The Geography of the United States

Overview

• Video by Instructomania detailing:
  • Geographic features of the U.S.
  • Influence of geography on people's lives throughout history
  • Historical and present inhabitants of the U.S.
• Definition of geography from a historian's perspective: physical environment's influence on economy and culture.

Section 1: Geographic Features of the United States

• Location:

  • Northern Hemisphere, North America
  • East: Atlantic Ocean, West: Pacific Ocean
  • Northern border: Canada, Southern border: Mexico

• West Coast Features:

  • Coastal range, Sierra Nevada, Cascade Mountains
  • Great Basin: desert area including parts of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, California

• Rocky Mountains:

  • Stretches 3,000 miles from Canada to New Mexico

• Central U.S.:

  • Great Plains: high, flat land rich in minerals and agricultural land
  • Central Plains: to the east of Great Plains

• Gulf Coastal Plain:

  • Borders Gulf of Mexico, characterized by low-lying forests, grasslands, wetlands, marshes

• Eastern U.S.:

  • Appalachian Mountains: 480 million years old, runs from New England to Georgia
  • Notable features: Cape Cod (peninsula), Chesapeake Bay (seafood production)

• Major Bodies of Water:

  • Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario
  • Great Salt Lake: largest in the Western Hemisphere

• Major Rivers:

  • Mississippi River: key transportation hub
  • Rio Grande: natural border with Mexico
  • Columbia River: borders Washington and Oregon

• Non-contiguous States:

  • Alaska: largest state, Denali (highest peak in North America)
  • Hawaii: 8 volcanic islands, Mauna Loa (one of the largest volcanoes)

Section 2: The Historical Influence of Geography

• Pre-European Settlement:

  • Native Americans migrated from Asia (38,000 - 10,000 BCE)
  • Geography influenced housing, hunting, and agriculture
  • Coastal tribes relied on fishing; inland tribes on farming and hunting.

• European Settlement:

  • Began in the 15th century, primarily from England, Spain, France
  • Settlement patterns influenced by geography and natural barriers (mountains, rivers)
  • Spanish exception: came from western South America

• Impact on Resources and Labor:

  • Rapid depletion of resources due to mining and plantations
  • Rise of slavery: Native Americans and later Africans brought as labor

• Challenges Faced by Early Colonizers:

  • Harsh climates, rocky soil, reliance on Native Americans for survival

• Expansion of the U.S.:

  • Post-independence (1776), westward expansion continued
  • Geographic features influenced military logistics during the American Revolution
  • Growth of borders via war and negotiation, facilitated by the Transcontinental Railroad

Section 3: Who Lived in the United States?

• Native American Population:

  • Pre-15th century: 10 million Native Americans
  • Present: less than 2% of the population due to warfare and disease

• European Arrivals:

  • Spanish, British, French, Dutch settlers for economic opportunities and religious freedom
  • Initial colonizers: Protestants (Puritans, Quakers), later enslaved Africans

• Immigration Trends:

  • Continued voluntary immigration from Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe, and Asia
  • Modern diversity in U.S. population: race, ethnicity, religion, etc.

• Cultural Impact:

  • Struggle for equality and inclusion continues, although the foundational belief is that all are created equal.

Conclusion

• Reflect on how the physical environment influences individual communities.
• Encouragement to use Instructomania resources for teaching.