Natural Resources in the Natural Resources in the United StatesUnited States

FarmingFarming

• Farmland is the most abundant natural Farmland is the most abundant natural resource in the countryresource in the country

• Government gave people land if they Government gave people land if they agreed to farm improve on it in five agreed to farm improve on it in five yearsyears– Homestead Act (1862)Homestead Act (1862)– Opened up the Great Plains to farmingOpened up the Great Plains to farming

• Exports equal $50 million annually Exports equal $50 million annually • Nebraska 90% FarmlandNebraska 90% Farmland

ForestryForestry

• Began in New England Began in New England – Used to make barrels, ships, and lumberUsed to make barrels, ships, and lumber

• Shifted to the South after the American Shifted to the South after the American RevolutionRevolution– Rivers could be used for transportation year roundRivers could be used for transportation year round

• By 1930, most forests in the East were By 1930, most forests in the East were converted to farmlandconverted to farmland– IndianaIndiana

• Most logging takes place in the Pacific Most logging takes place in the Pacific NorthwestNorthwest

Forestry contd.Forestry contd.

• Trees are a renewable resource Trees are a renewable resource – Logging companies have strict Logging companies have strict

regulations they must followregulations they must follow– This conserves and allows for This conserves and allows for

replenishing of forestsreplenishing of forests

• Forests have also been included in Forests have also been included in National ParksNational Parks– This helps preserve the forests as well as This helps preserve the forests as well as

the plants and animals that live in themthe plants and animals that live in them

MiningMining

• Most abundant mineral in the United Most abundant mineral in the United States is coalStates is coal– US produces one fifth of world’s supplyUS produces one fifth of world’s supply– Pennsylvania, West VirginiaPennsylvania, West Virginia

• Oil and Natural gas can also be found hereOil and Natural gas can also be found here– Texas, AlaskaTexas, Alaska

• Other precious metals are found in the USOther precious metals are found in the US– CopperCopper - Gold- Gold– LeadLead - Titanium- Titanium– UraniumUranium - Zinc- Zinc

MovementMovement

• New Technologies in transportation New Technologies in transportation helped the US economy growhelped the US economy grow

• Raw materials had to be moved to Raw materials had to be moved to factories for productionfactories for production

• Travel was difficult in early years Travel was difficult in early years because of geographybecause of geography

WaterWater

• Many paper companies were built on Many paper companies were built on rivers and other bodies of water to allow rivers and other bodies of water to allow raw materials to be easily obtainedraw materials to be easily obtained– Georgia PacificGeorgia Pacific

• Manmade waterways were eventually Manmade waterways were eventually created to expand water transportation created to expand water transportation across the countryacross the country– CanalsCanals

• Steam power created a faster mode of Steam power created a faster mode of transportation along water waystransportation along water ways

LandLand

• As railroads developed, land transportation As railroads developed, land transportation became more important than waterbecame more important than water– Goods could be transported wherever track Goods could be transported wherever track

could be laid could be laid – Transcontinental RailroadTranscontinental Railroad

• Automobiles allowed transportation to be Automobiles allowed transportation to be done anywhere in the United States done anywhere in the United States despite geographydespite geography– Tucking Tucking – Interstate Highway SystemInterstate Highway System

TelecommunicationsTelecommunications

• Communication relied on paper exchangeCommunication relied on paper exchange– Wells FargoWells Fargo - Pony Express- Pony Express

• Samuel Morse invented the telegraphSamuel Morse invented the telegraph– 18371837– Spread over the continentSpread over the continent– Grew along side railroad linesGrew along side railroad lines

• Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephoneAlexander Graham Bell invented the telephone– 18761876– 1915 – Telephone lines stretched from coast to coast1915 – Telephone lines stretched from coast to coast– Today, fiber optics, satellites, and wireless technology Today, fiber optics, satellites, and wireless technology

spread information across the worldspread information across the world

Free EnterpriseFree Enterprise

• The US is devoted to freedom and The US is devoted to freedom and independenceindependence

• Free Enterprise systemFree Enterprise system– Individuals can profit from their own Individuals can profit from their own

businesses in an open marketbusinesses in an open market– Anyone can be successful if they work hard Anyone can be successful if they work hard

and follow the rulesand follow the rules

• This idea draws many immigrants to the This idea draws many immigrants to the United StatesUnited States