The United States

Essential Question: How was the United States created and how does it function?

I. Major Landforms of the US

A. The Rocky Mountains: major mountain system in the western US and Canada stretching 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico

B. The Appalachian Mountians: major mountain sytem in the Eastern US and Canada stretching 1,600 miles from Alabama to Newfoundland

C. The Great Plains: a vast treeless, grassland running through central North America

I. Major Landforms of the US (continued)

D. The Great Lakes: a group of five freshwater lakes that are along the border of the US and CanadaE. The Everglades: a 4,000 square miles section of Florida covered by large subtropical swamplandF. Mississippi River: Large river system that runs through the center of the US into the Gulf of Mexico

II. The United States: Creating a Nation

a. Many people have settled the land through migration and immigration from many different lands; nomads traveling from what is now Asia traveled over the land bridge at the Bering Strait in search of resources

b. Columbian Exchange: between the colonies and Europe, established trade of goods, people, and culture but also exchanged disease

c. European Colonies set up new settlements causing displacement of the Native Americans

d. Establishing independence and growing through Manifest Destiny, (Louisiana Purchase, Annex of Texas, Oregon Trail, Gold Rush, etc.)

III. US Industry and Urban Society

a. Industry encourages city growthb. Many escape to the frontier for landc. Textiles become a major industry during the Industrial Revolutiond. The US has also become a large player in agribusiness: the

operations and businesses that are associated with large-scale farming

IV. The US:World Power and Domestic Changea. Growth in economic and political power leads to worldly social

obligationb. Because of ample human and natural resources and fossil fuels

such coal, oil, and natural gas, world looks to US for help during global depression (ex. WWII)

c. Cities grow to suburbs creating megalopolis communities: which is a region in which several cities and surrounding areas grow together

d. US uses diplomatic and military power to keep peace and further interests in the world

V. The US Government and Economya. Representative democracy: people rule through electing

representativeb. Free Enterprise: private individuals own businesses, property,

resources, etc. and operate for profit with little government interference

c. Imports and Exports: world relies on each other for trade, Multinational Corporations

d. Manufacturing, Agricultural, and Service industries make up a postindustrial economy which is an economy in which make goods no longer is the primary way a country makes money

VI. The US: A Diverse Society

a. The US has many immigrants from all over the worldb. English is the dominant languagec. All faiths are present due to freedom of religion; Dominant religion

is Christianityd. Many forms of art: Jazz (form of music that is an original American

art form), blues, rock n roll, pottery, paintings, carvings, many forms are influenced by other cultures

e. Most Americans live in cities