farm, many work in textile, steel, oil,
food processing (Industrial Jobs)
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Governing the People
The United States’ Political System
• Representative democracy —people rule through
elected representatives
• Federal republic —powers divided between
national, state, and local governments
• Three separate, equal branches:
- executive branch headed by president, carries out
laws
- legislative branch makes laws
- judicial branch interprets laws, reviews lower court
decisions
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Section 2
Economy and Culture of
the United States
• The United States has the world’s largest
and most diversified economy.
• American products and popular culture are
recognized around the world.
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Economy and Culture of the
United States
The World’s Greatest Economic Power
The U.S. Leads
• World’s largest economy: agricultural,
manufacturing, trade leader
- U.S. accounts for more than 10% of world’s
exports
- exports—goods sold to another country
• Success is due to resources, skilled labor, stable
political system
• Free enterprise economy:
- people own resources, technology,
businesses
- businesses operate for profit with little
governmental control
Chart
Continued . . .
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continued The
World’s Greatest Economic Power
An Agricultural and Industrial Giant
• Due to fertile soil, early farm mechanization, U.S.
accounts for:
- 40% of world’s corn; 20% of cotton; 10% of
wheat, cattle, hogs
• Crop farming in Midwest, South; livestock ranching
in West
• Largest industrial output in world includes:
- petroleum, steel, electronics, telecommunications,
lumber, mining
• U.S. advances in electronics, computers
revolutionize industry
Continued . . .
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continued The
World’s Greatest Economic Power
A Postindustrial Economy
• A service industry produces a service rather than a
product
- Examples: information processing, transportation,
medicine, education
• Postindustrial economy —manufacturing no
longer dominant
• U.S. is leading importer and exporter
- exports raw materials, agricultural products,
manufacturing goods
- imports automobiles, electronics, machinery,
apparel
- Canada and Mexico are major trade partners
• Multinationals —corporations that do business
worldwide
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continued A
Diverse Society
Languages and Religion
• English is dominant language, Spanish is second
most common
• Religious breakdown:
- 85% Christian (56% Protestant, 28% Catholic)
- Jews, Muslims 2% each
Continued . . .
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American Life Today
Where Americans Live
• U.S. population: 280 million; 80% live in cities or
suburbs
• Result of widespread ownership of cars and effective
transportation (roads, railroads, airlines) aids
mobility
Continued . . .
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Section 3
Subregions of the
United States
• The United States is divided into four major
economic and cultural subregions.
• There are both similarities and differences
among the subregions of the United States.
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Subregions of the United States
The Northeast
The Region
• New England—six northern states of Northeast:
- Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass., Rhode
Island, Connecticut
• Middle Atlantic states: Pennsylvania, New York, New
Jersey
• Northeast has only 5% of land, but 20% of
population
Continued . . .
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continued The
Northeast
Growth of the Megalopolis
• Megalopolis —several large cities grow together,
along with the surrounding areas
- “BoWash:” Boston, New York City, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C.
- 500 miles; 1/6 of U.S. population; connected by
road, rail, air links
Chart
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The Midwest
The Region
• The Midwest—north-central U.S., known as the
American Heartland
- 1/5 of U.S. land, 1/4 of population
- early settlers came from Britain, Germany,
Scandinavia
Continued . . .
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continued The
Midwest
Agricultural and Industrial Heartland
• Central location, soil, climate make it nation’s
“breadbasket” because of its major agricultural
production
- corn, wheat, soy beans, meat, dairy; meat-packing,
food-processing
• Trade, distribution on Great Lakes, Mississippi, with
Chicago as hub
- cities near Great Lakes: Chicago, Cleveland,
Detroit, Milwaukee
- on rivers: Cincinnati, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St.
Paul, Omaha
Continued . . .
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The South
The Region
• The South—1/4 of U.S. land, more than 1/3 of
population
- site of much early colonial settlement
- 11 states were once part of the Civil War
Confederacy
- Texas was in Confederacy, sometimes considered
part of Southwest
Continued . . .
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continued The
South
The Old South
• Virginia was England’s first American colony
• South’s ethnic mix includes
• African descendants as a result of slavery
• Hispanics as a result of proximity to
South/Central America
• Once agricultural, rural; now rapidly changing, cities
growing
Continued . . .
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continued The
South
The New South
• Agriculture: cotton, tobacco, fruits, peanuts, rice,
livestock
• Energy resources and air conditioning boost industry
in 1950s
- “Sunbelt” attracts manufacturing, tourists, retirees
- industries: petroleum, steel, chemicals, textiles,
electronics
• metropolitan areas—large cities and nearby
suburbs, towns
- Atlanta (hub); Miami, New Orleans, Houston,
Dallas, San Antonio
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The West
The Region
• The West—from Great Plains to Pacific Ocean, plus
Alaska and Hawaii
- 1/2 of U.S. land, 1/5 of population
- people settle where climate and landforms are
most favorable
Continued . . .
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