US History Chapter 1

Section 1 Thinking Geographically

5 Themes of Geography 1. Location- where did it happen –Exact location –Relative location 2. Place- an area’s physical and human features 3. Interaction- between humans and environment

5 Themes of Geography cont 4. Movement- of people, goods, and ideas 5. Regions- unifying characteristics –Physical- climate or landforms –Cultural –Human

Section 2 Lands and Climates of the United States

Pacific Coast- along the west coast –Important cities- Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles –San Andres fault Intermountain Region- east of Pacific Coast mountain ranges. –Mountain peaks, high plateaus, deep canyons, and dry, sandy deserts –Cities include Phoenix and Salt Lake City Physical Regions of the U.S.

Physical Regions of the U.S. cont. Rocky Mountains- stretch Alaska through Canada into western US –Some of the highest peaks in North America; Elevation above 14,000ft –Denver Interior Plains- between Rockies and Appalachians –Large lowland area. Dry western region- Great Plains. Eastern region- Central Plains –Major cities Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Indianapolis

Physical Regions of the U.S. cont. Ozark Highlands- southern Missouri and northern Arkansas into eastern Kansas –Thick forests with mountains that rise over 2,000ft. Appalachian Mountains- eastern part of North America from Canada to Georgia and Mississippi –Different names in different places. Green Mountains, Alleghenies, and Great Smoky Mountains

Canadian Shield- lowland area in eastern Canada, southern edge extends into Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Coastal Plains- easternmost region of North America, fairly flat, lowland area –Two sub-regions –Atlantic Plain- between Atlantic Ocean and foothills of Appalachian Mts- Philly, NYC, Boston –Gulf Plain- along Gulf Coast- New Orleans Physical Regions of the U.S. cont.

Physical Regions of the U.S. cont Hawaiian Islands- in the middle of the Pacific Ocean 2,400 miles west of California –Wet, tropic climate and dense tropical rainforest vegetation

Rivers and Lakes Mississippi- Missouri River System- longest and most important river system in U.S Colorado River- Forms the border between Calif. and AZ heading for the Gulf of California Form borders with neighbors –Rio Grande –St. Lawrence

Rivers and Lakes cont. The Great Lakes- five lakes that form part of the border with Canada and makeup the largest body of fresh water in the world –Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario –Canals connect them to the St. Lawrence and Mississippi Rivers

The Tools of History Section 3

Using Historical Evidence Studying the lives of people in different times and places is the work of the historian. –Primary source- firsthand information about people or events. Includes official documents- laws/court decisions, public speeches, eyewitness accounts- diaries, letters, autobiographies Includes visual evidence- News pictures/video May be oral or spoken interviews

Using Historical Evidence cont. –Secondary Source- is an account provided after the fact by people who did not directly witness or participate in the event. Usually based on primary sources Textbooks, encyclopedias, biographies, or books and articles written by historians are also secondary sources. When dealing with a primary source the first job of a historian is to determine the Authenticity- whether or not the source is actually what it seems to be.

Using Historical Evidence cont. Once sure of an article’s authenticity, historians must determine Reliability-whether or not the source gives an accurate account of the events being described. –Must constantly check for bias- a leaning toward or against a certain person, group, or idea. Cultural background, personal experiences, economic status and political beliefs may all contribute

Chronology and Historical Eras When you study history you see how the past is linked to the present. By studying how people solved problems in the past, we can apply them to todays problems. History is the study of ordinary people, who do every day things to shape the character of our country. –How they lived, where they traveled, and how they felt about their lives

History enables you to learn about the culture of a country. History provides you with useful skills. –As you begin to analyze events you will learn how to research topics, recognize different points of view, make connections, and understand cause and effect. Chronology and Historical Eras

Section 4 Economics and Other Social Sciences

Three Economic Questions Economics- The study of how people manage their limited resources to satisfy their wants and needs. Every society must answer three basic economic questions, whose answers define their economic system –1. What goods and services should we produce? –2. How should we produce them? –3. For whom should we produce them.

Three Economic Questions cont. What Goods and Services Should We Produce? –A society’s first economic task is to fulfill people’s basic needs- food, shelter, and clothing. –After the basic needs are met, the society must make choices about how to use the rest of its limited resources. Decisions on what to produce vary according to time and culture.

How Should We Produce Goods and Services? –Even when people agree on what to produce, they must choose how to produce it and how much –Technology plays a major role in these decisions. Advances in technology have changes both family farms and manufacturing Three Economic Questions cont.

For Whom Should We Produce Goods and Services? –Consumers- users of goods and services –In past societies, consumers and producers were often the same people, they consumed the goods they produced themselves. –Today we live in a cash economy- economy where we exchange money for goods and services. Income and wealth determine the goods and services you consume. In some cases people cannot afford the basic needs. Three Economic Questions cont.

The American Free Enterprise System Free Enterprise System- The government plays a limited role in the economy. –Businesses are owned by private citizens, where owners decide what products to make, how much to produce, where to sell and for how much. –Competition is encouraged because it is an incentive to work harder. Companies compete for service by making the best product at the lowest price.

Americans have long recognized that the free enterprise system is one of America’s greatest strengths. It has helped to create vast personal fortunes and national prosperity Many nations look to our nation as a model economy Also allows consumers freedom to make economic choices. –Our buying decisions tell the company what to make, how much, and at what price. –Therefore the economic system is like a democracy. The American Free Enterprise System

Other Social Sciences Social Sciences- studies that relate to human society and social behavior –Economics, History, Geography, Political Science, Civics, Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology are examples that it includes. Political Science and Civics –Political Science- is the study of government. Looks at the ideas behind different forms of gov’t, how they are organized and work. Who should have the most power in gov’t? How are decisions made? How do gov’t change?

Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology –Anthropology- the study of how people and cultures develop Looks at the ways people thought and behaved at different times and places. –Sociology- the study of how people behave in groups Is the society divided into social classes? How are families organized? How do the roles of men and women differ? Values and beliefs that people share. The US contains many different social groups Other Social Sciences cont.

Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology –Psychology- study of how people think and behave Linked to history because history is the study of human beings. A person writing a biography about famous person might look to psychology to understand why a person acted a certain way. It also helps us to evaluate primary sources by helping us understand people’s views and biases. Other Social Sciences cont.