1. Physical Geography The Big Idea
The United States is a large country with diverse physical features, climates, and resources.
Main Ideas
Major physical features of the United States include mountains, rivers, and plains.
The climate of the United States is wetter in the East and South and drier in the West.
The United States is rich in natural resources such as farmland, oil, forests, and minerals.

2. Main Idea 2: The climate of the United States is wetter in the East and South and drier in the West.
Northeast: Humid continental climate with snowy winters and warm, humid summers
Southeast: Humid subtropical climate with milder winters and warm, humid summers
Florida: Warm all year
Midwest
Most of the region: A humid continental climate
Great Plains: Hot and dry summers
West
West: Mostly dry
Pacific Northwest coast: A wet, mild coastal climate
Alaska: Sub-arctic and tundra climates
Hawaii: A warm, tropical climate

3. Main Idea 3: The United States is rich in natural resources such as farmland, oil, forests, and minerals.
Alaska, California, or Louisiana: oil
The U.S. is a major oil producer but uses more oil than it produces.
Appalachians and Rockies: minerals including coal
Coal supplies the energy for more than half of the electricity produced in the U.S.
The U.S. has about 25 percent of the world’s coal reserves.
Forests: lumber
Farmlands: wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, fruits, and vegetables

4. The United States Today
The Big Idea
The United States has five main regions and faces opportunities and challenges.
Main Ideas
The United States has five regions—the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest and West.
The United States has a strong economy and a powerful military but is facing the challenge of world terrorism.

5. Main Idea 1: The United States has four regions—the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West.
Industrial and financial centers
Economy: banks, investment firms, insurance companies, respected universities
Rich farmland, coal, steel production, and fishing
Most densely populated region in the U.S. with 40 million people
Cities from Boston to Washington, D.C. form a megalopolis, or a string of large cities that have grown together.
Cities founded in colonial era became important seaports.
The South
Rich farmlands grow cotton, tobacco, and citrus fruit.
This region is becoming more urban and industrialized.
Atlanta metropolis has grown from 1 million in 1960 to 4 million today.
Research Triangle in North Carolina is growing high-tech area.
Texas Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi Rover areas have huge oil refineries and petrochemical plants.
Important trade centers with Mexico and Central and South American countries. E.g., Miami

6. The Midwest and the West
One of the most productive farming regions in the world
Crops: corn, wheat, and soybeans
Dairy farms in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota
Major cities are located near the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and the Great Lakes because products are easily shipped to and from these centers.
Detroit, Michigan, is the country’s leading automobile producer.
Chicago, Illinois, is the third largest city in the nation.
The West
Large open spaces with major cities on the Pacific Coast
More than 10 percent of the nation lives in California, where farming, technology, and entertainment are important industries.
Economy of other states: ranching and growing wheat
Mineral resources: coal, oil, gold, silver, copper, and others
Northwest
Oregon and Washington: forestry and fishing
Seattle: Washington’s largest city with many industries.
Alaska: oil, forests, and fish

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