1. United States of America
A Cultural Melting Pot

2. Population Patterns Among most diverse in world Immigration
314 million people today
1st people migrated from Asia
20,000 years ago
Native Americans
2.5 million today

3. Why the United States? Political and Religious Freedoms
Better economic opportunities
Flee wars or natural disasters
Rich in natural resources
Rapid economical / industrial growth
Today most come:
seeking educational and career opportunities
refuge from difficult political situations

4. Density and Distribution
314 million people
87 people per square mile

5. Density and Distribution
Outside of large urban areas population is widely distributed
Northeast and Great Lakes
Densely populated
Historical centers of American commerce/industry
Pacific coast
Mild climate and economic opportunities
Alaska, Great Basin, and Great Plains
Least densely populated
American South and Southwest (Sunbelt)
Fastest growing
Manufacturing, service, and tourism industries

6. Density and Distribution
78% White
16.7% Hispanic or Latino
13.1% Black
5% Asian
1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
2.3% Reported 2 or more races

7. Urban Areas Urbanization – moving from rural to cities
Mechanized agriculture
Industry / other jobs
Most of US citizens live in cities
Metropolitan area – city with 50,000+ and suburbs
Megalopolis
Boswash megalopolis
World trade, strong economy, and Atlantic coast
Can support large populations

8. Early America Thousands of years ago, nomads…
Crossed land bridge from Asia to Alaska
Central and South America
Native American lives shaped by location and climate
Southwest used irrigation to farm dry desert areas
Spanish set up farms, cattle ranches, military posts, and missions in south
French were involved in fur trade in Northeast
1700’s - Britain gained control of Atlantic Coast

9. American Colonies Developing
New England Colonies
Rocky soil and short growing season
Harbors, timber, and fish were abundant
Led to shipbuilding, fishing, and trade
Middle Colonies
Fertile soil, mild winders, and warm summers
Cash crops for exports
Southern Colonies
Mild climate, rich soil, and open land
Plantation agriculture

10. Early Conflict 1763 France forced to give Britain most of empire
Native Americans and colonial settlers soon conflicted
Destroyed much of Native American culture
British government imposed taxes on colonists and limited freedoms
13 colonies fought (American Revolution)
1783 United States of America

11. U.S. Government Federal Republic
National government shares powers with states
Constitution created strong national government
3 separate but equal branches
Executive (President, Vice, and Administrative)
Carries out law
Legislative (Congress)
Enacts law
Judicial (Supreme and Federal Courts)
Interprets law
Preserves the rights of citizens through…
Amendments – changes to Constitution to meet country’s changing needs
Bill of Rights (first 10) guarantee basic rights

12. Growth, Division, and Unity (page 157)
1800’s U.S. more than doubled in size
Valuable land and natural resources
Native Americans lost lands and restrictions on traditional ways of life
North: 1800’s industrialization
1st factories along fall line
Power for machines
Later coal from mid-west powered steam engines
Steam power cheap and manufacturing profitable
Midwest leading center of industry

13. Growth, Division, and Unity
South
Cotton was major cash crop
Land cleared for more plantations
Slave labor (African Americans) ever important
Underground railroad
Tensions between North and South
Industry versus agriculture
Civil War in 1861
Slavery abolished: African Americans given citizenship, equal protection, and the right to vote

14. Technological Change
Late 1800’s, the U.S. government encouraged settlement of Great Plains
Ease overcrowding in Northeast
More food for cities
Dry farming developed
Chinese, Mexican, Irish, and other immigrants
Built railroads (transcontinental lines)
Manufactured goods and food products exchanged
1900’s included 2 world wars
U.S. economic growth spurred
Assembly lines
Cut time to make products
Improved standard of living
Population became more urban and more mobile

15. Technological Change 1990’s
Many manufacturing activities became less important
Rising high tech industries
Immigration for Latin America and Asia increased
Minority groups participate in politics and business
Native Americans negotiated with government over land

16. Language The United States does not have an official language
English is most common (82%)
Spanish is 2nd most widely spoken (10.7%)
Bilingual

17. Religion Most people that practice organized religion are Christians.
Other major religions present
Judaism
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism

18. Education and Health Care
Education is built on network of public and private schools
Government provides free compulsory education
Required until 16
Literacy Rate 99%
Advanced health care is available throughout
Highly developed country with substantial resources
Many unable to buy even with insurance
Government provided health care is under debate
Obesity (34%)

19. Modern Challenges War on Terrorism
2001 Afghanistan (Taliban leader Osama bin Laden)
2003 Iraq (weapons of mass destruction)
New government 2006
Iran and North Korea…
Syrian Civil War…
Sudan…
National Debt
Recession
Illegal Immigration

20. Oil Consumption by Country
RANK
COUNTRY
(BBL/DAY)
DATE OF INFORMATION 1
United States
19,150,000
2010 est. 2
European Union
13,680,000 3
China
9,400,000
2011 est. 4
Japan
4,452,000 5
India
3,182,000 6
Saudi Arabia
2,643,000 7
Germany
2,495,000 8
Canada
2,209,000 9
Russia
2,199,000
2010 10
Korea, South
2,195,000
Oil Consumption by Country

21. Oil Exports by Country Rank Country Oil - exports (bbl/day) 1
Saudi Arabia
8,728,000 2
Russia
5,430,000 3
United Arab Emirates
2,700,000 4
Iran
2,400,000 5
Kuwait
2,349,000 6
Nigeria
2,327,000 7
Venezuela
2,182,000 8
Norway
2,150,000 9
Canada
2,001,000 10
Iraq
1,910,000 11
Algeria
1,891,000 12
United States
1,704,000
Oil Exports by Country

22. Modern Challenges Jobs taken Overseas
What jobs are leaving the United States?
Why do American companies relocate?
What can government do?
What can YOU do?

23. White Collar Jobs going Overseas
500,000 white-collar American jobs to the Philippines, Malaysia and China.
Russia and Eastern Europe are expected to be next.
India has most US jobs to date:
Reservation agents are booking flights for Delta
Indian accountants are preparing tax returns for Ernst & Young
Indian software engineers are developing new products for Oracle.
Fraction of the cost these companies would pay American workers.
American computer programmers earn about $60,000
Indian programmers only make $6,000.