Our United States: Location

Chapter 1.1Essential Question:

How do people determine location and boundaries, and how does it affect our place in the world?

Lesson Vocabulary

• Hemisphere• Continent• Nation• Border• State• Capital• Territory• Protectorate• Commonwealth

Where is the United States?Hemispheres – the two halves in which the earth is divided

The Earth’s Continents

The largest of the earth’s landmasses

YouTube: What are Continents?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBcq1x7P34

Nations & Borders

A nation is an area of land defined by political boundaries and under the authority of a specific government.

A nation can also be a large group of people who share a similar culture, language, and history.

Borders are the boundaries that separate nations.

Natural borders:

oceans, rivers, lakes, forests,

mountain ranges

Human-made borders: fences,

walls, signs, gates, bridges, roads,

trails

What is a state?A state is a political unit within a nation with its own borders

and separate government.

Our State CapitalsYup, you’ve got to know them!

U.S. TerritoriesTerritory - an area of the country that is neither a state (nor part of a state) that

is subject to the United States while maintaining its own political borders

• American Samoa• Bajo Nuevo Bank• Baker Island• Guam• Howland Island• Jarvis Island• Johnston Atoll• Kingman Reef

• Midway Island• Navassa Island• N. Mariana Islands• Palmyra Atoll• Puerto Rico• Serranilla Bank• U.S. Virgin Islands• Wake Island

ProtectoratesIndependent countries that are controlled and protected by a larger one

CommonwealthsA commonwealth is a type of U.S. territory that has its own constitution but its government is empowered by the U.S. Congress and is under U.S. laws; people of U.S. citizens but do not pay federal taxes or vote

in presidential elections.

U.S. Military Bases

• Subject to U.S. law – not the law of the host country

• Subject to national laws - not state laws

• Command centers for military operations

• Service member training and housing

Review Questions

1. Which continents, or parts of continents, share the Northern hemisphere with North America?

2. What political borders and physical features make up the boundaries of the contiguous United States?

3. Besides Florida, which states border the Gulf of Mexico?

4. Do you think our country’s capitol is well located? Why or why not?

5. In what two parts of the world are most U.S. territories located?

6. Why might these territories serve as good locations for U.S. naval and air force bases?

7. How are states and territories alike and different?

End Chapter 1.1