American GeographyAmerican Geography

► Scale: enormous Scale: enormous (4,500 km from coast (4,500 km from coast to coast). It helps to to coast). It helps to explain people’s lack explain people’s lack of knowledge about of knowledge about Europe. Europe.

► Isolation: only 2% have Isolation: only 2% have been to Europe.been to Europe.

► Varied landscape and Varied landscape and climate.climate.

► Geologically: Geologically: tornadoes Midwest, tornadoes Midwest, hurricanes Florida, hurricanes Florida, floods Mississippi, floods Mississippi, earthquakes California.earthquakes California.

NEW ENGLANDNEW ENGLAND

► ““Yankees”, realistic, untalkative.Yankees”, realistic, untalkative.► Most clearly defined region: 6 states Most clearly defined region: 6 states

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► Cold climate. Small towns. Only big city: Boston, MA.Cold climate. Small towns. Only big city: Boston, MA.► Historically important: Pilgrim Fathers.Historically important: Pilgrim Fathers.► Highly industrial.Highly industrial.► Academic knowledge: Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Academic knowledge: Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Princeton,

Brown, Columbia,…), MIT.Brown, Columbia,…), MIT.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION (East MID-ATLANTIC REGION (East Coast)Coast)

►Main business area. Aggressive and fast Main business area. Aggressive and fast lifestyle. Densely populated.lifestyle. Densely populated.

►PennsylvaniaPennsylvania : the Amish, heavy industry.: the Amish, heavy industry.►PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia : Declaration of Independence.: Declaration of Independence.►Washington D.C.Washington D.C. : “murder” capital of the US.: “murder” capital of the US. Famous sites: the White House, the Capitol, Famous sites: the White House, the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument.Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument.

NEW YORK CITYNEW YORK CITY► 1626: founded by the Dutch (“New Amsterdam”). 1626: founded by the Dutch (“New Amsterdam”).

The Dutch bought Manhattan for 24 dollars.The Dutch bought Manhattan for 24 dollars.► ““Big Apple”. Enormous contrasts: cultural and Big Apple”. Enormous contrasts: cultural and

financial capital of the world. financial capital of the world. ► 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx

and Staten Island.and Staten Island.► Areas in Manhattan: Areas in Manhattan:

Lower Manhattan: Financial District (Wall Street), Lower Lower Manhattan: Financial District (Wall Street), Lower East Side (immigrants: Irish-Jews-Hispanics, in order), East Side (immigrants: Irish-Jews-Hispanics, in order), Little Italy, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, and the East Little Italy, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, and the East Village. Village.

Midtown: Times Square, Broadway (theaters). Midtown: Times Square, Broadway (theaters). Upper Manhattan: Central Park, Harlem.Upper Manhattan: Central Park, Harlem.

►Famous landmarks: Empire State Building, Famous landmarks: Empire State Building, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, Chrysler Bridge, Grand Central Station, Chrysler Building, Central Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Building, Central Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Metropolitan Museum, Madison Square Garden.Metropolitan Museum, Madison Square Garden.

THE SOUTHTHE SOUTH► A very distinct region. Different history, different accent.A very distinct region. Different history, different accent.► Also called “the Bible Belt” (social and religious conservatism). Also called “the Bible Belt” (social and religious conservatism).

Many poor areas. Hot climate, slower lifestyle.Many poor areas. Hot climate, slower lifestyle.► History: plantations, cotton, slaves.History: plantations, cotton, slaves.► ““Civil Rights Movement” in the 1950s: Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Civil Rights Movement” in the 1950s: Rosa Parks, Malcolm X,

Martin Luther King.Martin Luther King.► Mississippi River: longest river, navigable, steamboats.Mississippi River: longest river, navigable, steamboats.► New OrleansNew Orleans ,, LA: melting pot (creole, cajun, French, LA: melting pot (creole, cajun, French,

Spanish), Mardi Gras (Lent).Spanish), Mardi Gras (Lent).► Important for literature: William Faulkner (Important for literature: William Faulkner (As I Lay DyingAs I Lay Dying, , The The

Sound and the FurySound and the Fury), Tennessee Williams (), Tennessee Williams (A Streetcar Named A Streetcar Named DesireDesire, , Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman), Thomas Wolfe.), Thomas Wolfe.

► New South: New South: AtlantaAtlanta , GA (1996 Olympic Games, Coca-Cola , GA (1996 Olympic Games, Coca-Cola headquarters, world’s busiest airport).headquarters, world’s busiest airport).

THE MIDWESTTHE MIDWEST

► Reputation: very quiet, even boring.Reputation: very quiet, even boring.► Conservative, old-fashioned, family values.Conservative, old-fashioned, family values.► America’s “breadbasket” or “corn belt” (grain-growing areas).America’s “breadbasket” or “corn belt” (grain-growing areas).► America’s center. The most representative. Standard America’s center. The most representative. Standard

American accent. American accent. ► Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario.Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario.► ChicagoChicago , IL: center of the Midwest, the most typical , IL: center of the Midwest, the most typical

American city. Windy city. Sears Tower: tallest building in the American city. Windy city. Sears Tower: tallest building in the US until 2013.US until 2013.

► The Wild West started here in the Midwest. The Wild West started here in the Midwest. St. LouisSt. Louis , MO: , MO: gateway to the west (Lewis and Clark expedition to the gateway to the west (Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific). Dodge City, KS (frontier town). Buffalo Bill Cody.Pacific). Dodge City, KS (frontier town). Buffalo Bill Cody.

THE SOUTHWESTTHE SOUTHWEST

► Dry, desert, open spaces.Dry, desert, open spaces.► Strong Indian and Spanish history: former Viceroyalty of Strong Indian and Spanish history: former Viceroyalty of

Spanish Empire. Millions of Spanish speakers.Spanish Empire. Millions of Spanish speakers.► OklahomaOklahoma Land Rush of 1889: land ceded by the Land Rush of 1889: land ceded by the

Government. Great Depression: poor “Okies” migrated to Government. Great Depression: poor “Okies” migrated to California.California.

► TexasTexas : Huge. Part of Mexico. Independent in 1836: Texans : Huge. Part of Mexico. Independent in 1836: Texans defeated at the Alamo (folk hero Davy Crockett), later won. Oil, defeated at the Alamo (folk hero Davy Crockett), later won. Oil, cattle, Tex-Mex food, cowboys, rodeos.cattle, Tex-Mex food, cowboys, rodeos.

► Las VegasLas Vegas , NV: growth in 1931. Nevada laws allow gambling , NV: growth in 1931. Nevada laws allow gambling and make divorce easy. and make divorce easy.

► Spectacular scenery: Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion Spectacular scenery: Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Parks.Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Parks.

► On the rise: thanks to the dams (Hoover Dam) and air On the rise: thanks to the dams (Hoover Dam) and air conditioners. Destination for retired people.conditioners. Destination for retired people.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION►The “Rockies” range from Canada to New The “Rockies” range from Canada to New

Mexico.Mexico.►National Parks: Yellowstone (grizzly bears, National Parks: Yellowstone (grizzly bears,

wolves, elks, bisons, geysers, glaciers)wolves, elks, bisons, geysers, glaciers)►UtahUtah . Capital Salt Lake City. Mormons 70%. . Capital Salt Lake City. Mormons 70%.

Founded in the mid-19th century. Polygamy. Founded in the mid-19th century. Polygamy.

PACIFIC STATESPACIFIC STATES► Seattle, Seatt le, WA: Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Space Needle.WA: Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Space Needle.► AlaskaAlaska : enormous, one fourth the size of the 50 states. : enormous, one fourth the size of the 50 states.

700,000 people only. No taxes. Money from oil and gas. 700,000 people only. No taxes. Money from oil and gas. ► CaliforniaCalifornia : Symbol of the American Dream. History: older than : Symbol of the American Dream. History: older than

the Midwest. Settled in the mid-19th century during the Gold the Midwest. Settled in the mid-19th century during the Gold Rush. Contrasts: North-South (Sierra Nevada-Death Valley). Rush. Contrasts: North-South (Sierra Nevada-Death Valley). San FranciscoSan Francisco : 1906 earthquake and fire, foggy city, : 1906 earthquake and fire, foggy city,

Golden Gate, Alcatraz Prison. Western tolerance: liberal, Golden Gate, Alcatraz Prison. Western tolerance: liberal, hippies, gays, college protests and peace movements in the hippies, gays, college protests and peace movements in the 1960s. 1960s.

Silicon Valley (high tech companies): Adobe, Apple, eBay, Silicon Valley (high tech companies): Adobe, Apple, eBay, Facebook, Google, HP, Intel, Netflix, Yahoo!Facebook, Google, HP, Intel, Netflix, Yahoo!

Los AngelesLos Angeles : huge city, Mediterranean climate, ethnic : huge city, Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, traffic jams, crime and violence, Hollywood diversity, traffic jams, crime and violence, Hollywood celebrity culture, entertainment, sports, fashion. celebrity culture, entertainment, sports, fashion.

HawaiiHawaii : annexed in 1900. In 1959 becomes 50: annexed in 1900. In 1959 becomes 50 thth state. state.

USA QuizzesUSA Quizzes

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