The South
"Fried chicken. 'Nuf said."
The Southern States
Many people associate "the South" with the old Confederacy, but what they may not realize is that there are also five additional states that include Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Deleware. Each of them are rich in resources and make up a culture that has become popular to live and work in.
Brief History
Pre-1500s, many Native American groups, such as the Natchez, Creek, and Cherokee grew maize, melons, squash, beans, tobacco, and other crops. The first Europeans to permenantly settle in the present day U.S. did so in the South. More Europeans migrated towards this area and dragged along slaves from Afica and the West Indies to do the work of raising tobacco, rice, or cotton. Then the most familiar aspect of the South plays in the Civil War. In the 1950s and 60s both large and small industries began taking hold in the South. In the 70s, the population increased more than any other in the country. A mix of industry and agriculture has made the South what you know of today.
Physical Geography
The South has a humid, subtropical climate and abundant, diverse forests that are frequent in most of this region. The land ranges from vast prairies to swampy bayous. It's located closer to the equator, making it warmer than the more northern regions, and a fantastic temperature for farming. Another contribution allowing this area to have such phenominal farmland is the fertile soil. Natural resources found here include oil, copper, borax, lead, gold, silver, lumber, uranium, cotton, and tobacco.
Culture
The people living in this region take advantage of the great farmland, but they also have spectacular cities like Houston and Atlanta that provide many additional jobs for every gender, race, and ethnicity. Many Hispanics moved there from Mexico, and other half the Afican American population lives inthe South. There is no set language, like the rest of the U.S., because of the very diverse culture, but there is a drawn out accent often associated with the South. The population of the South is 112.2 million people.
Economics
The South has traditionally been a rural region, but it also has a large number of valuable industries. The transportation has evolved from railroads and steamboats to cars and trucks (automobiles). The South's newer, cheaper, and more efficient factories attract several businesses. Textile mills, the coal industry, and the oil industry have provided many jobs. The mild climate serves as a common retirement center and tourism site.
Florida's State Flag
Tennessee & Florida
Tennessee State Flag
Florida
Florida is the most Southeast state in the US, and it's a peninsula. It is Rick Lynn Scott is the 45th Governor of Florida. There are 40 senators, each representing a district, and each can serve up to two four-year terms. The population is about 19,893,000 people. The state's abbreviation is "FL". In 2014, Florida surpassed New York to become the third most populous state in the US. It is also the flattest state in the US.
Tennessee
Tennessee is surrounded by land and therefore doesn't touch the ocean. It's right beneath Kentucky on a map. Tennessee's governor is Bill Haslam. The senate is composed of 33 members. The population is roughly 6,549,000 people. The state's abbreviation is "TN". The city of Kingston served as the capital for one day. Tennessee is also home to the city of country music.
READING FOCUS QUESTIONS
How have warm climates and rich soils affected vegetation in the South?
The warm climate and rich soils have nourished the vegetation and made the produce plentiful. The area's general latitude provides the perfect temperature for the greatest growing foods. It's natural advantages have fed all the right plants in all of the right ways, and these plants have supplied the South with additional wealth and occupations.
What key natural resources have influenced industrial developement?
Oil, copper, coal, borax, lead, gold, silver, lumber, uranium, cotton, and tobacco have created a stable foundation for the South to build up. These resources led to the development of many great cities and technologies that shaped the agricultural field. An example would be cotton introducing the cotton gin, trickling to the system of forming the clothing we wear today.
How have changes in the South led to the growth of cities?
Africans were moved to the U.S. as slaves and often needed in the South, but when this time period evolved into a less common and illegal perspective, the majority of this race stayed in the South. This allowed the South to have a greater population. Also, the natural resources it contains provides much wealth for the region. Both natural resources and a greater population have contributed to the growth of its cities.