1. The United States Preview Section 1: History and Culture
World Geography Today
4/15/2017
The United States
Preview
Section 1: History and Culture
Section 2: Regions of the United States
Section 3: Geographic Issues
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 8

2. Section 1: History and Culture
Read to Discover
What are some important events in the history of the United States?
What are some unique elements of American culture?

3. Section 1: History and Culture
Question
What important events occurred in American history?

4. Section 1: History and Culture
12,000 B.C.
1500s
1600s
1700s
12,000 B.C.—
Ancestors of American Indians arrive from Asia.
Early 1500s—The Spanish and French explore the Americas.
1600s—The British begin to set up colonies in America.
1776—The American war for independence begins.
1619—Enslaved Africans arrive in the British colonies.
1600s and 1700s—Spanish colonists migrate north from Mexico into the American Southwest.

5. Section 1: History and Culture
1800s—Pioneers move west.
1861–65—The Civil War
1917–18—U.S. in World War I
1869—The transcontinental railroad is completed.
1920—More Americans live in cities than in rural areas.
1830—Settlers move as far as Texas.
1830s—The northeastern United States begins to industrialize.
1941–45—U.S. in World War II
1945–early 1990s—The Cold War
1848—Gold is discovered in California.

6. Section 1: History and Culture
Key Events in American History
Earliest inhabitants arrived at least 14,000 years ago from Asia.
Europeans began arriving 500 years ago: first Spanish, then English and French.
British established 13 colonies.
After independence in 1776, U.S. established a federal system of government.

7. Section 1: History and Culture
Key Events in American History (continued)
Westward expansion in the 1800s gained new lands but caused conflict with American Indians.
The North industrialized while the South developed a plantation economy. Differences caused the Civil War.
Settlers occupied interior plains; immigration swelled eastern cities.
U.S. fought in two world wars; emerged as a major power.

8. Section 1: History and Culture
Unique Elements of American Culture
Great diversity of people and languages
Variety of religions
Settlement includes concentration in the Northeast
Broad public education
Distinctive forms of popular culture: movies, skyscrapers, music, holidays, sports

9. Section 2: Regions of the United States
Read to Discover
What is the economy of the Northeast like?
Why is the Midwest such an important farming area?
How is the geography of the South changing?
How have environmental conditions influenced the history of the West?

10. Section 2: Regions of the United States
Question
What commercial activities make up the economy of the Northeast?

11. Section 2: Regions of the United States
The Northeast
Financial Center
New York is the country’s leader in commerce and banking.
Manufacturing Industries
Pittsburgh is a steel producer. This industry declined in the late 1900s.
Textiles
New York is a major fashion center.
Trade
Many cities are important commercial centers and ports.

12. Section 2: Regions of the United States
Strength of Midwestern Agriculture
One of the world’s most productive farming areas
Abundant arable land
Corn Belt—Nebraska to Ohio; corn for export and livestock feed; soybeans for margarine, vegetable oil, and bean curd
Dairy Belt—Wisconsin and most of Minnesota and Michigan; major producer of butter and cheese

13. Section 2: Regions of the United States
Changes in the South
Shift away from rural farm economy
Primary industries based on local raw materials
Growth of industry prompted by low wages, cheap land, and favorable laws
Substantial immigration from Latin America
Urbanization

14. Section 2: Regions of the United States
Influence of the Western Environment
Harsh conditions limited early settlement
Ranching, wheat farming on plains
Abundant minerals fuel mining economy
Natural beauty stimulates tourism
California agriculture based on irrigation

15. Section 3: Geographic Issues
Read to Discover
What are some important environmental issues in the United States?
What natural hazards affect the lives of Americans?
How are cities and population patterns in the United States changing?
How is the U.S. economy tied to other countries around the world?

16. Section 3: Geographic Issues
Question
What are some of the environmental issues faced by the United States?

17. Section 3: Geographic Issues
Decline in population of animal life such as salmon
Pollution and acid rain
Environmental Issues in the U.S.
Creation of “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico
Competition for limited water resources

18. Section 3: Geographic Issues
Natural Hazards
Earthquakes on West Coast
Flooding in many areas
Tornadoes in Midwest and South
Hurricanes along East Coast and Gulf of Mexico

19. Section 3: Geographic Issues
Changes in Cities and Population Patterns
Shift of population and commerce from inner cities to suburbs
Some gentrification in inner cities, forcing out low-income residents
Major impact of immigration on ethnic and cultural mix, notably in West and South

20. Section 3: Geographic Issues
Global Economy
Reliance on world trade
Shifting emphasis from tariff protections to free trade
Pros and cons of free trade agreements (e.g., NAFTA)

21. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
World Geography Today
4/15/2017
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
How did changing perceptions of the Great American Desert lead to changes in society?
How has immigration to the United States influenced the diffusion of religions and cultural change?
Which states are part of the Corn Belt, the Dairy Belt, and the Wheat Belt?
How has competition for water resources from the Colorado River affected California and Arizona? How has the river itself been affected?
When did the United States become the world’s only superpower? Why?
Chapter 8