Download Notes Chapter 19 - Net Start Class

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Notes Chapter 19
Section 1- A vast, scenic land - Pg. 502-506

Contiguous
o
Joined together inside a common
o
states in the contiguous United States
o

U.S. is the
o


and
are not in the contiguous states
largest country in the world
Russia, Canada, and
5 main
are larger
regions
o
Coastal Plains
o
Appalachian Mountains
o
Interior Plains
o
Mountains and Basins
o
Pacific Coast
Coastal Plains
o
Includes the
coastal plain and
o
- Cities and their suburbs form a huge settlement

Cities that form a megalopolis in the U.S.:






Appalachian Mountains
o
On western edge of
o
Oldest mountains in U.S.


Rounded peaks show
Interior Plains
o
coastal plain
Includes:

Great lakes area
2

Mississippi river area


Mountains and Plateaus
o
o

Continental divide separates rivers that flow
The
and
Coast
o

run from Alaska to Mexico
Includes the Cascade mountain range and Sierra Nevada mountain range and fertile valleys.
Alaska and Hawaii
o
Borders the
o
Made from ocean
o
Has coral reefs

Submerged structures made from
of small sea animals
Section 2- Economic Leader- Pg. 507-510

Free enterprise system
o
Idea that people have the right to run businesses to make a profit
o

have little interference
World economic leader
o
U.S. has largest
in the world
o
Larger than the next two (
and
o
U.S.
produce ½ of the world’s
) combined
and 20% of the worlds beef, pork, and
lamb.

Problems facing the U.S.
o
fuels used in power plants and cars

Coal,

Cause
o
getting higher every year
Recycling
o

and acid rain
- places where trash is dumped


, and natural gas
Education
things instead of throwing them away
3
o

provides education
Health Care
o
U.S. has some of the best healthcare in the world
o
Is becoming
o
1/5 of people in U.S. do not have medical


Most of these people are
World Trade
o
North American Free Trade Agreement (

)
No trade regulations between U.S.,
, and
Section 3- The Americans- Pg. 519-525

Rich History
o
First Americans used the land to survive



o


Wanted raw materials

Set up
Federal Republic
o

Europeans began to explore the U.S. around A.D.
Government divided between a
U.S. Government
o

- president

- Congress

- Supreme Court
U.S. is a Representative Democracy


Citizens
representatives to make laws
Constitution
o
Tells people what the
o

government and
World Leader
can and can’t do
- to change a constitution
governments
4
o

After
Out of Many
o
U.S. has the


285 million people
The average American lives to be about

Ethnic Groups

Language

largest population in the world
High Living Standard
o

the U.S. became a world leader
o
U.S. has
o
Main language is
official language
Religion
o
“Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
o
Separation between
and
o
U.S. was once all
towns
o
Now U.S. has many
Mobility
o

centers
- Small communities that surround a larger city
Security
o

years old
Department of
Security

Est. September 11, 2001

Helps government agencies to protect the nation from attacks
Sports and Recreation