Figure 1.-- |
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Geographers vary as to the how they divide the United States into regions. The most simple is the four basic compass coordinates: Northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. This is a regional division based on gepgraphy. But much more is involved in our assessment. These states in these regions are not only geographically united, but share historical, cultural, economic, climatic, ethnic, and other characteristics. Many of these factors, except for geography and climnate, have become blurred since Wotld War II as aresult of greater mobility and mass media as well as Hispsanic migration. Texas and California as wll as the Midwest rather complicate the matter. The state has both southern nd western charateristics. And California staddles the southwest and northwest in both geography ad culture. Thus it is probably best to devise a separate grouping for the west encompasing the northwest and to cresate the Midwest as a destinct region. We thus for thre purposes of our study have accepted five basic regions. These regions are the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and the West. In addition thre are some outlyers. Alaska can be considered paer of te West, but seems almost a region in itself, despite the small population. Hawaii is often grouped with the West, but might be considered under Pacific territories with American Samoa and other island possessions. And of course historically this would include the Philippine Islands during the first very eventful first hslf of the 20th century. There are also Caribbean possessions, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The Southeast is primarily the 11 slave staes of the old Confederacy, including West Virginia which was part of Virginia at the time of secession. Two border slave states (Deleware, Maryland, and Kentucky) did not secede, but are usually classified as southern states. Texas did seceed, but we believe is best classified with the southwest. The Southeast includes the Atlanic coast original colonies (Delewasare, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia), the western terrirories (Alabama, Mississpi, Tennessee, and Kenticky), and the Lousisana Purchase (Louisina and Akansas). These states share a great deal of historty, economica, and culture. Here slavery was promimant during the colonial era and early years of the Republic. King cotton dominated he economy during the 19th century. Segregation prevailed from the Civil War through the 1960s. Ethnically the Southeast include most of the black population until the Great Migration of the early-20th century. And the Southeast did not participate in the wasve of European migration during the late-19th and early-20th century.
The Southwest is essentially northern Mexico, includng Texas obtained as a result of the Mexican War for Independence (1835-36) and the Mexican Cession, obtained through the Mexican American War (1846-48). Here we think Califirnia is best considered as psrt of the West. Hispanics until the 1970s largely lived in the Southwest and southern Califoirnia.
Alaska is most associated with the Pacific northwest, but in our rehional divisions of the west, Alaska as it is not contgiguous with the "lower 48" and located at such a northerly latitude seems best considered as a separate region. The huge area of the state make it a sizeable region although the population is miniscule. Alaska was where the first humans first reached the Americas, across the Bearing Sea Ice age land bridge (the modern Aleutians). The first Europeans, Vitus Bearing and Alwksey Chirikov, found Alaska (1741). Russian fur traders followed. The first permanent settlement was on Kodiak Iskand (1784). Alexsandr Baranov dominated the early history of the Russian colony. He extended the fur trade south. The southern border of Alaska arose as a result of the American-British dispute over the Oregon Territory (1824). The United Stares purchased Alaska (1867). The Russian sale was in part promted by the fear that the British might seize it. Americans first called Alaska "Seward's Folly" after the secretary of state who negotiated the purchase. An American government was established after gold was discovered near Fairbabks (1884). The discovery of gold in theKlondike brought in the first substantial influx of Americans (1896). Further strikes followed in Nome and Fairbanks. The eastern boundary with Canada was settled (1903). Fur remained a major economic activity, but the population was declining. A arrangement was reached with Canada and Rusdia (1911). Alaska was given territorial status (1912). Alaska became a World War II battlefield when Japan invased the Aleutian Islands (1942). The United States built the Alaska Highway to ptovide a land route to Alaska. Alaska became the 49th state (1959). The population has grown, but is still cert small. Alaska is seen as the Last Frontier. The ecomony is based on farming, fishing, mining, and other activities. Important oil discovering have been made. Earthquakes have neen reported, including an especially severe one (1984).
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