Figure 1.--All of the Conitenal 48 states fall wihin the tempeate climatic zones. This is bebeficial in economic terms. All of the most productive economies in the world are located in the tempeate zone. The southern tip of Florida approached the Tropic of Cancer, but does not quite touch it. This makes Florida different from much of the rest of the Unied States. Florida is exposed to huricanes. Here we see the result of one -- what was left of the Fort Lauderdale home of the Sears family. It was the result of the Great Miami Huurricane of 1926. Modern technology was opening Florida and the souhern states in general to a population influx and expanding economic acivity. This has meant the population cener of America shied south during the 20h century anf this is coninuing in the 21s century.

The United States dominates most of the southern area of North America. Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean are geologically part of North America, but we treat these areas as part of Latin America because of the cultural affinities. While Russia is the world's largest country in terms of area. The next three countries (Canada, China, and the United States) are about the same size. Large areas of Russia and Canada are in Arctic or Subarctic regions of only limited economic value, although with valuable mineral resources. China and America have more territory in temperate areas, but much of China is desert or near desert. The proto-Native Americans crossing the Bering Land Bridge were the first humans to reap an environmental jackpot. The first humans to fully take advantage of what was on offer were the revolutionaries who founded the American Republic (1776). Armed with political and economic freedom (democracy and capitalism), they proceed to advance the frontier from hte Appalachians to the Pacific Coast, creating he most successful society in all of history. All four have substantial areas of great agricultural potential. The United States is bordered by Canada in the north and Mexico in the south. In contrast to Europe there have rarely been wars between the three major North American countries. The only major war as independent countries was the Mexican War (1846-48). The United States is a transcontinental country as a result of what Americans describe as Manifest Destiny. The original English colonies were located along the Atlantic coast and had not moved much beyond the Appalachians. This meant that North America was up for grabs with Britain, France, Russia, and Spain contending for dominance along with the United States. The Atlantic and Pacific Coasts were first connected by the Trans-Continental Railway (1869) and then the Panama Canal (1914). There are discontinuous territories, Alaska, Hawaii and other island possessions. The United States is twice the size of the European Union, but even after Brexit has a smaller population than the more densely populated European countries. The geography is fairly straight forward. There are mountains along both coasts with narrow coastal plains--the Appalachians in the east (Atlantic) and the Rockies in the West (Pacific). The Rockies are geological younger and thus much higher as well as still exhibiting volcanic activity. The Pacific Ring of Fire runs along the western coast. The tectonic activity involved creates a series of potentially devastating faults--the most prominent being the San Andres Fault. There is also a Southeastern coast as a result of the Gulf of Mexico, an arm of the Atlantic. The great Mississippi River drains into the Gulf at New Orleans. Most American cities were located on rivers until the advent of the railroads, rivers were the primary mode of transport. And New Orleans was the primary way for Americans to get their produce and goods to market. This is why the British attacked New Orleans in the War of 1812, it constituted a potential plug in the developing American economy. Most of the territory of the United States is located between the two coastal mountain chains drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries, including the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers in the East and the Missouri in the West. There are coastal rivers, but the United States is dominated by the Mississippi River. The primary coastal system is the Columbia of the northwest. The American-Canadian border is largely created by five Great lakes, the largest being Superior extending into the middle of North America. The central Great Plains created by the two mountain ranges extending north into Canada. It was a vast grass lands supporting immense herds, including the buffalo on which the Native American had become dependent. It is the most productive agricultural area in the world because of both its natural attributes and technology developed by the American farmer. This area has prevented massive famine in many countries beginning with Belgium after it was invaded by Germany launching World War I (1914). The Southern Plains has to be carefully managed and scientifically cultivated to prevent the reoccurrence of the Dust Bowl (1930s). While much of the country is well watered, the substantial areas of the West are arid, especially the southwest. Like Russia and Canada there are many valuable mineral resources. While the United States has a primarily East-West axis, there is also a North-South axis creating substantial climatic differences between north and south. This has had a huge cultural, demographic, economic, and historical impact on the United States, including slavery and Civil War.

North America

The United States dominates most of the southern area of North America. Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean are geologically part of North America, but we treat these areas as part of Latin America because of the cultural affinities.

Large Countries

While Russia is the world's largest country in terms of area. The next three countries (Canada, China, and the United States) are about the same size. Large areas of Russia and Canada are in Arctic or Subarctic regions of only limited economic value, although with valuable mineral resources. China and America have more territory in temperate areas, but much of China is desert or near desert. All four have substantial areas of great agricultural potential. Butthe Uited States has the largest area. hiswas especially imprtant when agriculture was the primay economic activity. The United States is twice the size of the European Union, but even after Brexit has a smaller population than the more densely populated European countries.

Environmental Jackpot

The proto-Native Americans crossing the Bering Land Bridge were the first humans to reap an environmental jackpot. The first humans to fully take advantage of what was on offer were the revolutionaries who founded the American Republic (1776). Armed with political and economic freedom (democracy and capitalism), they proceed to advance the frontier from hte Appalachians to the Pacific Coast, creating he most successful society in all of history. While Americans hit the enviriomental jackpot,a counry can only go so fr on gepgraphy alone. It was adding the two key components of a modern society that made allthe differene,

Bordering Countries

The United States is bordered by Canada in the north and Mexico in the south. In contrast to Europe there have rarely been wars between the three major North American countries. The only major war as independent countries was the Mexican War (1846-48).

Manifest Destiny

The United States is a transcontinental country as a result of what Americans describe as Manifest Destiny. The original English colonies were located along the Atlantic coast and had not moved much beyond the Appalachians. This meant that North America was up for grabs with Britain, France, Russia, and Spain contending for dominance along with the United States. The Atlantic and Pacific Coasts were first connected by the Trans-Continental Railway (1869) and then the Panama Canal (1914). There are discontinuous territories, Alaska, Hawaii and other island possessions.

Geographic Features

Ameican geography is fairly straight forward. There are mountains along both coasts with narrow coastal plains--the Appalachians in the east (Atlantic) and the Rockies in the West (Pacific). The Rockies are geological younger and thus much higher as well as still exhibiting volcanic activity. The Pacific Ring of Fire runs along the western coast. The tectonic activity involved creates a series of potentially devastating faults--the most prominent being the San Andres Fault. There is also a Southeastern coast as a result of the Gulf of Mexico, an arm of the Atlantic. The great Mississippi River drains into the Gulf at New Orleans. Most American cities were located on rivers until the advent of the railroads, rivers were the primary mode of transport. And New Orleans was the primary way for Americans to get their produce and goods to market. This is why the British attacked New Orleans in the War of 1812, it constituted a potential plug in the developing American economy. Most of the territory of the United States is located between the two coastal mountain chains drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries, including the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers in the East and the Missouri in the West. There are coastal rivers, but the United States is dominated by the Mississippi River. The primary coastal system is the Columbia of the northwest. The American-Canadian border is largely created by five Great lakes, the largest being Superior extending into the middle of North America. The central Great Plains created by the two mountain ranges extending north into Canada. It was a vast grass lands supporting immense herds, including the buffalo on which the Native American had become dependent. It is the most productive agricultural area in the world because of both its natural attributes and technology developed by the American farmer. This area has prevented massive famine in many countries beginning with Belgium after it was invaded by Germany launching World War I (1914). The Southern Plains has to be carefully managed and scientifically cultivated to prevent the reoccurrence of the Dust Bowl (1930s). While much of the country is well watered, the substantial areas of the West are arid, especially the southwest. Like Russia and Canada there are many valuable mineral resources. While the United States has a primarily East-West axis, there is also a North-South axis creating substantial climatic differences between north and south. This has had a huge cultural, demographic, economic, and historical impact on the United States, including slavery and Civil War.

Created: 4:02 PM 12/4/2024
Spell checked: 4:02 PM 12/4/2024
Last updated: 4:02 PM 12/4/2024