1. Shaping an Abundant Land
Human Geography of the United States:
Shaping an Abundant Land
The United States has grown both physically and economically. In the 20th century, the U.S. set aside isolationism and became the world’s sole superpower.
Old ranch houses near Telluride, Colorado.
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2. Looking at the Earth Physical Geography SECTION 1
History and Government of the United States
SECTION 2
Economy and Culture of the United States
SECTION 3
Subregions of the United States
Unit Atlas: Physical
Unit Atlas: Political
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3. History and Government of the United States
Section 1
History and Government of the United States
• The United States is a “nation of immigrants,” settled by people from all over the world.
• The United States is the most diverse and highly industrialized and urbanized nation in the world.
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4. Establishing and Maintaining the Union
SECTION 1
continued Creating a Nation
Establishing and Maintaining the Union
• French and English fight over trade and territory in North America
- English gain control of everything east of Mississippi in 1763
• American Revolution (1775–1783): British colonies form United States
• 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France doubles size of U.S.
- includes plains between Mississippi and Rockies
Continued . . .
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5. Establishing and Maintaining the Union
SECTION 1
continued Creating a Nation
Establishing and Maintaining the Union
• In early 1800s Western European immigrants arrive in large numbers
- settle in Northeast industrial cities, Midwest farmlands
• Sectionalism —loyalty to region over nation—grows, creates tension
- industrial North versus agricultural South and its slave labor
- Civil War fought between North and South from to 1865
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6. Industrialization and Urbanization
SECTION 1
continued An Industrial and Urban Society
Industrialization and Urbanization
• 14 million European immigrants enter U.S. between 1860 and 1900
- go west or to urban centers like New York,
Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago
• Rather than farm, many work in textile, steel, oil, food processing (Industrial Jobs)
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7. Governing the People The United States’ Political System
SECTION 1
Governing the People
The United States’ Political System
• Representative democracy —people rule through elected representatives
• Federal republic —powers divided between national, state, and local governments
• Three separate, equal branches:
- executive branch headed by president, carries out laws
- legislative branch makes laws
- judicial branch interprets laws, reviews lower court decisions
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8. Economy and Culture of the United States
Section 2
Economy and Culture of the United States
• The United States has the world’s largest and most diversified economy.
• American products and popular culture are recognized around the world.
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10. Economy and Culture of the United States
SECTION
Economy and Culture of the United States 2
The World’s Greatest Economic Power
The U.S. Leads
• World’s largest economy: agricultural, manufacturing, trade leader
- U.S. accounts for more than 10% of world’s
exports
- exports—goods sold to another country
• Success is due to resources, skilled labor, stable political system
• Free enterprise economy:
- people own resources, technology,
businesses
- businesses operate for profit with little
governmental control
Chart
Continued . . .
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11. An Agricultural and Industrial Giant
SECTION 2
continued The World’s Greatest Economic Power
An Agricultural and Industrial Giant
• Due to fertile soil, early farm mechanization, U.S. accounts for:
- 40% of world’s corn; 20% of cotton; 10% of wheat, cattle, hogs
• Crop farming in Midwest, South; livestock ranching in West
• Largest industrial output in world includes:
- petroleum, steel, electronics, telecommunications, lumber, mining
• U.S. advances in electronics, computers revolutionize industry
Continued . . .
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12. A Postindustrial Economy
SECTION 2
continued The World’s Greatest Economic Power
A Postindustrial Economy
• A service industry produces a service rather than a product
- Examples: information processing, transportation, medicine, education
• Postindustrial economy —manufacturing no longer dominant
• U.S. is leading importer and exporter
- exports raw materials, agricultural products,
manufacturing goods
- imports automobiles, electronics, machinery,
apparel
- Canada and Mexico are major trade partners
• Multinationals —corporations that do business worldwide
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13. Languages and Religion
SECTION 2
continued A Diverse Society
Languages and Religion
• English is dominant language, Spanish is second most common
• Religious breakdown:
- 85% Christian (56% Protestant, 28% Catholic)
- Jews, Muslims 2% each
Continued . . .
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14. American Life Today Where Americans Live
SECTION 2
American Life Today
Where Americans Live
• U.S. population: 280 million; 80% live in cities or suburbs
• Result of widespread ownership of cars and effective transportation (roads, railroads, airlines) aids mobility
Continued . . .
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15. Subregions of the United States
Section 3
Subregions of the United States
• The United States is divided into four major economic and cultural subregions.
• There are both similarities and differences among the subregions of the United States.
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16. Subregions of the United States
SECTION
Subregions of the United States 3
The Northeast
The Region
• New England—six northern states of Northeast:
- Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass., Rhode
Island, Connecticut
• Middle Atlantic states: Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey
• Northeast has only 5% of land, but 20% of population
Continued . . .
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17. Growth of the Megalopolis
SECTION 3
continued The Northeast
Growth of the Megalopolis
• Megalopolis —several large cities grow together, along with the surrounding areas
- “BoWash:” Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
- 500 miles; 1/6 of U.S. population; connected by road, rail, air links
Chart
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18. SECTION 3
The Midwest
The Region
• The Midwest—north-central U.S., known as the American Heartland
- 1/5 of U.S. land, 1/4 of population
- early settlers came from Britain, Germany,
Scandinavia
Continued . . .
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19. Agricultural and Industrial Heartland
SECTION 3
continued The Midwest
Agricultural and Industrial Heartland
• Central location, soil, climate make it nation’s “breadbasket” because of its major agricultural production
- corn, wheat, soy beans, meat, dairy; meat-packing, food-processing
• Trade, distribution on Great Lakes, Mississippi, with Chicago as hub
- cities near Great Lakes: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee
- on rivers: Cincinnati, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Omaha
Continued . . .
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20. SECTION 3
The South
The Region
• The South—1/4 of U.S. land, more than 1/3 of population
- site of much early colonial settlement
- 11 states were once part of the Civil War Confederacy
- Texas was in Confederacy, sometimes considered part of Southwest
Continued . . .
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21. The Old South • Virginia was England’s first American colony
SECTION 3
continued The South
The Old South
• Virginia was England’s first American colony
• South’s ethnic mix includes
African descendants as a result of slavery
Hispanics as a result of proximity to South/Central America
• Once agricultural, rural; now rapidly changing, cities growing
Continued . . .
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22. SECTION 3
continued The South
 The New South
• Agriculture: cotton, tobacco, fruits, peanuts, rice, livestock
• Energy resources and air conditioning boost industry in 1950s
- “Sunbelt” attracts manufacturing, tourists, retirees
- industries: petroleum, steel, chemicals, textiles, electronics
• metropolitan areas—large cities and nearby suburbs, towns
- Atlanta (hub); Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio
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23. SECTION 3
The West
The Region
• The West—from Great Plains to Pacific Ocean, plus Alaska and Hawaii
- 1/2 of U.S. land, 1/5 of population
- people settle where climate and landforms are
most favorable
Continued . . .
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