American History and the American Dream

1. American History and the American Dream

2. American History and the American Dream Liberty as a human right is the main theme of American history. American history, then, is about the American Dream. The dream of finding freedom and opportunity to be who you are and become what you might be as a human being. This dream unites us as Americans and motivates others to immigrate to the United States of America. Not all have experienced the American Dream. Native Americans and enslaved African-Americans were denied this dream. Yet this powerful idea of liberty as a human right, written in the United States Constitution, has moved America slowly toward its ideal of liberty and justice for all. HOW DID THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA COME TO BE?

3. America – This term has two meanings: 1) the North and/ or South American continents, and 2) the area that became the United States of America. The context of the narrative indicates the meaning. To understand the history of the United States of America, we have to know where we are. That means we have to understand the geography of our nation first. History always begins with GEO (Earth) GRAPHY (to describe), for as nature shapes the land, so the land shapes the people who inhabit the land.

4. GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES

5. This Land Is Your LandWords and Music by Woody Guthrie This land is your land This land is my landFrom California to the New York island; From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and Me. As I was walking that ribbon of highway, I saw above me that endless skyway: I saw below me that golden valley: This land was made for you and me. I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts; And all around me a voice was sounding: This land was made for you and me. When the sun came shining, and I was strolling, And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling, As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting: This land was made for you and me. As I went walking I saw a sign there And on the sign it said "No Trespassing." But on the other side it didn't say nothing, That side was made for you and me. In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people, By the relief office I seen my people; As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking Is this land made for you and me? Nobody living can ever stop me, As I go walking that freedom highway; Nobody living can ever make me turn back This land was made for you and me.

6. Where on Earth is the United States of America?

7. 3 1 2 5 4 6 7

8. NORTH AMERICA ASIA EUROPE 3 1 2 5 4 AFRICA SOUTH AMERICA 6 AUSTRALIA 7 ANTARCTICA

9. Because the Earth is so large, geographers divide it into regions to study. A region is an area with common features that set it apart from other areas. Geographers divide the United States into five regions: WEST, MIDWEST, SOUTHWEST, NORTHEAST, and SOUTHEAST.Geographers study regions by using maps and thinking about five topics, or themes of geography: LOCATION, PLACE, HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION, MOVEMENT, and REGIONS.

10. Location: Where is the place located? What is it near?

11. Place: What is this place like?

12. Human-Environmental Interaction: How does this place affect the people living here? How do the people who live here affect this place?

13. Movement: How do people, goods, and ideas move to and from this place?

14. Regions: What features about this place set it apart from other places?

16. Maps 101

17. 1. Illustrate the term(s)2. What is it?3. How do you use it?4. How have you seen it used?

18. KINDS OF MAPSGeographers make different kinds of maps for different purposes. Specialty maps are maps that show just one kind of information, such as rainfall or elevation.

19. Physical Maps: show natural features (landforms, bodies of water)

20. Political Maps: show cities, capitals, states, and countries

21. Road Maps: show roads and highways

22. Historical Maps: show where events in the past took place

23. Rain Maps: show how much rain falls in different parts of the world

24. Population Maps: show how many people live in different areas

25. Language Maps: show what languages people speak in different places

26. Elevation Maps: measure how high the land is above the ocean (the height of the ocean, or sea level, is zero elevation)

27. COMPASS ROSE

28. SCALES AND MAP KEYSMaps never show sizes and distances as they really are. They are always much smaller than the part of the Earth they represent. A short distance on a map stands for a much greater distance on Earth.

29. SCALES AND MAP KEYSMaps never show sizes and distances as they really are. They are always much smaller than the part of the Earth they represent. A short distance on a map stands for a much greater distance on Earth.

36. Geography Challenge 2A: Basic Map Skills Social Studies Alive Interactive Desk Map

37. Place your penny on the compass rose. What are the four main directions? What do we call the four main directions?

38. Place your pencil on the map pointing north.

39. Place your pencil on the map pointing east.

40. Place your pencil on the map pointing southwest. What do we call directions such as southwest?

41. Place your pencil on the map pointing northeast .

42. Lay your pencil along 35 degrees north latitude.

43. Lay your pencil along 45 degrees north latitude.

44. Lay your pencil along 90 degrees west longitude.

45. Lay your pencil along 115 degrees west longitude.

46. Place your penny on 45 degrees north latitude, 80 degrees west longitude. What country are you in?

47. Place your penny on 40 degrees north latitude, 115 degrees west longitude. What state are you in?

48. Geography Challenge 2A: Challenge Questions 2A Social Studies Alive Interactive Desk Map

49. Question 1: Name the state that lies the farthest east in the United States.

50. Question 2: Name the state that lies the farthest south in the continental United States.