THE UNITED STATES Pages 138 – 145 and 152 - 157

Vocabulary Temperate Climate – Moderate or mild. Cool winters and warm summers. Population Density – The number of people that live in one area. Market Economy – An economy where individuals and businesses make the majority of buying and selling decisions.

Vocabulary Export – A good that is shipped from your country to a different country. Import – Goods that are brought into your country from other countries.

Section 1: Chapter Atlas United States is in the Northern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. The USA has 50 states. 48 of the states are located in the middle of North America. We call these the “Lower 48” or “The Continental United States” The other two states are Hawaii and Alaska.

Section 1: Chapter Atlas Central USA – Great Plains, Good for Farming Eastern USA – Appalachian Mts., Older Weathered Mts. Western USA – Rocky Mts., High and Rugged Mts.

Section 1: Chapter Atlas Rivers usually start in the higher elevations and flow to the lower elevations. The Mississippi River system is the largest in the United States. People settle near rivers because they are a source of water, good for trade and transportation, and generally better for farming.

Section 1: Chapter Atlas Climate – The average weather over a long period of time. The United States has a mostly a Temperate Climate. * Refer to page 140 in your textbook

Section 1: Chapter Atlas The weather in the USA is also affected by wind patterns which mostly travel from west to east across the United States. In the winter the winds from the NW bring the chilling weather of winter and then in the late summer the winds from the Gulf of Mexico can bring hurricanes. Hurricanes mostly affect coastal regions. Flooding is the most widespread natural disaster in the USA.

Section 1: Chapter Atlas The United States has an abundance of Natural Resources. These resources have helped to grow the economy of the United States. * Refer to the map on page 141 in your textbook

Section 1: Chapter Atlas

Section 1: Chapter Atlas The first settlements in the United States were along the Atlantic Coast. People settled close to water and also close to natural resources. As the country grew and technology increased people began to spread out and settle along the railroad routes. Over the years many groups of people have immigrated to the United States. Early Europeans came here for religious freedoms. Africans were brought here as slaves. Later Europeans came here looking for work and a better way of life.

Section 1: Chapter Atlas Today many people come looking for work here in the United States. There are approximately 304 million people living in the USA . Almost 80% of those people live in urban areas. The population density is higher in urban areas (near large cities and on the coasts) and lower in rural areas (western states).

Section 1: Chapter Atlas Noontime smog on the streets of Donora, PA. 1948 Growth and Expansion had negative effects on the environment in the USA. Industries in the 1800 and 1900’s used many natural resources like iron and coal. The mining and burning coal caused air pollution. Waste was dumped into the rivers. Towns grew and destroyed wildlife habitats.

Section 1: Chapter Atlas Around the 1960’s things started to change and people became interested in saving the environment. New laws and efforts from scientist, industries, and manufacturers are helping to save the environment, but many problems still exist from pollution. Donora, PA 2008

Section 2: The United States Today The United States has always been an influence in the world and we continue to do that through our economy. Technology advances have added to the growth of our economy. The United States has a market economy. This means most businesses are run by private individuals or groups. The government does set some regulations but does not run the businesses.

Section 2: The United States Today Trade is important to the USA. We export goods such as clothing, cars, and household goods. We import many goods from China, India, and Japan. The cost of making these goods in those countries is much cheaper. This makes the overall price of the good cheaper and more appealing to many people. We also import oil from Mexico, South America, and the Middle East.

Section 2: The United States Today Canada and Mexico are the United States biggest trading partners. We have an agreement called NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) with them. This agreement helps to increase trade while decreasing the cost of trade.

Section 2: The United States Today In the United States there are many economic regions. A few examples are: The Midwest - Agriculture Great Lakes – Auto Manufacturing Pacific Northwest - Forests

Section 2: The United States Today The USA economy has changed drastically in the last 50 years. We went from primarily an Agricultural economy to more of a Service economy.

Section 2: The United States Today “Culture is a pattern of activities, language and habits common to a group of people.” My World Geography Religion, Food, Music, Clothing, and Entertainment are all examples of culture. The United States’ culture is considered a melting pot. We have many cultures coming together to make one new cultures.

Section 2: The United States Today The United States has many different religions. Christian Protestants make up the largest group but other non-Christian groups include Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim. We also enjoy a variety of food choices due to the many different cultures. The United States’ culture has influenced the rest of the world as well. Modern technology such as the internet has made it spread even more.

Section 2: The United States Today Many people have immigrated to the USA causing a population increase during the last 10 years. Many come for the freedoms that the United States offers that can’t be found in other countries. When these people move to the USA they often group together and create communities like the place from which they came. Little Italy, New York Chinatown , New York

Section 2: The United States Today The United States tries to promote and protect the interests of itself and its allies. One type of interest is trade. Trade will be negotiated by businesses and the government. Diplomacy or the use of discussion is how the USA tries to first deal with situations. Sometimes however, the time for diplomacy is past. Sept. 11th is a prime example. Military action was taken to remove those that posed a threat to the United States.

Section 2: The United States Today We also work to help people around the world through organizations like USAID and the Peace Corp. These groups provide food and help teach people around the world. The United States contributes more foreign aid than any other country in the world.

Section 2: The United States Today “Earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. We can meet those new threats that demand even greater cooperation between nations.” President Barrack Obama Inaugural Address