Geography Starter

Use the map on page 125 to answer the following questions:

1. What three climate zones are found in the US but not in Canada?

2. What is the climate zone for Hawaii?3. What two climate zones make up Alaska?

4. What climate zone do we live in?

United States:The Culture of a Country

American Cultural Themes:

1. Democracy

2. Money

3. God

4. Population: From many, One.

Theme #1: American Government: Where Democracy Happens

Formal Government – Federal Presidential Constitutional Republic

In other words – DEMOCRACY !!!!!!

Current President: Barack Obama

Vice President:Joe Biden

Democracy: What does it mean for you as an American?

1. YOU MUST CARE!!!!!!!2. YOU MUST VOTE!!!!!!!3. YOU MUST BE INFORMED!!!!!

Statistics say that half of everyone in this room will NOT VOTE throughout their life time.

Theme #2: American Economics Where Lots of Money Happens

1. American Economic System: Capitalist Mixed Economy2. Characteristics:

a. Free Marketb. Free Trade

3. GDP (Gross Domestic Product)a. Total (2007) – 13.7 trillion ( 1st )b. Per Capita (2007) – $ 44,190 (9th)

Imports (World Rank: #1)• crude oil• refined petroleum products• machinery• automobiles• consumer goods,• industrial raw materials,• food and beverages

Exports (World Rank: #2)• capital goods (#1 –

electrical machinery)• automobiles• industrial supplies • raw materials• consumer goods• agricultural products

What are we growing?

• Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish

Cause for Concern:National Debt: $9 Trillion Dollars (World Rank: #1) % of World’s Total Debt: 23%

Economic Inequality

Growing Separation between rich and poor

What do you think of this?

In 2003, the census reported that the top fifth of households had 49.8 percent of the total income, while the bottom fifth had only 3.4 percent. Thus, the top quintile appeared to have $14.60 in income for every $1.00 in the bottom quintile. (source: heritage.org)

What floor does your family live

on?

Causes for Economic Inequality…

1) Amount of Work

Causes for Economic Inequality:2) Amount of Education

Theme #3: American ReligionWhere Christianity Happens

1. National Religion: None!!!!!!2. Official Motto: “In God We

Trust”

Statistics:3. Christians – 79%4. Other – 5%5. No Religion– 15%

American Religions

ChristianityNo ReligionJudaismIslamBuddhism Hinduism

Theme #4: American PopulationWhere Lots and Lots of People

Happen

World Population Rankings (% of World Pop.)1. China -- 1,323,480,000 (19%)2. India -- 1,128,310,505 ( 17%)3. USA -- 303,232,774 ( 5%) 41%

Population Map

Population Density = 80/sq. mileWorld Rank = 144th

Traditional Motto: E Pluribus UnumMeaning: “From Many, One”

As an American citizen, what does this all mean for you?

Number of Speakers By Language (+5 years old)

1. English - 215 million 82 %2. Spanish- 28 million 11 %3. Chinese- 2.0 million .06 %4. French- 1.6 million .06 %5. German – 1.4 million .05%

0

50

100

150

200

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EnglishSpanishChineseFrenchGerman

In millions

Assignment Time!!!!!!!!Hip-Hip-Horray! Hip-Hip-Horray!

1. With 28 million Spanish-speaking Americans in the US, do you believe these citizens should be required to learn English?

2. 80% of Americans claim to be Christians. This fact, along with the idea that majority rules, should we make Christianity our national religion?

3. Are you proud to be an American? Why or why not?4. US law says that no one may vote until they turn 18

years old. Once you are legally able to vote, will you? Why or why not?

5. A paradox is defined as something that makes sense even though it sensibly should not make sense. Two of America’s themes are our love of money and our love of religion. Is this a paradox? Why or why not?