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
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