Civics Lesson 4-5
Citizenship—How Do We Define the United States?
Where's the Flood?
Imagine you are watching the news. You hear that the water level of the Mississippi River is rising too high.
People in many states are working quickly to protect their homes. Could you identify the threatened states?
Good citizenship includes learning about geographyGeography: the study of physical and political features on
Earth's surface. Geography plays an important role in shaping cultureCulture: the shared practices and beliefs
of a group of people. Both geography and culture affect citizens and citizen leaders. In this lesson, you will
learn more about U.S. geography to boost your citizenship skills! You will use your learning to complete a brief
quiz on the lesson.
What Are the Types of Location?
You may be familiar with many features of the United States, such as the Grand Canyon. You can likely
identify it in a picture. You may also be able to locate it on a map. However, do you know you can describe
location in two ways? Each statement below is an example of how you can describe the location of the Grand
Canyon.
Relative LocationRelative Location: a description of how a place compares to other landmarks, using compass
directions and approximate distance—"The Grand Canyon is in northwestern Arizona, west of the Mississippi
River and Texas."
Absolute LocationAbsolute Location: a latitude and longitude coordinate for a specific point on Earth—"The
Grand Canyon lies at 36°15' N, 112° 30' W."
A compass roseCompass Rose: map feature that shows the cardinal directions as they relate to the map layout
shows you the cardinal directionsCardinal Directions: north, east, west, and south as they apply on a map. A
map keyMap Key: map feature indicating how symbols are used in the map helps you find important features
on maps. Both help you determine location. Try this Map Activity to practice the skills needed for this lesson.
Make sure to view all eight screens.
What Is Federalism?
The United States covers a vastVast: very large in size, extent, or amount area. More than 300 million people
live in 50 states and other territories. It would be very difficult for one government to answer the varied needs
of so many people and places. The Founding FathersFounding Fathers: name given to the early leaders of the
United States who helped design the nation's government chose federalismFederalizm: division of powers
among the local, state, and national governments as the answer to this concern.
In this system, different levels of government share power. For example, you likely live under local, state, and
national governments. Each one has certain roles. Each shares some of the tasks with the other levels of
government. Examine this map and review the location of the states and their capitals. Think about where you
live. How many governments serve you?
States
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Delaware
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Georgia
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Maryland
South Carolina
New Hampshire
Virginia
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Vermont
Kentucky
Tennessee
Ohio
Louisiana
Indiana
Mississippi
Illinois
Alabama
Maine
Missouri
Arkansas
Michigan
Florida
Texas
Iowa
Wisconsin
California
Minnesota
Oregon
Kansas
West Virginia
Nevada
Nebraska
Colorado
North Dakota
South Dakota
Montana
Washington
Idaho
Wyoming
Utah
Oklahoma
New Mexico
Arizona
Alaska
Hawaii
What Other Territory Is in the United States?
The United States includes areas we call territoriesTerritory: a geographic area governed by a government or
nation and protectoratesProtectorate: a country or region defended and partially governed by a government or
nation. People living in these areas follow U.S. laws, but they do not have all the same rights and duties of
people in the 50 states. In fact, the rights and duties of citizens can vary by area. The federal government refers
to all the non-state areas that it owns as insular areasInsular Area: a U.S. territory that is not a state, a part of a
state, or the District of Columbia.
For example, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. The people there are U.S. citizensCitizen: a person who is native
or naturalized to a country. People from Puerto Rico may live and work anywhere in the United States. They
may vote. They have their own government, like the states. However, they do not have a voting member in the
U.S. CongressU.S. Congress: the lawmaking body of the United States. The people of American Samoa, like
people from Puerto Rico, may visit and live in the United States. However, they may not vote or run for office
anywhere but in American Samoa.
Some U.S. islands are uninhabited, like Midway Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. This island is a National
Wildlife Refuge, so plenty of animals live there instead! Locate the U.S. insular areas in this activity.
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Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
Wake Island
Midway Atoll
Johnston Atoll
Howland Island
Baker Island
American Samoa
Kingman Reef
Palmyra Atoll
Jarvis Island
12. Navassa Island
13. Puerto Rico
14. U.S. Virgin Islands
Physical Landmarks
The United States is home to diverseDiverse: differing from each other natural features. The Mississippi River
is one of many familiar physical landmarks. Examine this map to learn more about U.S. physical landmarks.
Physical Landmarks Text Version
Hudson River—This 315-mile river in eastern New York flows south. In 1825, the Erie Canal opened,
connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River.
St. Johns River—This Northeast Florida river flows south to north. It is an important trade route to Florida's
interior.
Death Valley—The lowest point in the United States is 282 feet below sea level, in Death Valley. This dry area
in California borders the Mojave Desert.
Painted Desert—Arizona's Painted Desert is famous for its colorful, layered landscape. Much of this land is
within the Navajo Nation.
Great Lakes—The Great Lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. They are lakes Huron,
Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. You can remember them by thinking HOMES, each letter standing for
one of the lakes.
Dismal Swamp—The Dismal Swamp covers about 600 square miles of Virginia and North Carolina. The
forested wetlands are a National Wildlife Refuge.
Mount McKinley—Mount McKinley in Alaska reaches 20,335 feet above sea level at its summit. This is the
highest point in the United States. Some people call it "Denali," which means "the High One."
Appalachian Mountains—The Appalachian Mountains stretch from Alabama northeast into Canada. Natural
gas and coal are important resources here.
Everglades—The Everglades covers a large portion of South Florida. The U.S. government is trying to restore
and protect these wetlands.
Grand Canyon—The Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is 277 miles long and over a
mile deep! People from around the world visit this natural wonder.
Great Salt Lake—Great Salt Lake, in Utah, is the largest saltwater lake on Earth! The size changes, though,
because of flooding and evaporation. Special pumps were built to protect buildings.
Mississippi River—The Mississippi River and its tributaries drain 31 U.S. states. It is a critical route for
moving goods. Many important towns and cities are along its banks.
Great Plains—The Great Plains is a large area of open grassland. It lies between the Mississippi River and the
Rocky Mountains. Today this land is an important source of wind power.
LESSON 5
Objectives
Cultural Landmark: a place or structure having important meaning and value to a group of people are one part
of a shared Culture: the shared practices and beliefs of a group of people. The landmarks in the video relate to
U.S. culture. However, the continent of North America includes more than just the United States. Canada and
Mexico also make up North America. It also includes the nations in the Caribbean Sea and Central America.
North America has many cultural regionsCultural Region: a geographic area where the people share similar
traits, such as language, including those in the United States. In this lesson, you get to learn more about culture!
You will use your learning to create a stellar travel guide for several regions of the United States.
What Is Culture?
A culture is the shared traditions, beliefs, and practices of a group of people. Each culture includes many
features that separate it from other cultures. Examples include language, holidays, work, and family life. For
example, Americans eat many grain-based foods, like wheat bread. So do people from Canada.
Cultural Traits
Food—People across North America enjoy a variety of foods. Potatoes, corn, and beef are staples in the United
States. Caribbean nations grow a lot of sugar. Sugar is popular throughout North America.
Education—Most U.S. schools use a fall to spring school year. This began because children helped on farms
during summer.
Sports—Ice hockey began in Canada. This sport is growing in the United States. Soccer is popular in Mexico
and Central America, but outside the United States, most people call it "football."
Traditions—November 11th is a holiday in both Canada and the United States. Veterans Day honors soldiers
who have fought in wars.
Language —Most Mexicans (93 percent) speak only Spanish. Besides English, Spanish is the most common
language spoken in the United States. In Canada, most people speak either English or French.
Religion—Americans practice many different faiths. About half are Protestant. About eight out of 10 Mexicans
and four out of 10 Canadians are Roman Catholic.
Are Cultural Groups the Same as Nations?
The short answer is "They can be." For example, U.S. Citizen: a person who is native or naturalized to a
country share an "American" culture based on the history of the nation. Yet a person from South Carolina and
one from Iowa can sound very different when they speak. A person may be a "Southerner" as well as an
"American." People who define themselves as "Japanese" can live in Canada.
Cultural Group: a specific group of people who share similar practices and beliefs are Transnational:
reaching beyond national boundaries. They exist within and across nations. Cultures and cultural features spread
around the world through Migration: movement from one place to another and Trade: exchange of goods and
services. We call this process Cultural Diffusion: the spreading of ideas, language, and goods across a
geographic area. Geography and climate also affect how cultures change over time.
What Are Cultural Regions?
A cultural region is a geographic area with shared cultural traits. People of many different cultures can live in
one area. Yet the majority of people in any one area tend to be part of one cultural group.
North America includes many nations and regions. Mapmakers and governments divide nations into regions.
People within these regions usually share many cultural traits.
Remember, though, that culture is transnational. We can draw lines on a map, but people will still move and
share ideas!
North America is a large continent with three countries that make up most of the land. They are Canada,
Mexico, and the United States. Greenland is also considered part of North America.
The United States has four main regions—the Northeast, the South, the Midwest, and the West. Notice how the
map key indicates each region by color. The official regions follow state borders to keep it simple. Americans
across the country share many of the same cultural traits. Yet each region has something that makes a bit
different from the others.
Canada has six cultural regions. Its regions also follow political borders. Canada is made up of provinces and
territories. A province is similar to a U.S. state. Like the United States, Canada was once a British territory.
Many settlers moved there from France as well. Most people in Quebec province speak French today.
Mexico has 31 states organized into six regions. As in Canada and the United States, many factors shaped the
culture of each one. These factors include history and geography. Spain controlled the country for many years.
Mexico’s culture is a mix of Spanish and Native American traditions.
Central America is technically part of North America, linking it to South America. Spain had a great influence
on the cultures of the seven countries in this region. A map shows the region’s location and a separate map,
called an “inset map”, shows an enlarged version of the section outlined on the other map.
The Caribbean is another region of North America. The island nations of this region developed through contact
with many cultures. Many languages are spoken in this region. These maps are another example of how an inset
map can show you an area in greater detail.
What Do Maps of Cultural Traits Look Like?
We can view maps of cultural regions that relate to a single trait, like language. These traits do not pay attention
to state borders. People and ideas move. However, a person from Maine is likely to share more cultural traits
with someone from New Hampshire than with someone from New Mexico.
Many nations collect data about its people through a Census: official count of a population, or the process for
collecting and recording information about a population. Census data is the base for many maps in this activity.
US Cultural Landmarks
Time to learn about cultural landmarks. Good luck, citizen!
This map will show you important cultural landmarks in each region of the United States.
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West:
The west has large open areas untouched by people. The land includes large forests, deserts, and mountains.
The variety causes wide differences in weather. Hiking and camping are popular. The environment is an
important issue. Ranching, lumbering, and mining are important industries. Los Angeles, Seattle, and Denver are
major cities.
o Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Calif.
At 4,200 feet long, the Golden Gate Bridge is among the top 10 longest suspension bridges in the world.
Including the sections that are not suspended, the total bridge length is about three miles. Its orange
color is highly visible to ships and blends with the landscape. It is named after the Golden Gate, the
strait that is the entrance to San Francisco Bay.
o Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, Calif.
For many Americans, the Hollywood sign is a symbol of where dreams can come true. The town
founder’s wife heard of the town Hollywood, Florida, and thought the name was perfect. Today people
think of Hollywood as a glamorous place where movies and stars are born.
o Navajo Nation (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah)
The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American reservation, with about 27,000 square miles of
territory. The Navajo Nation covers portions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. More than 173,000
Navajo live here. Most families make a living farming or creating traditional crafts.
o Hoover Dam (borders Nevada and Arizona)
Building the Hoover Dam required more than five million barrels of concrete! The dam was built to
redirect the Colorado River and create waterpower. Every U.S. state helped with supplies for building
the dam. Lake Mead, the dam’s reservoir, is a popular recreation site.
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Midwest:
The Midwest includes the Great Plains. Wide, flat expanses of land and plenty of rain make the region great for
farming. People grow great amounts of wheat, oats, and corn here. The region is famous for automobile and
farm equipment factories. Chicago is a famous city with many museums and businesses.
o Mount Rushmore, Keystone, S.D.
Mount Rushmore is an impressive sculpture. Each year, millions of people visit the 60-foot-tall images of
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt carved into the Black
Hills of South Dakota. Each of these U.S. presidents was responsible for important national events.
o Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn.
The Mall of America is large enough to be its own city. It has 520 stores, 12,000 employees, and enough
parking for 20,000 cars! If shopping is not for you, you can visit the theater, aquarium, or indoor theme
park!
o Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Mo.
The Gateway Arch, also known as the "Gateway to the West," is a symbol of U.S. expansion. Visitors can
view the area around the Gateway from the top of the arch. To get there you can climb more than 1,000
steps, take an elevator, or ride a tram!
o Willis Tower, Chicago, Ill.
The Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) is among the world’s tallest buildings. It has 108 floors. You can
view Chicago and feel the building sway from a glass balcony 103 stories high!
Northeast:
The Northeast includes many factories. Major cities include New York city and Boston. The Northeast has cold
winters and mild summers. Many famous universities are there, like Harvard and Yale. Fishing, iron, glass, and
steel are major industries. Lobster and clams are popular foods from the region.
o Empire State Building, New York, N.Y.
The Empire State Building is one of the tallest buildings in the United States, rising 102 floors! Thousands
of people work there each day. Many movies have featured this landmark skyscraper!
o Statue of Liberty, New York, N.Y.
The Statue of Liberty, or "Lady Liberty," is a symbol of freedom for all Americans. She was a gift from
France to celebrate the United States' 100th anniversary. Standing in New York Harbor, she welcomed
new immigrants to the nation who arrived by ship to Ellis Island.
o Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pa.,
You could say Independence Hall is the birthplace of the nation. The nation's founders signed the
Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution here.
o Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, Pa.
The Liberty Bell once rang out from the steeple of Independence Hall. Stamps, coins, and even
businesses have featured the cracked bell's image. Each Fourth of July the bell is tapped to celebrate
U.S. independence.
o Williamsburg Historic District, Virginia
Tourists visit today to see what life was like in the colonial period and the early days of the nation.
o White House, Washington, D.C.
The White House opened during President John Adams' term in 1880. It is a symbol of the U.S.
presidency. Presidents live and work here with their staffs. The White House has over 132 rooms and 35
bathrooms!
o U.S. Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. "Equal Justice Under Law" appears
above the main entrance. When Americans disagree on the meaning of the U.S. Constitution, this is
where the issue is settled!
o U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Capitol Building is where the nation's laws are created!
Representatives from all 50 states meet here to debate new laws. The building covers 175,170 square
feet of ground area!
South:
The South is famous for its fertile soil. It has mild winters, hot summers, and long growing seasons. People can
grow a variety of crops, including cotton and corn. Popular Southern foods include corn bread and shrimp.
Atlanta and New Orleans are large cities. Jazz and country music are familiar sounds. Protestant church
membership is high in the South.
o Alamo, San Antonio, Texas
Texas was once part of Mexico. In 1835–1836, people living there, many of them Americans, fought for
Texas independence from Mexico. Many Americans died at the Battle of the Alamo. It serves as a
reminder of Americans’ willingness to fight and die for freedom.
o Graceland, Memphis, Tenn.
Elvis Presley called Graceland his home. He is one of the most famous Americans in popular culture. His
style of music had a great impact on the national culture. People around the world know his name
today. Graceland is a museum today to remember Presley and his music.
o Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Americans studied space at this site for many years. The nation launched its first satellite from here in
1958. Americans are proud to be among the first nations to explore space.
How Can We Preserve Culture?
A Steward: a person put in charge of taking care of something, like property protects property. Stewards of
culture are careful around cultural landmarks. Weather and handling can damage structures and Artifact: an
object made by humans. Protecting symbols of culture ensures their enjoyment for Posterity: future generations
of society.
Good citizens know that being a steward is part of their civic responsibility. They encourage others to respect
cultural symbols and landmarks.
VOCABULARY to know:
Artifact: an object made by humans
Constitution: a plan, or outline, for government, such as the U.S. Constitution
Cultural diffusion: the spreading of ideas, language, and goods across a geographic area
Cultural group: a specific group of people who share similar practices and beliefs
Cultural landmark: a place or structure having important meaning and value to a group of people
Cultural region: a geographic area where the people share similar traits, such as language
Culture: the shared practices and beliefs of a group of people
Census: official count of a population, or the process for collecting and recording information about a
population
Migration: movement from one place to another
Posterity: future generations of society
Satellite: an object put into orbit around Earth or another planet to collect information
Steward: a person put in charge of taking care of something, like property
Trade: exchange of goods and services
Trait: a distinct feature or quality
Transnational: reaching beyond national boundaries
TRAVEL GUIDE Project to do:
You should now be a great cultural steward! Your task is to create a travel guide about your favorite cultural
landmark for each U.S. region. Your audience includes families who are planning a cross-country trip. You
should encourage people to visit these important sites. Use this Travel Guide Template or create your own.
Have fun with it!
Steps
1. Describe each of the four major U.S. regions. Focus on facts and details that
make each region different or unique.
2. Choose one cultural landmark for each U.S. region. You will have four
landmarks. You may choose from those in the lesson.
3. Describe why you chose each landmark. Explain how the landmark is
important to its cultural region.
4. Save your work in one file. Name your file "Citizenship_What Is Culture_your
name."
Describe the US region:
Give facts/details
West
Midwest
Northeast
One cultural landmark
from the US region
Why did you choose this
landmark? Explain why it’s
important to its cultural
region.
South