1. Unit 1 – Geography and the Development of the United States Lesson 1 – Geography and the Development of the United States HVS11QUS/HES11QUS US History and Government Regents Prep Mr. Oberhaus

2. Location of the United States Absolute Location: The US is located in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. With the exception of Hawaii, the country is located on the continent of North America. The US is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast and the Pacific Ocean on the west coast

3. Location of the United States Relative Location: Geographers consider an areas relative location or it’s location in relation to other places. The US is located south of Canada and north of Mexico. California is west of New York. – Changes in transportation and communication changed the feelings of isolation from other areas. These changes allowed the US to grow in size and in population.

5. Types of Maps Physical Maps – Show land features such as rivers and mountains Political Maps – Show state or country boundaries and various political divisions such as counties and cities Demographic Maps – Show the placement of groups of people by different categories such as age or income level or education

6. Physical Characteristics of the United States The Great Plains and the Central Plains occupy the central region of the country which is known as the Midwest – The rich soil and climate of the Midwest encouraged people to move there for cheaper farmland The Mississippi River cuts through the Central Plains as it flow south to the Gulf of Mexico. – Traveling along the Mississippi river allowed farmers and tradesmen to transport goods across the country

7. Mountain Ranges The Appalachian Mountains – Run north to south on either side of the Central Plains region In the west are the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies are a Cordillera; or a related set of mountain ranges that runs from Northern Alaska to Mexico making the Rockies the longest mountain chain in North America.

8. Human Characteristics People from every region of the world have settled in the United States. Therefore, language, customs, and traditions vary across the country. Population Density is greater in the Eastern half of the United States with heavy population in the Northeast Corridor from Washington, DC to Boston Massachusetts. People in the US have long life expectancies, high per capita incomes, and high literacy rates compared to the rest of the world.

9. Movement and Migration Bering Strait Land Bridge – The Ice Ages about 20,000 and 12,000 years ago much of the Earth’s Water was frozen. As a result the ocean levels dropped exposing a flat land bridge between Alaska and Eastern Asia. This allowed Paleo-Indians to migrate into what is now the United States as well as the rest of the Americas.

10. European Exploration and Slavery By the 1500’s European explorers found their way to the Americas. By the 1600’s England established colonies. In the Northeast, the area became known as New England. – Early colonists were limited in westward expansion by the Appalachian Mountains until after the American War for Independence. After the war, the western border became the Mississippi River till the mid 1800’s.

11. Time PeriodLocationReason(s)Results 20,000 BC to 12,000 BC Bering Strait, between Alaska and eastern Asia Hunters in search of food and warmer climate Settlement by Native Americans from Alaska south and west along the coastline 1500’sFlorida and MexicoSpanish in search of gold, glory for their nation, and to spread Christianity Spanish language and heritage in the settled areas, eventually including California and the American Southwest 1600’s to early 1700’s Coastal New England, New York, the Middle Atlantic and Southern colonies to Georgia Religious freedom, farmland, coastal fishing resources, furs minerals The Thirteen original British Colonies developed 1700’sExpansion westward over the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River Valley Population growth encouraged expansion westward The concept of the frontier as the western boundary of the new country was extended further west 1800’sAcross the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains to California Continued growth of population and immigration Manifest Destiny accepted as an American right. Acquisition of additional territory

12. Migration from East to West The Louisiana Purchase and the acquisition of New Orleans from the French was a major increase in the size of the United States. The Homestead Act allowed for the development of the Great Plains for better farming. Manifest Destiny allowed the US to expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean Blacks moved from the South to the Northeast and Midwest in search of better opportunities during the 1890’s and 1920’s. In the 1950’s – Many moved to the Sun-belt which is the Southern States from Florida to California

14. Regions of the United States The Continental United States covers more than 3,000 miles plus Hawaii and Alaska. Geographers use the term Midwest to describe Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The Pacific Northwest describes Oregon and Washington State. The states where the Rocky Mountains are is known as the Rocky Mountain Area. Culture characteristics also designate regions such as New York City’s Chinatown or the Amish Country in Lancaster Pennsylvania. In New York State – The Great Lakes Region and Adirondack Mountains are key parts of the state.