Economy/Culture of the United States

Chapter 6 – Section 2Pages 140-144TEKS: 2A, 5A, 5B, 6A, 9A, 10A, 11A, 11B, 11C, 12A, 12B, 16A, 17A, 17B, 18A, 19A, 20A, 20B, 21C, 22A, 22B, 22C

A Diverse Society

70% - Europe ancestry

13% - Central & South American

`12% - African

Americans

4% - Asian Americans

1% - Native Americans

Average American Worker

1790s 1890s TODAY

Average American worker in the 1790s

Sunrise to sunset farming

VERY hard work.

Subsistence farming.

Average American worker in the 1890s

Manufacturing or service industry.

Long hours and low wages.

Unsafe conditions

60 hours a week for a total wage of $12.

Average American worker today

Workdays typically inside

Office/computer

Standard workweek is 40 hours.

World’s Greatest Economic Power

Land Area

USARest of World

Population

USARest of World

What makes us so successful?

We account for more than 10% of world’s exports.

Three factors:Available natural resourcesSkilled labor forceStable political systemFree enterprise:

Private individuals own most of the resources, technology and businesses.

Operate them with little gov’t control.

Modern Jobs in America

•Most Americans work in the service industry.•We are a postindustrial economy – where manufacturing is not dominant.

A Diverse Society

70% - Europe ancestry

13% - Central & South American

`12% - African

Americans

4% - Asian Americans

1% - Native Americans