1. Our United States: Location Chapter 1.1
Essential Question: How do people determine location and boundaries, and how does it affect our place in the world?

2. Lesson Vocabulary Hemisphere Continent Nation Border State Capital
Territory
Protectorate
Commonwealth

3. Where is the United States?
Hemispheres – the two halves in which the earth is divided

4. The Earth’s Continents
The largest of the earth’s landmasses
YouTube: What are Continents?

5. Nations & Borders

6. A nation is an area of land defined by political boundaries and under the authority of a specific government.

7. A nation can also be a large group of people who share a similar culture, language, and history.

8. Borders are the boundaries that separate nations.
Natural borders:
oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, mountain ranges
Human-made borders: fences, walls, signs, gates, bridges, roads, trails

9. What is a state? A state is a political unit within a nation with its own borders and separate government.

10. Our State Capitals Yup, you’ve got to know them!

11. U.S. Territories Territory - an area of the country that is neither a state (nor part of a state) that is subject to the United States while maintaining its own political borders
American Samoa
Bajo Nuevo Bank
Baker Island
Guam
Howland Island
Jarvis Island
Johnston Atoll
Kingman Reef
Midway Island
Navassa Island
N. Mariana Islands
Palmyra Atoll
Puerto Rico
Serranilla Bank
U.S. Virgin Islands
Wake Island

12. Protectorates Independent countries that are controlled and protected by a larger one

13. Commonwealths A commonwealth is a type of U. S
Commonwealths A commonwealth is a type of U.S. territory that has its own constitution but its government is empowered by the U.S. Congress and is under U.S. laws; people of U.S. citizens but do not pay federal taxes or vote in presidential elections.

14. U.S. Military Bases
Subject to U.S. law – not the law of the host country
Subject to national laws - not state laws
Command centers for military operations
Service member training and housing

15. Review Questions
Which continents, or parts of continents, share the Northern hemisphere with North America?
What political borders and physical features make up the boundaries of the contiguous United States?
Besides Florida, which states border the Gulf of Mexico?
Do you think our country’s capitol is well located? Why or why not?
In what two parts of the world are most U.S. territories located?
Why might these territories serve as good locations for U.S. naval and air force bases?
How are states and territories alike and different?

16. End Chapter 1.1