US History to 1865 Continents and Oceans

U.S. History to 1865 Study Guide ST AN DAR D USI . 2A - - - CO NT INE N T S & O CE ANS The student will use maps, globes, photographs, pictures, or tables to a) locate the seven continents and five oceans Continents are large land masses surrounded by water. Oceans • Continents • North America • South America • Africa • Asia • Australia • Antarctica • Europe* Atlantic Ocean • Pacific Ocean • Arctic Ocean • Indian Ocean • Southern Ocean *Note: Europe is considered a continent even though it is not entirely surrounded by water. The land mass is frequently called Eurasia S T AN DAR D U S I. 2B G E O G R A P H I C R E GI O N S b) locate and describe the location of the geographic regions of North America: Coastal Plain, Appalachian Mountains, Canadian Shield, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, Basin and Range, and Coastal Range. Geographic regions have distinctive characteristics. Geographic regions’ locations and physical characteristics Coastal Plain – Located along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico – Broad lowlands providing many excellent harbors Appalachian Highlands – – Located west of the Coastal Plain, extending from eastern Canada to western Alabama; includes the Piedmont Old, eroded mountains (oldest mountain range in North America) Canadian Shield – Wrapped around the Hudson Bay in a horseshoe shape – Hills worn by erosion and hundreds of lakes carved by glaciers Interior Lowlands – Located west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Great Plains – Rolling flatlands with many rivers, broad river valleys, and grassy hills Great Plains – Located west of the Interior Lowlands and east of the Rocky Mountains – Flat lands that gradually increase in elevation westward; grasslands Rocky Mountains – Located west of the Great Plains and east of the Basin and Range – Rugged mountains stretching from Alaska almost to Mexico; high elevations – Contains the Continental Divide, which determines the directional flow of rivers Basin and Range – – Varying elevations containing isolated mountain ranges and Death Valley, the lowest point in North America Coastal Range – Located along the Pacific Coast, stretching from California to Canada – Rugged mountains and fertile valleys – Includes the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades Located west of the Rocky Mountains and east of the Coastal Range S T AN DAR D U S I. 2C W AT E R F E AT UR ES c) locate and identify the water features important to the early history of the United States: Great Lakes, Mississippi River, Missouri River, Ohio River, Columbia River, Colorado River, Rio Grande, St. Lawrence River, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico. The United States has access to numerous and varied bodies of water. Bodies of water support interaction among regions, form borders, and create links to other areas. Major bodies of water Trade, transportation, exploration, and settlement • The Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts of the United States have provided access to other parts of the world. • The Atlantic Ocean served as the highway for explorers, early settlers, and later immigrants. • The Ohio River was the gateway to the west prior to the Louisiana Purchase. • Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific • Rivers: Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande, St. Lawrence • Inland port cities grew in the Midwest along the Great Lakes. • Lakes: Great Lakes • • Gulf: Gulf of Mexico The Mississippi and Missouri rivers were used to transport farm and industrial products. They created links to United States ports and other parts of the world. • The Columbia River was explored by Lewis and Clark. • The Colorado River was explored by the Spanish. • The Rio Grande forms the border with Mexico. • The Pacific Ocean was an early exploration destination as a route to Asia. • The Gulf of Mexico provided the French and Spanish with exploration routes to Mexico and other parts of America. • The St. Lawrence River forms part of the northeastern border with Canada and connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. S T AN DAR D U S I. 2D G E O G R A P H I C F E AT U R E S d) recognize key geographic features on maps, diagrams, and/or photographs. It is important to recognize key geographic features on maps, diagrams, and/or photographs. Landforms and water features set the stage for and influence the course of events in United States history. Key geographic features • Water-related – Lakes – Rivers – Tributaries – Gulfs and bays • Land-related – Mountains – Hills – Plains – Plateaus – Islands – Peninsulas Geographic features are related to • patterns of trade • the locations of cities and towns • the westward (frontier) movement • agricultural and fishing industries.