introducing north america - us history semester 1 course...
TRANSCRIPT
Introducing North America
I. Quick Stats
Includes U.S. & Canada U.S consists of 50 States Federal Government Democracy 4th in world w/ land area 3rd in population Economic leader of free world
II. Major Landform Regions
Atlantic Coastal Plains Piedmont Appalachian Highlands Interior Highlands Great Plains Rocky Mountains Intermountain Pacific Mtn/Valley Interior Plains Canadian Shield Central Lowlands
Atlantic Coastal Plains
Piedmont
Appalachian Highlands
Interior Highlands
Great Plains
Rocky Mountains
Intermountain
Pacific Mtn/Valley
Interior Plains
Canadian Shield
Central Lowlands
Unit 2 Lecture 2
The United States
Quick Facts
Most populated region in U.S.
Consists of 3 Sub-regions New England states Middle Atlantic states Megalopolis
Overlaps previous two sub-regions
New England States
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Over 5% of total U.S. population Home of 1st colonist to come to N.
America 1st industrialized region in N.
America
Mid-Atlantic States
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia
20% of total U.S. population Major cities Industrial giant Major hub for economic/political
decisions
Megalopolis
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C.
Major issues: Over population Lack of land Lack of jobs pollution
Major Landforms
Appalachian Mountains White Mountains Green Mountains Glacial deposits Coastal Plain Piedmont region
Climate
Humid-Continental in the north Hot summers/cold winters
Humid subtropical in the south Hot summers/mild winters
Agriculture
North Rocky soil limits farming Cranberries/potatoes Good for dairy and poultry farms
South Fruits/vegetables
Resources
North Major fishing industry (Cod/Lobster) Forests Mining for building stone
(granite/marble) South
Coal deposits Iron ore
Industry
First area for heavy textile plants Higher education
Major schools (Harvard, Yale, etc.) Biotechnology
Biology in industrial process Tourism
Many historic sites
Unit 2 Lecture 3
Southeastern United States
Quick Facts
Includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia
Majority of population lives on small farms
Major plantation industry History tied to slavery Ethnically diverse
Major Landforms
Barrier Islands Everglades Mississippi Delta Blue Ridge Mountains Smokey Mountains Ozark Plateau
Climate
Humid Sub-Tropical Steppe/Desert (Further West in
Texas) Average rain 40-60 inches per year Late summer area prone to
hurricanes
River Systems
Mississippi River one of largest in world
Drains nearly half of U.S. Prone to flooding Levee system Delta system
Agriculture
Cotton Tobacco Citrus Peanuts Soybeans Beef
Major Industry
Oil refineries Petrochemical Plants Tourism
Regional Issues
Ethnic issues Flooding/Hurricanes Droughts High unemployment High poverty rates
Unit 2 Lecture 4
MIDWESTERN STATES
Quick Facts
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri.
Nation’s agricultural center Great Lakes increases international
trade Rich Native American roots
Major Landforms
Interior Plains Ozark Plateau Many lakes due to glaciers Humid-Continental Climate
The Great Lakes
Largest freshwater lake system in the world
Includes 20% of entire world’s fresh water
Includes Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
St. Lawrence River is highway system to lakes.
Mississippi River
Drains all the Mid-west Major tributaries include Ohio,
Missouri, and Illinois.
Agriculture
Leading producers in dairy products, port, corn, and soybeans
The Corn Belt The Dairy Belt
Natural Resources/Industry
Pine forests Wildlife/hunting Lead/copper/iron mining Coal
Issues
Heavy industrialized area High levels of unemployment
(Ford?) Water quality Pollution
Unit 2 Lecture 5
The Interior West
Quick Facts
Idaho, Montana, North/South Dakotas, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
“Old West” 3 Sub-regions
Great Plains Rocky Mtns Intermountain West
Great Plains
Major Landforms The Great Plains Sand hills Badlands
Climate Steppe
Great Plain cont…..
Major issues Droughts End of open range Major wheat production Over use of water supplies Foreign markets for wheat Strip mining of natural resources
Rocky Mountains
Rich in natural resources Continental Divide Highland climates Tree line
Economic geography
Mostly still wild Gold, silver mining Ranching Forestry Tourism
Intermountain West
Physical Geography Between Rocky/Cascade Mtns Three regions
Great Basin Colorado Plateau Columbia Plateau
Great Basin Centered in Nevada Rivers flow into basins and dry up Dry lake beds/salt flats
Colorado Plateau Deep canyons (Grand Canyon) Dry, desert climate
Columbia Plateau Northern part of Intermtn west Centered in central Idaho Snake River major tributary to
Columbia
Agriculture Irrigated Small portion used for farming Major rivers are the life blood of region
UNIT 2 LECTURE 6
THE PACIFIC STATES
Quick Facts
Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Alaska
Coldest state, only island state Mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes Rich natural resources
California
Major landforms Coast Ranges
Rugged coastline Sierra Nevada
Lies inland from coast Central Valley
Between coast and Sierra-Nevadas Desert Basin
East of Sierra-Nevadas
Climate
Marine West Coast up North Mediterranean in coastal Southern Desert/Steppe inland behind Sierra-
Nevadas
Agriculture
Leads nation Year-round growing seasons Irrigation uses 85% of water supply Variety of fruits/vegetables/citrus
Natural Resources
Gold Oil Fishing tourism
Major Industry
Aerospace Entertainment Microelectronics Lumber
Oregon & Washington
Landforms Coastal Ranges Puget Sound Willamette Valley Cascades Columbia Basin
Climate Marine West Coast in West
Due to windward side of Cascades Desert/steppe in east
Due to leeward side of Cascades
Agriculture
Dairy, fruit, vegetables, vineyards Located mainly:
Willamette Valley Puget Sound lowlands Columbia Basin
Resources & Industry
Forestry Fishing Recreation
Major urban areas
I-5 Corridor Seattle Portland Spokane Tri-Cities
Mainly rural communities
Alaska
Sparsely populated Inuit Eskimos
Landforms Very rugged Mountainous Volcanic
Climate Marine-West Coast Sub arctic Tundra
Resources
Oil Gold Fishing forests
Hawaii
8 major islands Stretch over 1,500 miles Volcanic Humid-tropical climate Heavy tourism