CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY: THE UNITED STATESChapter 6 Section 1

EQ: What are three factors that have influenced the cultural geography of the United States?

OBJ: I will be able to use geographic terms and tools to explain cultural diffusion throughout places, regions, and the world.

ORGANIZER! THREE FACTORS

Factor 1

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Factor 2

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Factor 3

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POPULATION PATTERNS: THE PEOPLE Immigration greatly affects the diversity of the United States The first people of the region moved here from Asia about 20,000 years go There are about 2.5 million Native Americans, the direct descendants of

the first people to arrive in this region

Many immigrants come to the U.S. to seek a safer environment and better opportunities as well as more resources They often face discrimination As of 2008, 12.5 percent of the U.S. population was foreign born (more

than half of that percentage comes from Latin America)

POPULATION PATTERNS: DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION

The population density of the U.S. is about 87 people per sq. mi

The NE and the Great Lakes regions are densely populated due to an abundance of resources

The Pacific Coast is also densely populated

Alaska, the Great Basin, and dry parts of the Great Plains are less densely populated

Since the 1970s, the SE and SW is known as the sunbelt for its mild climate

POPULATION PATTERNS: URBAN AREASOver the years the U.S. experienced urbanization or the movement of people from rural areas to the city Most people live in metropolitan areas, or cities with at least 50,000 people and outlying communities called suburbs

As metropolitan areas become crowded, they lead to further spread of people and suburban development known as urban sprawl

The Boswash megalopolis refers to a chain of closely linked metropolitan areas along the Atlantic coast Boston, New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.

RECAP! The first people came to present-day U.S. from what continent? How many years ago? Who are their immediate descendants?

Why are the NE and the Great Lakes regions so densely populated? Why is Alaska, the Great Basin, and parts of the Great Plains so sparsely populated?

What is urbanization? What is a metropolitan area? What are the suburbs? The Boswash megalopolis includes which major cities?

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT: EARLY NATION BUILDING Archaeologists believe that nomads crossed a land bridge from Asia to present-day Alaska thousands of years ago

Climate and location shaped the lives of Native Americans Those in desert areas relied on irrigation to water crops

European exploration of the region changed the course of human history in the region

Conflict soon arose between Natives and Europeans Conflict also arose between British government and colonists who

fought for independence from Britain in the American Revolution (1775-1783)

The U.S. is a federal republic, which means that the national government shares power with the states

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT: GROWTH, DIVISION, AND UNITY Industrialization transformed the United

States in the 1800s and as the population grew, there was a push westward which displaced many Native people and their families

Factories arose along the NE part of the U.S. powered by waterfalls

Coal in the Midwest powered steam engines which fueled industry in that region

The growing textile industry (cotton) fueled the enslavement of African Americans in the South and Southeast Many slaves escaped via the

Underground Railroad, an informal network of safe houses

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT: CHANGES AND CHALLENGES In the 1800s U.S. government encouraged settlement in the Great Plains to

ease overcrowding in the cities and to produce food for the rise populations

Dry farming is a method of cultivating land to catch and hold rainwater that was used to grow crops in the Great Plains

Chinese, Irish, Mexican and other immigrants helped build railroads in the U.S.

Two world wars spurred economic growth and assembly line production in factories increased efficiency and standard of living, by 1990s high-tech industries overshadowed manufacturing industries

Immigration increased greatly from Asia and Latin America

Terrorism became a major concern after September 11, 2001 and as a result, the U.S. invaded parts of the Middle East

http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks

RECAP! How did the nomads from Asia make their way to North America?

What type of national government does the U.S. have?

Why did the U.S. government push for westward expansion? What were the consequences of this?

What was the underground railroad?

What is dry farming?

What major transportation system was built mainly by Chinese, Irish, and Mexican immigrants?

CULTURE: LANGUAGE AND RELIGION English is the main language in

the U.S., but many people are bilingual or even multilingual Spanish is the second most spoken

language in the U.S.

Many religions are practiced in the U.S., which Christianity being the most common Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and

Buddhism are also practiced

CULTURE: EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE Education is built on a network of public and private schools

School is compulsory until the age of 16

The literacy rate in the U.S. is 99 percent The literacy rate is the percentage of people who can read and write

A highly developed economy enables the U.S. to devote substantial resources to healthcare Many people do not have access to healthcare The role the government plays in administering healthcare is still debatable

CULTURE: THE ARTS Art was integrated into many forms

including music and storytelling during the time of the first Americans

By the 1800s, people in the U.S. created art that reflected their own lives and cultures African Americans developed Jazz

which incorporated African rhythms with European harmonies

U.S. cultural influence is strongest in the area of entertainment Hollywood movies and celebrities

dominate U.S. popular culture Broadway in New York City is also a

major pop cultural center

CULTURE: FAMILY LIFE Many people in the U.S. enjoy a high standard of living

Food surplus equals more affordable food in general

Housing choices depend on the needs and wants of individuals or families

Married couple families make up 50 percent of all U.S. households 22 percent of these families have children under 18 years old

Today households are smaller than they were in the past In 2008, 61 percent of households had one or two people compared with 46

percent in 1970

The average of age of our population is increasing as well 37 years old in 2007 compared to 28 years old in 1970

RECAP! What is the second most spoken language in the U.S. besides English?

How many languages does a bilingual person speak?

U.S. cultural influence is strongest in what area?

Married couple families make up what percentage of all U.S. households?