The United States

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The United States
CHAPTER 8

• Section 1 History and Culture
• Section 2 Regions of the United States
• Section 3 Geographic Issues

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Objectives
Section 1 History and Culture

• What are some important events in the history of
  the United States?
• What are some unique elements of American culture?

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SECTION 1
History and Culture
Question What important events occurred in
American history?
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Key events in American history
Section 1 History and Culture

• Earliest inhabitants arrived at least 14,000
  years ago from Asia.
• Europeans began arriving 500 years ago first
  Spanish, then English and French.

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Key events in American history (continued)
Section 1 History and Culture

• British established 13 colonies.
• After independence, in 1776, U.S. established a
  federal system of government.

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Key events in American history (continued)
Section 1 History and Culture

• Westward expansion in the 1800s gained new lands
  but caused conflict with American Indians.
• North industrialized, while South developed
  plantation economy. Differences caused Civil War.

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Key events in American history (continued)
Section 1 History and Culture

• Settlers occupied interior plains immigration
  swelled eastern cities.
• U.S. fought in two world wars emerged as a major
  power.

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Unique elements of American culture
Section 1 History and Culture

• great diversity of people and languages
• variety of religions
• broad public education
• distinctive forms of popular culture movies,
  jazz, sports

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SECTION 1
History and Culture
12,000 B.C. Ancestors of American Indians arrive
from Asia.
1600s The British begin to set up colonies in
America.
1776 The American war for independence begins.
1869 The transcontinental railroad is completed.
1920 More Americans live in cities than in
rural areas.
1800s Migrants move west.
1619 Enslaved Africans arrive in the British
colonies. South Africa gains independence.
1830 Settlers moved as far as Texas.
Early 1500s. The Spanish explore the Americas.
1917-18 U.S. involvement in World War I
1830s The northeastern United States has begun
to industrialize.
1600s and 1700s Spanish colonists migrate north
from Mexico into the American Southwest.
1941-45 U.S. involvement in World War II
1848 Gold is discovered in California.
1945-early 1990s Cold War
1861-65 Civil War
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Objectives
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• What is the economy of the Northeast like?
• Why is the Midwest such an important farming
  area?
• How is the geography of the South changing?
• How have environmental conditions influenced the
  history of the West?

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Northeast States
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts,
  Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York,
  Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware,
• Washington D. C. (megalopolis)

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SECTION 2
Regions of the United States
Question What activities make up the economy of
the Northeast?
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SECTION 2
Regions of the United States
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Features of Northeastern economy
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• first region to industrialize
• thriving commerce in port cities
• industrial decline in the late 1900s
• now a mix of industry, commerce, and finance.
• Good public transport

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Midwest States
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
  Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri

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Strength of Midwestern agriculture
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• one of the worlds most productive farming areas
• abundant arable land
• Corn Beltcorn for export, livestock feed
• Dairy Beltmajor producer of butter and cheese
• Good high/freeway transport

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Southern States
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
  Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
  Louisiana, Tennesse, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas

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Changes in the South
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• shift away from rural farm economy
• growth of industry, prompted by low wages, cheap
  land, laws
• substantial immigration from Latin America
  (Spanish)
• Urbanization

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Western (Pacific) States
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho,
  Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah,
  Nevada, Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado
• California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii

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Influence of the Western environment
Section 2 Regions of the United States

• natural beauty stimulates tourism
• California agriculture based on irrigation
• Technology (air conditioning, irrigation)
• Water issues
• Large area/Sparse population

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Objectives
Section 3 Geographic Issues

• What are some important environmental issues in
  the United States?
• What natural hazards affect the lives of
  Americans?

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Objectives
Section 3 Geographic Issues

• How are cities and population patterns in the
  United States changing?
• How is the U.S. economy tied to other countries
  around the world?

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SECTION 3
Geographic Issues
Question What are some of the environmental
issues faced by the United States?
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Environmental issues
Section 3 Geographic Issues

• huge energy consumption
• great waste and pollution
• population growth and economic development add to
  problems (e.g., acid rain)

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Environmental issues
Section 3 Geographic Issues

• fertilizer runoff harms marine life
• dams and competition for scarce waterkey issues
  in West

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Natural hazards
Section 3 Geographic Issues

• earthquakes on west coast
• flooding in many areas
• tornadoes in Midwest and South
• hurricanes along east coast and Gulf of Mexico

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SECTION 3
Geographic Issues
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Changes in cities and population patterns
Section 3 Geographic Issues

• shift of population and business from center
  cities to suburbs
• some gentrification in inner cities, forcing out
  low-income residents
• major impact of immigration on ethnic and
  cultural mix, notably in West and South

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Global economy
Section 3 Geographic Issues

• reliance on world trade
• shifting emphasis from tariff protections to free
  trade
• pros and cons of free trade agreements (e.g.,
  NAFTA)

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CHAPTER 23
Chapter Wrap-Up
1. How did changing perceptions of the Great
American Desert lead to changes in society? 2.
How has immigration to the United States
influenced the diffusion of religions and
cultural change? 3. How has competition for water
resources from the Colorado River affected
California and Arizona? How has the river itself
been affected? 4. Which states are part of the
Corn Belt, the Dairy Belt, and the Wheat Belt? 5.
When did the United States become the worlds
only superpower? Why?