Chapter 9 The Midwest and Great Plains Region

The Heartland of the United States Missouri is one of 12 states located in the Midwest region of the United States. It is also known as the Heartland for two reasons. It is located in the center, or heart, of our nation. It is our country’s greatest farming region. This region is also known as the breadbasket region because it is our country’s most important region for producing food. Midwest RegionMidwest Region (20 minutes)

Bodies of Water The greatest river in the United States, the Mississippi River, runs through the middle of the Midwest Region. The Missouri River and the Ohio River are tributaries of the Mississippi River. Four of the five Great Lakes are located in the Midwest Region. The St. Lawrence Waterway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

Finding New Ways People came to the Midwest and Great Plains region to explore the land, to settle it, and to make their lives better – Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette explored the Mississippi River 1788 – Settlers established a village along the Ohio River. This settlement became known as Cincinnati. It was an important port when steamboats began to be used. May 1804 – Meriweather Lewis and William Clark set out to explore the area to the west of the Mississippi. Sacajawea helped Lewis and Clark communicate with the Native Americans. They reached the Pacific Ocean in November They returned to St. Louis in September 1806.

Finding New Ways (cont.) 1877 – A group of African American pioneers from Kentucky established a settlement in Kansas they called Nicodemus. Today, Nicodemus is the only remaining early African American settlement west of the Mississippi River Jane Adams established a neighborhood center called Hull House in Chicago. She provided support for immigrants who had just moved to Chicago. History of Midwest

Products of the Midwest and Great Plains Region Wisconsin is our country’s main dairy state. Michigan is well-known for fruits such as, cherries, apples, and plums. Nebraska and Kansas are well-known for dry- climate products such as wheat. Coal, limestone, and iron ore are mined and used to make steel. Manufacturing in the Midwest