H U M A N G E O G RA P H Y

UNITED STATES

ESPN: A FRAMEWORK FOR STUDYING COUNTRIES

EconomicSocialPoliticaleNvironment

WHY THE U.S.?

17th and 18th century migration Religious persecution Economic gain/resources19th century migration Religious persecution (again!) Famine in Europe Jobs in factories Railroad construction Available land20th and 21st century migration Economic growth and opportunity War and revolution (with religious persecution!)

REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.

Perceptual regions – How would you describe…The Northeast?

The Midwest?

The South?

The West?

REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.: THE NORTHEAST

1/5 of the country’s population

Financial and industrial center

Urbanization centered around rivers and ports

“Rust Belt”Culturally diverse

REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.: THE MIDWEST

Major farming region “Corn Belt” “Dairy Belt”

Leading producer of industrial goods

Large cities along the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River

African American population concentrated in urban centers

REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.:THE SOUTH

30% of the country’s population

Historically agricultural, but new industries developed in late 20th century

Economy centered around natural resources

Large Hispanic population

REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.:THE WEST

Largest and most sparsely populated

Interior West very different from Pacific states… why?

Livestock, mining, and tourism

POPULATION PATTERNS

What are the major cities in the U.S.?Where has population shifted over time?Human-Environment Interaction Railroads and interstate highways opened/connected new

areas Rivers, dams, bridges, canals, and irrigation made water

resources more useful People live near key resources

POLITICS

What is the political system in the U.S.?What do voting patterns in the U.S. have to do with population? Gerrymandering – Manipulating voting districts to gain a

desired outcomeDoes the U.S. political system allow for popular participation?

ECONOMICS

Mixed economy Which elements are free

enterprise? Which elements are

socialist?

ECONOMICS - DEMOGRAPHICS

• How would you describe the level of development of the U.S.?• More developed

• Where does the U.S. rank in the Human Development Index?• NUMBER FOUR!

US

High Per Capita GDP 45,800

High Life Expectancy 78 years

Low Population Growth Rate .88%

Low Infant Mortality 6.3/1000

ECONOMICS – RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Rich in resources Minerals, energy,

forests Arable landHighly developed infrastructure Roads Communications Ports and railroads Education

ECONOMICS – GLOBALIZATION

Vast export sectorLarge role in world financial marketsMultinational corporations and outsourcingNAFTA

THE U.S. AND THE WORLD

The influence of American population cultureAmerica as a world power National security and the

military The United Nations