• America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between.

• --Georges Clemenceau

• “America is the land of the uncommon man. It is the land where man is free to develop his genius — and to get its just rewards.”

• Ayn Rand

• “Blood that has soaked into the sands of a beach is all of one color. America stands unique in the world: the only country not founded on race but on a way, an ideal. Not in spite of but because of our polyglot background, we have had all the strength in the world. That is the American way”

• --Ronald Reagan

• There is no doubt that the United States now feels that they are the only superpower in the world and they can do what they like.

• --Nelson Mandela

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

Chapter Six:Chapter Six:A Resource-Rich NationA Resource-Rich Nation

--Identify the natural resources, technology, and Identify the natural resources, technology, and values that have contributed to the political and values that have contributed to the political and

economic successes of the United Stateseconomic successes of the United States-Explain the relationship between transportation -Explain the relationship between transportation

and communication and the growth of the and communication and the growth of the American industries.American industries.

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

Answer this question:Answer this question:

• Why is the United States such a rich and powerful country? – Are there any factors that have helped

to make this so (human, physical)?

US Success Contributing Factors

Political

Economic

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

Think about it!Think about it!• The United States is

one of the most powerful countries on earth. It has been given the description of a “special geography” that has contributed to its success.

• What does this mean?

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

What does this image What does this image mean?mean?

Grant Wood(1891-1942)Young Corn, 1931

From Cedar Rapids Museum of Art – “The high horizon line provides ample room for Wood to explore various textures, giving the viewer a sense of the richness and productivity of the land; the message is that Iowa is a place of peace, prosperity and order. “

http://www.crma.org/collection/wood/wood.htm

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

What does this image What does this image mean?mean?

Photo from the AmericanDust Bowl

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

Four Key FactorsFour Key Factors

• Abundant Resources• Development of New Transportation and

Communication Technology• Hard Work leads to opportunity• Political and Economic Ideology—

freedom and individualism

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

The LandThe Land• 3.5+ Million Square

Miles of Land– “The Eden” of early

explorers and colonists– Some of the richest soils

anywhere on the planet– Quick expansion from

east to west coast– Forests to fuel the growth

towards the interior– Other natural resources

abound after the clearing of the land declined (coal) – about one fifth of the world’s supply right inside our borders!

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

The Land: PerceptionThe Land: PerceptionAaron Arrowsmith Map of North America, 1790s

What does it tell you about perception of this land?

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

Develop the Land, Move the Develop the Land, Move the GoodsGoods

• One of the biggest challenges for any country is to move resources towards people.

• The development of American urban centers and economic growth followed changes in the transportation systems– Water (keel boats, steam power, canal

systems)– Land (rail, 1869 Transcontinental

System)– Automobile (along with improvements

in mass production, cars become more economical and need a transportation system – eventually our Interstate Highway System – started in 1959.)

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

Movement of IdeasMovement of Ideas

• Right along with the changes in movement of goods, was the movement of ideas – communication

• 1837 Samuel Morse (telegraph)• 1876 Alexander Bell (telephone)• New methods of connecting people?• What philosophies supported this pace of invention?

(example from your text?)

Tim-Berners Lee (Internet – www)

Marc Andreessen - search engines

Alexander Bell

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

Ideas—”Ideas—”Americanism means the virtues of courage, Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood — the virtues honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood — the virtues

that made America.”—Teddy Rooseveltthat made America.”—Teddy Roosevelt

• The American “idea”– Freedom, Individual Liberty –

how do these ideas support the economic notion of capitalism? (Are there also perils?)

– How did the physical characteristics of the country help to fuel these ideas?

– Rugged Individualism: If you are willing to risk hard work, your potential for success is almost without limit.

Pages 143-147Pages 143-147

The The WholeWhole Package Package

• The “special geography” of the United States reinforced the philosophies individuals brought here.

• The wide open land, the vast resources waiting to be tapped, the limitless opportunities, the incentive to think without bounds – all lead the US quickly towards the top of the world’s economic production.