Chapter 4
The United States and Canada
Exploring the United States

Vocabulary

commute		To travel regularly to and from a place, particularly to and from a job
corporate farm		A large farm run by a corporation; may consist of many smaller farms once owned by families
forty-niner		One of the first miners of the California Gold Rush of 1849
industrialization		The process of building new industries in an area dominate by farming; the development of large industries
mass transit		A system of subways, buses, and commuter trains used to transport large numbers of people
megalopolis		A number of cities and suburbs that blend into one very large urban area
mixed-crop farm		A farm that grows several different kinds of crops
petrochemical		A substance, such as plastic, paint, or asphalt, that is made from petroleum
population density		The average number of people per square mile or square kilometer
recession		A downturn in business activity and economic prosperity, not as severe as a depression
Sun Belt		Area of the United States stretching from the southern Atlantic Coast to the coast of California known for its warm weather

Key People and Places

Atlanta Boston Chicago Detroit Minneapolis - St. Paul New York City Pacific Northwest

Philadelphia Portland San Jose Sierra Nevada St. Louis Washington, D. C.

Sample Essay Questions

1. Why do you think colonists founded the cities of the Northeast along rivers or near the Atlantic Ocean?

Water routes enabled the early settlers to travel and transport goods from one colony to another. Being near the Atlantic Ocean gave the colonial cities access to boats from England and other European countries.

2. How has industrialization affected the South over the past 50 years?

Most people in the south today live in cities. More people work in industry-related jobs than in agricultural-based jobs. Textiles, technology, transportation, and tourism are all important to the South's economy today.

3. Explain the similarities and differences between corporate and mixed-crop farms.

Mixed-crop farms are operated by families. these farms grow several different kinds of crops. However, corporate farms are large farms that are operated by agricultural companies. Corporate farmers use machines and computers to do much of the farmwork and employ fewer workers than the mixed-crop farms.

4. Identify three problems resulting from urban sprawl in the western region of the United States. If these problems are not solved, what will the outcome likely be?

Three problems include air pollution, traffic congestion, and water pollution from industrial waste. If these problems are not corrected through mass transit systems and anti-pollution legislation, the quality of life in these cities will deteriorate.