Chapter 19: The United States

1. Chapter 19: The United States Section 1 A Vast, Scenic Land

2. Main Idea • The United States has a great variety of Landforms and Climates

3. The Land • The US Stretches 2,870 Miles • 48 states are contiguous • Contiguous: Joined together inside a common boundary • States touch the Atlantic, Pacific, & Gulf of Mexico • 2 States are separate: Alaska and Hawaii

4. From Sea to Shining Sea • The United States is ranked the 4th largest Country (Russia, Canada, China are larger) • 5 physical regions: Coastal Plain, Appalachian Mountains, Interior Plains, Rocky Mountains, Basins, Pacific Coast

5. Pacific Coast Interior Plain Coastal Plain

6. Coastal Plains • Runs along the eastern and southeastern coasts • Eastern Lowlands are called Atlantic Coastal Plain • Lowlands in Southeast are the Gulf Of Mexico • Areas in the Gulf have large deposits of Oil and Natural Gas

7. Appalachian Mountains • They are the oldest Mountains on the Continent • Age of mountains are determined by the round peaks and the erosion that has developed over time • The highest peak is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina: It reaches 6,684 feet

8. The Interior Plains • Region has 2 parts • Central Lowlands (east of Mississippi): This area is full of grassy hills, flatlands and forests. It contains fertile soil and major waterways • The Great Lakes are in this part. They were formed by glaciers

10. Interior Plains • West of the Mississippi River is the Great Plains • It consists of farm fields and grassy pastures • It once provided the grazing area for millions of Buffalo and living area for Native Americans • Today it is used mainly for farming

11. Homework • How many miles does the United States Stretch • What three countries are larger than the United States • What are the oldest Mountains in the United States • How are the age of Mountains determined • What are the two parts of the Interior Plains

12. Mountains and Plateaus • Rocky Mountains begin in Alaska and end in Mexico • Along the mountains is a ridge called the Continental Divide • The Continental Divide separates rivers that flow west (Towards the Pacific) and rivers that flow east (Towards the Mississippi River)

13. Mountains and Plateaus • Between the Rockies and the Pacific Coast are Plateaus, Canyons, and deserts • Plateaus: Flat land that rise above the land around them • Canyon: a deep valley with steep sides • Most famous is the Grand Canyon in Arizona

14. Pacific Coast • Two mountain ranges are located here • Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountain Ranges • West of the Pacific is the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and the Central Valley in California • Both of these are Fertile areas for fruits and vegetables

15. Alaska • Mountains form a semicircle in Alaska • Mount McKinley: Tallest mountain range in North America, stands 20,320 feet high • Alaska borders the Arctic Circle

16. Hawaii • 8 Large islands, and 120 smaller islands make up Hawaii in the Pacific • The Islands were made by volcanoes • Some islands have Coral reefs surrounding the islands • Coral Reefs are formed by skeletons of small animals and other remains

17. A variety of Climates • The US has a variety of climates depending on the region • Most of the US lies in the middle latitude region. This is a mild climate • The further north you travel the colder the climate gets • The further south, the warmer the climate gets

18. A variety of Climates • It is important to remember that the climate changes with elevation • The higher the elevation, the colder • The low valleys and deserts are warm year round • Alaska is similar to Canada and Siberia (Russia) • Hawaii and Florida have tropical climates

19. Homework • Where do the Rocky Mountains begin and end? • Illustrate (Draw) a Plateaus and a canyon, what is the difference between the two? • What is the tallest mountain ranges in North America • How was Hawaii created? • Climate changes with the change in ____________

20. Chapter 19: Section 2An Economic Leader

21. Main Idea • The Powerful United States economy runs on abundant resources and the hard work of Americans

22. Economy • The United States has a Free Enterprise System (Or Capitalism) • A system that allows individuals the right to run businesses to make a profit without the government being involved • You are free to produce what you wish, and make all the profit

23. Economy • Capitalism/Communism Comparison • Capitalism • People own the means of production • People who create the business, determine wages, and owners make as the profit of business • If business fails, it is on the creator/people • Socialism • Government owns means of production and run businesses • Government determines how much people make • Always provided a job

24. The World’s Economic Leader • The US has rich resources, and strong labor force • This has created the world’s larges economy in terms of how much money is made from the sale of goods and service • Bigger than the next two combined (China and Japan) • US: 15.7 Trillion • China: 8.3 Trillion • Japan: 6 Trillion

25. The World’s Economy • US farms produce ½ of the world’s corn, and 1/10th of worlds wheat • Produce 20% of beef, pork, and lamb • While the US produces more food than any other nation, agriculture is only a small part of the American Economy (2%) • Service Industry: 75% • Manufacturing: 22% • Agriculture: 2 % • Mining: 1%

26. The World’s Economy • The US has 1/5th of the world’s coal and Copper • 1/10th of the world’s petroleum comes from the US • Largest part of US economy is Service Industry • Banking, finance, entertainment, tourism, online and computer services

27. 21th Century Challenges • Many challenges are faced by Americans today • Cleaning Pollution • Burning of Fossil Fuels: Coal, Oil & Natural Gas • Huge amounts of trash in Landfills • Lack of recycling

28. Homework • What is another name for Free Enterprise System • Who controls everything in Capitalism? Who Controls everything in Socialism? 3. The US economy is bigger than what two economies combined? 4. What is the biggest industry in the United States? 5. How much of the World’s Oil/Petroleum comes from the United States

29. Quality Schools • New technology has been the strength of the US economy • The Quality schools in the US has lead to the production of the new technology

30. Health Care • Some of the best health care is provided in the US. The US leads in medical breakthroughs world wide • However, the rising price of medical care affects the number of people who can be treated

31. Health Care • Many people do not have health insurance because they lack the money, or because their employers do not provide it • Many believe the US should provide a National Health Care • This is where the government provides medical coverage • Those who oppose this idea point out that in Canada people cannot choose their medical providers in some instances

32. Health Care • Benefits of Free Health Care • Everyone is covered and given equal health coverage (Paid for by taxes) • People do not have to worry about the financial part of health care • Downside of Free Health Care • People who do not work are covered (They do not pay taxes if they do not work) • In some cases you cannot choose your doctors/hospitals

33. World Trade • The US leads the world in the value of imports and exports • American leaders wish to have Free Trade • To remove tariffs to promote more trade • This is why NAFTA was created

34. Chapter 19: Section 3The americans

35. Main Idea • The United States has attracted people from all over the world who have created a land of many cultures

36. America • Why have people from across the world settled in the United States? • Freedom • Economic Opportunity • Future for them and their children

37. Rich History • In the 15th and 16th centuries Europeans started to explore the Americas • The raw materials, forests animals, and rich soil led to the set up Colonies

38. Rich History • The French Established around the Great Lakes • Spanish established in Florida and Georgia & From Texas to California • British and Northern Europeans settled around the Atlantic Coast

39. Branches of Government • Executive Branch: Makes sure laws are carried out • President • Legislative Branch: Makes Laws • Congress (House of Representatives & Senate) • Judicial Branch: Makes decisions about the Law (Court System) • Supreme Court

40. A Federal Republic • By the mid 1700’s the people living in the colonies believed the British politics infringed on their rights • 1775, 13 colonies rebelled • July 4, 1776: Declared Independence (Creating the United States of America) • 1788: Created Constitution

41. A Federal Republic • US is a Republic • Government with no king • Head of government is President • Power belongs to citizens who vote • Representative Democracy • Voters elect Representatives who make laws to help the people • Federal Republic • Government divided between national and state governments

42. The Constitution • Constitutions are documents that identify the rights and responsibilities • Why The Constitution is successful, it can be changed with Amending (Way to change the constitution) • Amending is important because the US can make laws for the changing world • Examples, 13th Amendment: Abolishment of Slavery

43. A Period of Growth • 1800-1900, the US grew from 13 states to 45 states • Oklahoma, New Mexico, & Arizona were the last Continental States to be added • Alaska & Hawaii were added in 1959 (Last two states added)

44. A Period of Growth • 1861 Several States withdrew from the National Government over issues of Slavery and States’ Rights. • This is what caused the US Civil War • North: Against Slavery, won the war • South: For Slavery, Lost the war

45. World Leader • 1900’s: US became one of the leading economies in the world • Production automobiles, available electricity and improved technology • WWI & WWII the US became a super power and started to influence other nations by helping their governments become democracies, and free economies

46. One out of Many • About 315 Million People live in the US • Text book says 285 Million (we’ve grown 30 million in 7-8 years) • 3rd Highest Population • Behind China and India • Average Life expectancy of Americans is 76 Years

47. One out of Many • ¾ of Americans come from European Ethnic Groups • African Americans make up 12% (around 1/8) of population • Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group • Smallest Group are Native Americans in Alaska (Eskimos)

48. Language • English is the national Language • However, the country is constantly debating on how immigrant children should be taught in school • Should they only teach English, or should they Teach their native language to help their transition

49. Religion • The US has freedom of Religion • Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise • Government cannot tell you what religion to follow, and cannot stop you from practicing any type of religion

50. Mobility • Americans have been mobile through out history • Originally, the nation was Rural (Country) • Now the nation is majority Urban, with growing Suburbs • Since 1970, The Southwest has been the fastest growing area (Called the Sunbelt)