Countries Of The World: The United States By National Geographic Kids, adapted by Newsela staff on 06.26.18 Word Count 859 Level MAX Image 1: U.S. Route 101 in Oregon. This highway runs along the entire West Coast of the continental United States, from Oregon to Southern California. Photo by: Getty Images/Didier Marti The United States of America is the world's third-largest country in size and the third largest in terms of population. The 48 contiguous states of the U.S. are in North America. They are bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Along the northern border is Canada and the southern border is Mexico. There are 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as several island territories in the Caribbean and the South Pacific. These territories include Puerto Rico and Guam. More than twice the size of the European Union, the United States has high mountains in the West and a vast central plain. The lowest point in the country is in Death Valley, which is at -282 feet. The highest peak is Denali at 20,310 feet. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1
Nature The landscape varies across the large country from tropical beaches in Florida to peaks in the Rocky Mountains, from rolling prairie lands and barren deserts in the West to dense wilderness areas in the Northeast and Northwest. Interspersed throughout are the Great Lakes, the Grand Canyon, the majestic Yosemite Valley and the mighty Mississippi River. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2
The wildlife is as diverse as the landscape. Bison, the largest North American mammal, once roamed freely across the plains. Now the animals live only in preserves. Black bears, grizzlies and polar bears are the country's largest carnivores. There are over 20,000 plant species including many that came from Europe. There are more than 400 areas that are protected and maintained by the National Park Service, and many other parks in each state. The bald eagle is the national bird and symbol of the United States. It is a protected species. People And Culture Throughout its history, the United States has been a nation of immigrants. The population is diverse with people from all over the world seeking refuge and a better way of life. The country is commonly divided into six regions: New England, the mid-atlantic, the South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the West. The states of New England are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. In the 1600s, European settlers came here in search of religious freedom. The mid-atlantic region includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and the city of Washington, D.C. These industrial areas attracted millions of European immigrants and gave rise to some of the East Coast's largest cities: New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia. The South includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, all of which struggled after the Civil War. This war between the North and South lasted from 1860 to 1865. The Midwest is home to the country's agricultural base and is called the "nation's breadbasket." The region comprises the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The Southwest is a beautiful stark landscape of prairie and desert. The states of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas are considered the Southwest. They are home to some of the world's great natural marvels, including the Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns. The American West, home of rolling plains and the cowboy, is a symbol of the pioneering spirit of the United States. The West is diverse, ranging from endless wilderness to barren desert, coral reefs to Arctic tundra, Hollywood to Yellowstone. The states of the West include Alaska, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3
Government And Economy Citizens over the age of 18 years old vote to elect the President and Vice President of the United States every four years. The president lives in the White House in the capital city of Washington, D.C. There are two houses of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 senators, two from each of the 50 states, and each serves a six-year term. There are 435 representatives who must be elected every two years. The Supreme Court is made up of nine justices who are picked by the president and must be approved by Congress. Advances in the past hundred years have established America as a world leader economically, militarily and technologically. America has the largest coal reserves in the world. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4
History For centuries native peoples lived across the vast expanse that would become the United States. In the early 17th century, settlers moved from Europe to the New World. They established colonies and displaced the native peoples. The settlers brought people from Africa to the New World and forced them to work as slaves on farms and plantations. The settlers fought for their independence from Britain in the late 18th century. They formed a union of states based on a new constitution. The nation continued to expand westward. Slavery was abolished following a civil war that lasted from 1861 to 1865. Although the United States is a relatively young nation, it has become a global power since declaring independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5
Quiz 1 Read the selection from the section "Nature." The landscape varies across the large country from tropical beaches in Florida to peaks in the Rocky Mountains, from rolling prairie lands and barren deserts in the West to dense wilderness areas in the Northeast and Northwest. Interspersed throughout are the Great Lakes, the Grand Canyon, the majestic Yosemite Valley and the mighty Mississippi River. What conclusion is BEST supported by the paragraph above? The United States is committed to protecting the landscapes of its national parks. The United States has very little diversity in plant life and wildlife, since much of it is desert. The United States is a large country that has mostly flat geographical features. The United States has a wide range of landscapes spanning the country. 2 Which sentence from the article BEST supports the idea that the United States is a powerful country? The United States of America is the world's third largest country in size and the third largest in terms of population. Citizens over the age of 18 years old vote to elect the President and Vice President of the United States every four years. The Midwest is home to the country's agricultural base and is called the "nation's breadbasket." Advances in the past hundred years have established America as a world leader economically, militarily and technologically. 3 Which sentence from the article is BEST illustrated by Map 2? Along the northern border is Canada and the southern border is Mexico. There are 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as several island territories in the Caribbean and the South Pacific. The country is commonly divided into six regions: New England, the mid-atlantic, the South, the Midwest, the Southwest and the West. Although the United States is a relatively young nation, it has become a global power since declaring independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 6
4 How does Image 1 contribute to the reader's understanding of the United States? It shows what part of the mid-atlantic region looks like. It shows what part of the Southwest looks like. It shows what part of the American West region looks like. It shows what part of the Midwest region looks like. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 7