Chapter 6
Human Geography of the United
States
Shaping an Abundant Land
Vocabulary
•
•
•
•
Migration
Frontier
Isolationism
Representative democracy
First contact of Europeans with the
Americas led to the greatest ecological
events in history
History and Government of the United
States 6.1
• 3rd largest country
• Nation of Immigrants
• European settlement displaced Native
Americans
Establishing the Union
Sectionalism
An Industrial and Urban Society
World Power and Domestic Change
The United States & Globalization
Governing the People
Economy and Culture of the United
States 6.2
• The United States is the
leading economic
power
• The US economy is run
largely on freeenterprise (free market,
capitalist) system
Vocab
• Postindustrial economy
• multinational
The World’s Greatest Economic Power
A Diverse Society
• English is the dominant language
• Religious freedom is guaranteed by the
Constitution
American Life Today
• Pursuing the “American
Dream”
• 80% live in metropolitan
areas
• 50% are employed
– 50% of them are women
• Free compulsory
education
– 90% in public schools
• Much time spent in
leisure activities
• 10% live in poverty
1. The United States’ economy is run on a free
enterprise system, in which
A. Goods and services are sold or traded at the highest
profit margin possible
B. The government retains strict controls over businesses,
resources and technology that are sold or traded for
profit.
C. Businesses, resources and technology are worker-owned
and operated.
D. The government exerts little control over businesses,
resources and technology operated for profit by private
individuals
2. Many American corporations are involved in
business worldwide and are called…
A. multinationals
B. service organizations
C. Free enterprise
D. Postindustrialists
3. The united States is currently in a
“postindustrial” economy because
A. Manufacturing is no longer the country’s
most important industry.
B. World War II caused a significant change in
how the country’s industry operated.
C. The country leads the world in trading.
D. The country’s industrial output is the
greatest in the world.
Subregions 6.3
The Northeast
• Heart of commerce and trade
• Megalopolis- “Boswash”
Midwest
• America’s Heartland
• The Nation’s
Breadbasket
• Central location and
excellent waterways
• Chicago is a financial
and transportation
“hub”
• Number of farms is
declining
The South
The West (Hey, that’s us!)