List #2: North America/U.S. Geography Basics

Washington D.C.

Capital of the United States

Southwest states region

region of the U.S. that includes the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona

Noncontiguous States

states that do not border other states. In the U.S., Alaska and Hawaii are states that do not border other states.

Canada, Mexico, and the United States

three largest countries in North America

the Great Plains

vast grassland between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains

Rio Grande River

Large river that forms a border between the US and Mexico

Gulf of Mexico

A large gulf off the southeastern coast of North America

Mississippi River

A major North American river and the chief river of the United States, longest river in the U.S.

Rocky Mountains

A major mountain system of the United states and Canada, extending 3,000 miles from Alaska south to New Mexico

Appalachian Mountains

A mountain range that stretches from eastern Canada south to Alabama.

Continental Divide

An imaginary line that runs north and south along the highest points of the Rocky Mountains. Rivers flow west or east from this line.

Current U.S. territories

Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands American Samoa Northern Mariana Islands Guam

Atlantic Ocean

Ocean located to the east of the United States and to the west of Europe and Africa

50 states

The United States of America is made up of ___ ___. Forty eight states are connected; Alaska and Hawaii are not connected.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

The brutal system of trading people from Africa to the Americas; changed the economy, politics, and environment in Africa, Europe, and America.

Southern Colonies

The term for five of the original 13 colonies of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia. After the American Revolution, these colonies became states.

New England Colonies

The term for four of the 13 original colonies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. After the American Revolution, these colonies became states.

Middle Colonies

The term for four of the 13 original colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware. After the American Revolution, these colonies became states.

The Columbian Exchange

The trade of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies across the Atlantic Ocean between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus' voyages in the 1490s.

indigenous populations of North America

groups who first lived in what became this continent's countries and states; examples in the U.S. are Seminole, Modoc, Tillamook, and Sioux

The Great Salt Lake

largest saltwater lake in North America; the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River

Pacific Ocean

ocean found on west coast of North America; borders states like Oregon and California; separates North America from Asia

Salem, Oregon

our state capital

Southern states region

region of the U.S. that includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Northeast states region

region of the U.S. that includes the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Midwest states region

region of the U.S. that includes the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.

North America

the continent we live on. The U.S., Mexico, and Canada are the three largest current countries on this continent.

Columbia River

the largest river flowing into the Pacific Ocean from North America; forms border between the states of Oregon and Washington

The Great Lakes

a group of five freshwater lakes of the central North America between the United States and Canada; the lakes are Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior

Western states region

region of the U.S. that includes states of Alaska, Nevada, California, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Hawaii, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana.