Download Unit II - Geography_of_the_United_States 8-24-14

Physical Features of the
United States
World Geography
Mr. Newhall
Standards
• A. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact
on Canada and the U.S.
• B. Describe the major climates of Canada and the U.S. and how
they affect those nations.
• C. Explain the reasons for population distribution in U.S. and
Canada.
• D. Explain how the physical geography of Canada and the U.S.
contributed to regional growth and development.
• E. Describe the ethnic and religious groups in Canada and U.S.;
include major customs and traditions.
• F. Analyze how transportation and communications improvements
led to the growth of industry in the U.S. and the consequences of
such growth, especially environmentally, for both Canada and the
U.S.
Quiz on Canada
• Locate the following places on the map.
– Ontario
– Quebec
– Alberta
– Labrador
– Yukon
– Saskatchewan
– Manitoba
– Nunavut
What Information can you gather
from a map?
Performance Task #1
• You have been hired by the Chamber of
Commerce of a city in North America.
• You have one week to prepare a tri-fold
brochure to encourage business and tourism to
the city.
• You have six panels to promote your city. One
panel is the cover. Other five panels should
include interesting sites, major businesses and
products, colleges/education, government, and
transportation infrastructure.
• You may do all of this on a video.
Some Cities - Performance Task
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Quebec
Toronto
Ottawa
Halifax
Winnipeg
Calgary
Vancouver
Yellowknife
Victoria
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Edmonton
Iqaluit
Thunder Bay
Hamilton
St. John’s
Whitehorse
Montreal
Regina
Hull
Collaborative Pairs
Work with your collaborative partner.
Make a list of 10 important facts you
already know about the geography of
the U.S.
Homework!
• Read Pages 143 to 147
• Answer questions 1, 2, and 3 on page
147.
• Why is capitalism the best economic
system? What other systems are there?
Essential Question
The United States has the highest Gross
National Product in the world.
What does this mean about the role the
United States plays in the world economy?
By the way, GNP, is the sum of all economic
activity in a country. What nation is #2?
Where are some important physical
features in the United States?
• Physical features are natural landforms
and bodies of water on Earth’s surface.
• Important land physical features in the
United States include:
– The Atlantic Coastal Plain
– The Great Plains
– The Continental Divide
– The Great Basin
– Death Valley
Farming the land
• Most abundant natural resource is land
• Native Americans lived off the land
• Homestead Act gave 160 acres to those
who moved west.
• Most land east of Mississippi was cleared
by the Civil War.
• Fossil fuels now critical to economy.
The Atlantic Coastal Plain
• Lowland area borders
the Atlantic Ocean in
the Eastern part of
the United States.
• Has many excellent
harbors.
• Many people live in
this region.
The Great Plains
Bread box for much of the
world.
Called “Great American
Desert” by early settlers.
Railroad brought many
west through GP to
California.
What was found in
California in 1849?
Who built the
Transcontinental
Railroad?
What animnal was nearly
destroyed in the process
of settling the Great
Plains?
The Great Plains
Can you name all the states in green?
The Great Plains
• The Interior plains are a flat area in the middle of
the United States.
• The Great Plains are the western part of the
interior plains.
• The Great Plains are east of the Rocky
Mountains.
• The Great Plains consists of grasslands with few
trees.
• U.S. farmers grow 10% of wheat and 32% of
corn in the world.
The Continental Divide
• High peeks of the rocky
mountains form an
imaginary line called the
backbone of North
America.
• On the eastern side of the
Continental Divide, rivers
flow toward the Atlantic
Ocean or the Gulf of
Mexico.
• On the Western side of
the Continental Divide,
rivers flow toward the
Pacific Ocean.
Checking your knowledge
• What American explorers first crossed the
Continental Divide?
• What river did they follow across the Great
Plains?
• Through which American port does the grain
from the Great Plains pass to be exported?
• What mountains are west of the Rockies?
• What pro football team plays in Mile High
Stadium?
Cool Maps
• http://twistedsifter.com/2013/08
/maps-that-will-help-you-makesense-of-the-world/
The Great Basin
The Great Basin
• This area is west of
the Rocky Mountains
and east of the Sierra
Nevada and Cascade
mountain ranges.
• You will find isolated
mountain ranges as
well as Death Valley –
the lowest point in
North America!
Death Valley
The Lowest Point in
North America!!
Where are some important physical
features in the United States?
• Physical features are natural landforms
and bodies of water on Earth’s surface.
• Important bodies of water in the United
States include:
– The Gulf of Mexico
– The St. Lawrence River
– The Great Lakes
The Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico
• This body of water is
between the eastern
coast of Mexico and
the Western coast of
Florida.
• It has warmer water
than the Atlantic
Ocean.
St. Lawrence River
St. Lawrence River
• This important river flows through
northeastern Canada.
• It is a major transportation route for large
ships bringing goods into Canada and the
United States.
• Montreal and Quebec and major cities on
St. Lawrence.
• What tourist attraction prevents travel
between the St. Lawrence River and the
Great Lakes?
The Great Lakes
Can you name them??
The Great Lakes
• These five lakes are
located in the
northern part of the
United States
between the U.S and
Canada.
• They are the largest
freshwater lakes in
the world.
Economic Systems Review
• Capitalism – free
enterprise
– Supply and
demand
determines prices
– Consumers are in
control
– “Laissez faire”
– AKA “Market”
• Command
– Communism –
government
controls and makes
central decisions
– Socialism –
Government makes
major decisions
Mixed Economies
Almost every economic system in the world is a
mixed economy with some capitalism and some
command or government control.
Mixed
Economies
around the
world
Essential Question?
• Which economic system is the best?
• What is the ideal economic system?
• Should the government be involved in the
economy?
Political Systems Review
• Democracy – people
make all decisions
– Town Meetings
– Ancient Greece
• Republic – People
elect representatives
– United States
– Canada
Federalism is a compromise!
• But, what is
Federalism?
• Unitary – Central
government
• Confederation –
Local governments
Federalism is a
compromise in the
Constitution which divides
powers between the
national and the state
governments.
Political Vocabulary
Sovereignty – who owns a nation
Totalitarianism – total gov’t control
Dictatorship – one person in control
Monarchy – inherited power – king/queen
Tyranny – Takes over government
Empire – One nation/ruler controls other
nations
7. Constitution – set of rules for the government
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Homework – Chapter 3 section 2
• Read Chapter 3, Section 2 Page 100-105.
• Know key terms on page 105.
• Complete Section 2 Guided Reading and
Review
• Quiz tomorrow at start of class!
Where are some important manmade features in the U.S?
• There are many things in the United States that
have been created by man.
• These man-made features include:
– Cities
– Structures like a canal or a dam.
• Some major man-made features in the United
States include:
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–
–
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New York City
Boston
Philadelphia
Erie Canal
New York City
New York City
• This the largest city in the United States.
• Located in New York State.
• It is the world center of finance and
business.
• It is located on a large harbor that helped it
to grow as a trade center.
Boston
Boston
• This city is the capital of Massachusetts.
• It is located on a harbor at the mouth of
the Charles River.
• It is the largest city in the New England
region.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
• This is the largest city in Pennsylvania.
• It is known as the “birthplace of a the
nation.”
• Both the Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution were written there.
• \
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal
• This man-made waterway links lake Erie
with the Hudson River in New York.
• It was completed in 1825.
• It allows goods to be transported easily
along the Great Lakes and then further
west.
• It helped make New York City a major
trade center.
Man Made Features
True or False?
• New York City is the largest city in the
United States.
• New York City is not located on a harbor.
• Boston is the capital of Massachusetts.
• The largest city in the New England region
is Providence, Rhode Island.
• Philadelphia is the capital of Pennsylvania.
• The Declaration of Independence was
written in Philadelphia.
San Francisco
• Excellent harbor
• The nearby San
Andreas and
Hayward Faults are
responsible for much
earthquake activity
Mount Rushmore
• Carved into Black
Hills of South
Dakota
• Sacred land of the
Sioux
• Another monument
is being carved for
Crazy Horse a few
miles away.
Chicago
• Third largest city in
United States.
• Name top two?
• Near a portage
between the Great
Lakes and the
Mississippi River
watershed
• Home to Bears and
Cubs!
Review
Everglades - Florida
Habitat for wildlife
Large cities near
this ecosystem
Is flood control more
important than the
environment?
Manatee and
panther endangered
Invasive species
Rio Grande River
• Forms border
between Texas and
Mexico
• Many illegal
immigrants cross
river
• Should the river be
fortified?
Mt. McKinley
• Highest
mountain in
North
America
• 20,237 feet
• Alaska
Gulf of Mexico
• Warm water
temperatures feed
hurricanes
• Oil and natural gas
production
• Dead zone near
coast
• Deepwater Horizon
BP oil spill
Climate of United States and Canada
Temperatures in North America
Precipitation in North America
Questions
• What area of North America receives the
most rainfall?
• How much rain does Atlanta receive each
year?
• Where does rain come from???
• How do mountains impact the amount of
rain an area receives?
• What happens when rain and cold meet?
United States vs. Canada
• Let’s compare the U.S. with Canada.
– How are the nations similar?
– How are the nations different?
• Work with your collaborative partner and
list three answer to each question.
Comparing U.S. and Canada
United States
Canada
• 315,000,000 people
• President
• 35,000,000 people
• Prime Minister
• 81% white, 13% black
• 83% white, 10% Asian
• Largest GNP
• Congress
• Baseball/Football
• #13 in GDP
• Parliament
• Hockey
• 3,794,000 square miles
• U.N. and NAFTA
• 3,855,000 square miles
• U.N., NAFTA and British
Commonwealth