The American Nation Chapter 1 Geography, History, and the Social Sciences Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

The American Nation Section 1: Thinking Geographically Section 2: Land and Climates of the United States Section 3: The Tools of History Section 4: Economics and Other Social Sciences Chapter 1: Geography, History, and the Social Sciences Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1, Section 1 Thinking Geographically How do the five themes of geography help define the connections between geography and history? How did geography influence population trends in United States history? How are maps made and used?

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

Chapter 1, Section 1 The Five Themes of Geography

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. Chapter 1, Section 1 Looking at the Five Themes

Chapter 1, Section 1 Looking at the Five Themes 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

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

Chapter 1, Section 1 Geography and Population Trends 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.

Chapter 1, Section 1 Cartographers Make Maps and Globes 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.

Chapter 1, Section 1 Section 1 Assessment Which is the best definition of “geography”? a) learning the countries and their capitals b) study of rocks and rock formations c) studying ways to show the earth on a flat surface d) study of the connection between people and the natural environment. The main purpose of a thematic map is to show ______. a) mountain ranges and bodies of water b) special information such as rainfall or population c) boundaries of states and countries d) capitals and other cities Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.Click here.

Chapter 1, Section 1 Section 1 Assessment Which is the best definition of “geography”? a) learning the countries and their capitals b) study of rocks and rock formations c) studying ways to show the earth on a flat surface d) study of the connection between people and the natural environment. The main purpose of a thematic map is to show ______. a) mountain ranges and bodies of water b) special information such as rainfall or population c) boundaries of states and countries d) capitals and other cities Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.Click here.

Chapter 1, Section 2 Lands and Climates of the United States What are the main physical regions of the United States? How do rivers and lakes affect American life? How do climates vary across the United States?

Chapter 1, Section 2 Where is the United States? Arctic Ocean and Canada to the north. Atlantic Ocean to the east. Pacific Ocean to the west. Mexico, Central America, and the Isthmus of Panama to the South. Isthmus—narrow strip of land linking two larger areas of land

Chapter 1, Section 2 Looking at Physical Regions of the United States RegionWhereWhat Pacific Coast West Coast from Alaska to Mexico High mountain ranges and valleys Intermountain RegionEast of the Pacific Coast mountains Rugged mountain peaks, high plateaus, deep canyons, deserts Rocky MountainsFrom Alaska through Canada into the western United States Many mountain ranges, highest in North America, some peaks with elevation over 14,000 feet Interior PlainsBetween the Rockies and the Appalachians Lowlands; include the Great Plains and Central Plains Elevation—height above sea level

Chapter 1, Section 2 Looking at Physical Regions of the United States RegionWhereWhat Appalachian Mountains In the East from Canada to Georgia and Mississippi Mountains lower and less rugged than the Rockies Canadian ShieldEastern Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Erosion has reduced high mountains to low hills and plains Coastal PlainsBetween the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachians Coastal lowland area, includes the Atlantic Plain and the Gulf Plain Hawaiian IslandsIn the Pacific Ocean many miles west of California Chain of tropical islands, the tops of undersea volcanoes Erosion - gradual wearing away

Chapter 1, Section 2 How Rivers and Lakes Affect American Life Provide water for farmlands Serve as a means of transportation Used as political boundaries

Chapter 1, Section 2 Famous American Waterways 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

Chapter 1, Section 2 Climate and Weather Words 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 Altitude—height of the land above sea level

Chapter 1, Section 2 How Climates Vary Type of Climate WhereCharacteristics Marine Pacific Northwest Mild, moist ocean air; warm summers; cool winters MediterraneanCaliforniaMild, wet winters; hot, dry summers HighlandCascades, Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains Varies according to altitude; cooler than surrounding lowland DesertSouthwestern United States Hot days; cold nights; little rain SteppeGreat PlainsHot summers; cold winters; little rain

Chapter 1, Section 2 How Climates Vary Type of Climate WhereCharacteristics Humid Continental Central Plains and northeastern United States Mild summers, cold winters; much rain TropicalSouthern Florida and Hawaii Hot; humid Humid SubtropicalSoutheastern United States Warm; regular rain TundraNorthern and western Alaska Cold year-round SubarcticRest of Alaska, northern Canada Long, cold winters; short summers

Chapter 1, Section 2 Section 2 Assessment Mostly, what do geographers use to divide the country into physical regions? a) distance from the Equator b) landforms c) climate d) bodies of water Mostly, what feature or features define an area’s climate? a) what physical region it’s in b) lakes and river system c) ocean and wind currents d) temperature and precipitation Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.Click here.

Chapter 1, Section 2 Section 2 Assessment Mostly, what do geographers use to divide the country into physical regions? a) distance from the Equator b) landforms c) climate d) bodies of water Mostly, what feature or features define an area’s climate? a) what physical region it’s in b) lakes and river system c) ocean and wind currents d) temperature and precipitation Want to connect to the American Nation link for this section? Click here.Click here.

Chapter 1, Section 3 The Tools of History How do historians evaluate and interpret historical evidence? How do archaeologists add to our knowledge of history? What can we learn about history by understanding chronology and eras?

Chapter 1, Section 3 Historians Evaluate and Interpret Historical Evidence 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

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.

Chapter 1, Section 3 Understanding Chronology Chronology Chronology—sequence of events over time

Chapter 1, Section 4 Economics and Other Social Sciences What basic questions do economists ask about society? What are the benefits of free enterprise? How can the social sciences support the study of history?

Chapter 1, Section 4 Economists Ask Three Basic Questions About Society 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

Chapter 1, Section 4 Benefits of a Free Enterprise System Characteristics of a Free Enterprise System Government plays a limited role in the economy. Private citizens own businesses, decide what to make, how much to make, where to sell, and what to charge. Businesses compete. Benefits of a Free Enterprise System The “know-how” of many individuals contributes to national prosperity. Consumers have freedom of choice. The choices people make influence what is made, how much, and at what price.

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