Section 1 The Geography of America Well these slides should be a treat for those taking double humanities. However, I am afraid that will be no “advanced colouring” here. We simply need to understand what the American West actually is…

- Geographically speaking, America is very different to the UK and indeed itself. America has very different geographical areas. - When we speak of the American West we are talking about the area west of the Mississippi River. That’s a lot of Ss and Is, right? - Geographically speaking, America is very different to the UK and indeed itself. America has very different geographical areas. - When we speak of the American West we are talking about the area west of the Mississippi River. That’s a lot of Ss and Is, right? Geography Never Eat Shredded Wheat

The Land - By looking at the geography of America we can start to understand why the American people acted as they did during this period. - Look at this cross section below. You can see that there are various different types of terrain and huge physical barriers like the Rocky Mountains. - By looking at the geography of America we can start to understand why the American people acted as they did during this period. - Look at this cross section below. You can see that there are various different types of terrain and huge physical barriers like the Rocky Mountains.

The Climate The Great Plains - The Great Plains dominate North America - The are mostly flat and become particularly dry the further south you go. That is dry like a desert. - Due to the geography of the Great Plains the weather is pretty extreme. - All you need to know is that the weather can range from: drought to heavy snow and from chilly to boiling depending on the season. - This obviously makes travel, farming and living rather difficult. The Great Plains - The Great Plains dominate North America - The are mostly flat and become particularly dry the further south you go. That is dry like a desert. - Due to the geography of the Great Plains the weather is pretty extreme. - All you need to know is that the weather can range from: drought to heavy snow and from chilly to boiling depending on the season. - This obviously makes travel, farming and living rather difficult. He’s not joking… Geography in history.

Mountains and Coastlines The Rocky Mountains - Fairly safe to assume they are rocky. - Either side of the mountains are covered in trees, lots of trees! - There’s a flat area in the middle of the Rockies known as the Plateaux region and this is where you’ll find the Great Salt Lake. - Mountains are obviously hard to navigate and cross. The Rocky Mountains - Fairly safe to assume they are rocky. - Either side of the mountains are covered in trees, lots of trees! - There’s a flat area in the middle of the Rockies known as the Plateaux region and this is where you’ll find the Great Salt Lake. - Mountains are obviously hard to navigate and cross. The Pacific Coast - Being close to the sea these lands are more fertile and obviously people would want to come here so that they could grow things. It does look nice.

The Geography of America Large parts of infertile and barren land. Not suitable for farming. Extreme weather which ranges from drought to heavy snow. Plenty of Wild Animals for example: Buffalo, bears, cougars, horses, bears, racoons, snakes, beavers…etc. A lot of the geographical areas have a lack of resources – food, water, wood. There are huge physical barriers like the Rocky Mountains. There are some areas like the Pacific Coastlands which are very fertile and good for farming. The American West is considered to be the lands west of the Mississippi.

Think time… - How might the geography of North America influence the Americans’ way of life? - What potential problems would this landscape cause? - How might these Americans become a product of their environment?