The Eastern United States

• The United States is divided into regions based on physical characteristics.
• The Mississippi River divides the country into two major regions
• The eastern United States is located east of the Mississippi River
• Subregions of the eastern United States are New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, and the Southeast

Bodies of Water

• The main bodies of water in the eastern United States include:
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Gulf of Mexico
  • The five Great Lakes
  • St. Lawrence Seaway
  • Mississippi River

Landforms and Climate

• The Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Appalachian Mountains are two major landforms east of the Mississippi
• A fall line marks the boundary between the Appalachian uplands, and coastal plain lowlands
• Climates in the eastern United States are generally more humid than those west of the Mississippi River

Natural Resources

• Natural resources in the eastern United States include:
  • Iron ore
  • Coal
  • Other minerals
  • Farmland

History and Settlement

• The U.S. is made up of many people and cultures
• Native Americans were the first to settle in North America, migrating from Asia across a land bridge
• The Spanish were the first Europeans to colonize North America in the 1500s, followed by the English in the 1600s
• By 1750, there were 13 English colonies
• In 1776, colonists declared independence from England and won the Revolutionary War, forming the United States

Westward Expansion and Native Americans

• As Atlantic Coast cities became crowded, people moved west
• Native Americans were forced off their lands and onto reservations, exemplified by Trail of Tears

Industrialization and Migration

• New inventions increased farm and factory production
• Fewer farm workers were needed, while more factory workers were required
• After the Civil War, the Great Migration saw former slaves move from the Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and New England, as part of a larger rural-to-urban migration for jobs throughout the 20th century

Life in the Region

• Metropolitan areas, such as the region from Boston to Washington (a megalopolis of about 50 million people) are centers of business, culture, education, and recreation

Major Cities

• Major cities in the region possess unique histories and characters, and include:
  • New York: A busy port and center for baking, trade, and commerce.
  • Chicago: A center of industry, transportation, and publishing that grew as a railroad and meat-packing center.
  • Atlanta: Which grew into an economic hub for paper, telecommunications, banking, and insurance.
  • New Orleans: A major trading center with a unique blend of French, Spanish, Caribbean, and African culture.

U.S. Constitution and Government Branches

• The U.S. Constitution is the foundation of the federal government and supreme law.
• The government is organized into three branches to balance power and prevent tyranny:
  • Legislative (Congress): Consisting of the House and Senate, makes laws and manages budgets.
  • Executive: Made up of the president, vice president, and the president's cabinet, and carries out laws passed by Congress.
  • Judicial: Includes federal trial courts and the Supreme Court, which determines if laws meet Constitutional standards.

Effects of Government Actions

• Government actions can have both positive and negative effects.
  • Positive actions include building infrastructure, offering aid, funding education, establishing parks, and enacting fair laws.
  • Negative actions include failing to protect the environment and violating civil rights.