The United States
Major Regions of the United States
Fifty states that span a large part of North American continent, Alaska, and the Hawaiian archipelago comprise the United States of America. These states can be roughly divided into four major regions based on physical location and economic activity. In this interactivity, you will explore the major regions of the United States. Click the player to begin.
View a printable version of this interactivity or an ADA compliant transcript.
Cultural Influences of the United States
The United States is a multicultural society with a diverse population. Thus, it has a variety of cultural influences. In this interactivity, you will explore the cultural influences of the United States by following different social media conversations. Click the player to begin.
View a printable version of this interactivity or an ADA compliant transcript.
Influence of the Automobile
Politics, economics, religion, or in the case of the automobile, technology, can influence a nation's culture. Further, Americans' love for the automobile can be seen in the cultural landscape of the country. The automobile is the primary mode of transportation for many Americans. They use it when commuting to work, going shopping, or traveling across the country.
As a result, most communities have many gas stations placed in convenient locations. Gas stations are also found beside the country’s network of interstate highways, along with billboards, rest stops, and motels. Additionally, consider the number of American businesses that offer drive-up services. This includes fast food restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and coffee shops.
Economic Characteristics of the United States
The economy of the United States is highly diversified. This means it engages in economic activities across all four sectors. A rich supply of natural resources supports the country's economic growth. This includes fresh water, fertile soil, forests, minerals, petroleum, and other fossil fuels. In addition to abundant natural resources, the U.S. has a highly developed infrastructure. Its skilled labor force has helped it become a major exporter of technology, information systems, and foodstuffs. The U.S. is also a major exporter of culture in the global marketplace. For instance, foreign cultures consume American entertainment, sports, music, and fashion. You can also find multinational corporations like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s in most countries.
As the home of many multinational corporations, the United States plays an important role in the globalized economy. The U.S. is also a member of several economic and political alliances. These include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the United Nations (UN). Membership in these international organizations has helped the U.S. exert economic and political influence around the world.
The United States has a high level of economic development. However, a disparity of income distribution exists within the country. This means that the majority of the country's wealth is concentrated in the richest segments of society. Severe income inequality can cause extreme differences in the quality of life between the rich and the poor. Despite this, the population characteristics of the United States are typical of most developed nations. For example, the country has a high standard of living, high per capita GDP, high life expectancy, high literacy rate, low population growth rate, and low infant mortality rate.
The United States Review
Now that you have learned about the major regions, cultural influences, and economic characteristics of the United States, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player to get started.
