Regional Geography of The United States An Interactive Presentation

Chapter 1, Section 1 What is Geography? Geography is the study of people, their environments, and their resources.

The Five Themes of Geography Chapter 1, Section 1

Looking at the Five Themes Chapter 1, Section 1 Location Exact location describes a place on a grid of numbered lines on a map or a globe. Lines of longitude measure distance east and west of the Prime Meridian. Lines of latitude measure distance north and south from the Equator. Relative location describes one place in relation to another place.

Looking at the Five Themes Chapter 1, Section 1 Place Physical features—climate, soil, vegetation, animal life, bodies of water, and natural resources, for example. Human features—types of housing, transportation, jobs, languages, and religions, for example. Interaction People adapt to the land People change the land, through crops, irrigation, pest control, and drilling for oil, for example Natural resources—materials humans take from the environment to satisfy their needs Irrigation—bringing water to dry lands

Looking at the Five Themes Chapter 1, Section 1 Movement People Goods Ideas Regions Unifying physical characteristics-climates, landforms Unifying human characteristics-language, culture

Geography and Population Trends Chapter 1, Section 1 Late 1700s—People lived along the Atlantic coast or near other water transportation. Early 1800s—With new forms of transportation, people moved westward and cleared land for farms. Late 1800s—White settlers overcame Native Americans and settled the West. Mid 1900s—People were attracted to cities with mild climates in the south and west.

Cartographers Make Maps and Globes Chapter 1, Section 1 Cartographers make maps using different map projections for different purposes. Cartographer—mapmaker Map projections—ways to show the earth on a flat surface. Types of map projections are Mercator and Robinson Cartographers make different types of maps for different purposes. Physical maps show physical features such as mountains and bodies of water. Political maps show countries, states, and capitals and other cities. Thematic maps deal with specific topics-population, rainfall, vegetation, or elections, for example.

Types of Maps Physical Maps: - show mountain ranges, bodies of water, & other natural physical features. Political Maps: - show features that are determined by people including boundaries of countries & states, as well as locations of capitals & cities.

Thematic Maps Maps that deal with specific topics or themes. - Population maps show the # of people in a particular area. - Economic maps show how people make a living in an area. - Battle maps show locations of major battles & routes of advancing & retreating armies. - Natural Resources, Rainfall, Vegetation, elections, religious and ethnic maps.

Continents & Countries DEFINE: Continent – One of several large landmasses on Earth. They are identified by SEVEN regions. They are: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Australia & Europe. Country – The land or territory of a nation. Size and shape determined by borders created by people.

THE 7 CONTINENTS

4 6 1 2 3 5 7 Name That Continent Asia Europe North America Africa South America 5 Australia 7 Antarctica

The Four Oceans 4 Arctic Atlantic 1 Pacific 2 3 Indian

Famous American Waterways Chapter 1, Section 2 Mississippi-Missouri River System Main branches Mississippi River Missouri River Tributaries Ohio River Tennessee River Arkansas River Platte River Other major rivers Colorado River Hudson River Rio Grande Great Lakes Superior Michigan Huron Erie Ontario Tributary—stream or smaller river that flows into a larger one

The United States Where are The Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, The Gulf of Mexico, The Mississippi River and The Great Lakes? You are here! 

Climate and Weather Words Chapter 1, Section 2 Weather—condition of the atmosphere at any given time or place Climate—the average weather of a place over 20 or 30 years Precipitation—water that falls as rain, sleet, hail, or snow The temperature and precipitation of an area define an area’s climate.

How Climates Vary Type of Climate Where Characteristics Marine Chapter 1, Section 2 Type of Climate Where Characteristics Marine Pacific Northwest Mild, moist ocean air; warm summers; cool winters Mediterranean California Mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers Highland Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains Varies according to altitude; cooler than surrounding lowland Desert Southwestern United States Hot days; cold nights; little rain Steppe Great Plains Hot summers; cold winters; little rain How Climates Vary

How Climates Vary Type of Climate Where Characteristics Chapter 1, Section 2 Type of Climate Where Characteristics Humid Continental Central Plains and northeastern United States Mild summers, cold winters; much rain Tropical Southern Florida and Hawaii Hot; humid Humid Subtropical Southeastern United States Warm; regular rain Tundra Northern and western Alaska Cold year-round Subarctic Rest of Alaska, northern Canada Long, cold winters; short summers How Climates Vary

Historians Evaluate and Interpret Historical Evidence Chapter 1, Section 3 Collecting Evidence Primary sources—firsthand information—official documents, public speeches, eyewitness accounts, for example Secondary sources—accounts by people who did not witness an event; based on primary sources—textbook, encyclopedia, biographies, for example Evaluating Evidence Authenticity—whether the source is what it seems to be Reliability—whether the source is accurate Bias—leaning toward or against a certain person, group, or idea Interpreting Evidence Determine the cause of a development or event Historians have their own biases

Archaeologists Add to Our Knowledge of History Chapter 1, Section 3 Archaeologists Add to Our Knowledge of History Archaeology is the study of evidence left by early people Archaeologists Study Artifacts Archaeologists form theories about the cultures of ancient peoples Archaeology—study of evidence left by early people in order to find out about their way of life. Artifact—objects made by humans, such as tools and weapons. Culture—a people’s way of life—home, economy, government, for example.

Understanding Chronology Chapter 1, Section 3 Chronology Chronology—sequence of events over time Absolute chronology—exact time, in centuries, years, days, and so forth Relative chronology—time of an event in relation to the time of another event

Other Social Sciences Support the Study of History Chapter 1, Section 4 Social Science Study of... Example Political Science Government How Americans created the Constitution Civics Rights and responsibilities of citizens Freedom of speech, worship, and assembly; voting, military service Anthropology How peoples and cultures develop How first Americans spread across the continent Sociology How people behave in groups Comparing life in a farming community with life in a big city Psychology How people think and behave Understanding the views and biases in a primary source Social sciences—studies that relate to human society and social behavior Other Social Sciences Support the Study of History

Economists Ask Three Basic Questions About Society Chapter 1, Section 4 What goods and services should we produce? Food, shelter, clothing Consumer goods Construction, transportation Services—education, for example How should we produce them? Small enterprises Large factories and farms For whom should we produce them? Cash economy Economics—the study of how people manage their limited resources to satisfy their wants and needs Consumer—user of goods and services Cash economy—economic system where people exchange money for goods and services