The 50 States: Midwest and Southwest¶

Summary¶

This chapter covers the states in America's heartland and desert Southwest. Students will learn about the Midwest region with its agricultural importance and Great Lakes connections, as well as the Southwest region known for its distinctive desert landscapes and Hispanic cultural influences. Understanding these states is essential for later chapters on farming regions and natural resources.

Concepts Covered¶

This chapter covers the following 17 concepts from the learning graph:

Midwest Region
Southwest Region
Great Lakes States
Alabama
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri

Prerequisites¶

This chapter builds on concepts from:

Introduction to the Heartland¶

When people talk about the "heartland" of America, they mean the Midwest. This region is in the middle of the country, far from either coast. It's known for farms, friendly people, and flat plains that stretch for miles.

In this chapter, we'll also explore some Southern states and begin our journey to the Southwest—regions with very different landscapes and cultures from the Midwest.

The Midwest Region¶

The Midwest Region is located in the north-central part of the United States. It's sometimes called "America's Breadbasket" because so much of the nation's food is grown here.

What Makes the Midwest Special?¶

Agriculture: Corn, wheat, and soybeans grow in huge quantities
Flat land: The Great Plains are perfect for farming
Great Lakes: Four of the five Great Lakes border Midwest states
Rivers: The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers flow through the region
Industry: Manufacturing and food processing are important

Great Lakes States¶

The Great Lakes States are Midwest states that border the Great Lakes:

Michigan
Illinois (borders Lake Michigan)
Indiana (borders Lake Michigan)
Minnesota (borders Lake Superior)

Let's explore some important Midwest states!

Illinois¶

Illinois is home to Chicago, the third-largest city in America. Chicago is on Lake Michigan and is:

A major transportation hub (railroads, airports, highways)
Famous for deep-dish pizza and hot dogs
Home to tall skyscrapers and beautiful architecture
An important center for business and culture

But Illinois isn't just Chicago! Central and southern Illinois have rich farmland that produces corn and soybeans.

The Windy City

Chicago is called "The Windy City." Some say it's because of the wind from Lake Michigan. Others say it's because politicians there talked a lot!

Indiana¶

Indiana is known as the "Hoosier State" (though nobody is sure where that nickname came from!). Indiana is famous for:

The Indianapolis 500 car race
Basketball (it's very popular here!)
Manufacturing, especially car parts
Corn and soybean farming

Michigan¶

Michigan is unique because it's split into two parts! The Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula are separated by the Straits of Mackinac but connected by a famous bridge.

Michigan is surrounded by Great Lakes water:

Lake Superior (north)
Lake Michigan (west)
Lake Huron (east)
Lake Erie (southeast)

The state is famous for:

Detroit, the center of American car manufacturing
Cherry orchards
Forests and outdoor recreation

Minnesota¶

Minnesota is called the "Land of 10,000 Lakes"—but it actually has over 11,000 lakes! The state is known for:

The headwaters of the Mississippi River (Lake Itasca)
Iron mining in the north
Dairy farming
Very cold winters!

Minneapolis and St. Paul are "twin cities" that together form Minnesota's largest metropolitan area.

Iowa¶

Iowa is right in the middle of America's farmland. The state grows:

More corn than any other state
Huge amounts of soybeans
Raises more hogs than any other state

Fun Fact

Iowa produces enough corn each year to fill about 600 million bathtubs!

Kansas¶

Kansas is known for wheat—miles and miles of golden wheat fields! The state is:

One of the flattest states in America
Part of "Tornado Alley"
Famous from the book and movie "The Wizard of Oz"

State	Capital	Famous For
Illinois	Springfield	Chicago, Abraham Lincoln
Indiana	Indianapolis	Indianapolis 500 race
Michigan	Lansing	Cars, Great Lakes
Minnesota	St. Paul	10,000+ Lakes
Iowa	Des Moines	Corn and hog farming
Kansas	Topeka	Wheat, flat plains

Diagram: Midwest States¶

Midwest States Interactive Map **Type**: microsim **Learning Objective**: Students will identify (L1) Midwest states and describe (L2) what makes each state unique. **Bloom Level**: Understand **Bloom Verbs**: identify, describe, locate

MicroSim Description: An interactive map of the Midwest region. Students click on each state to learn about its capital, major cities, and what the state is known for. The map highlights agricultural regions, shows the Great Lakes, and displays major rivers. A quiz mode asks students to identify states by clicking on them.

UI Complexity: Medium - Clickable states with information panels and quiz mode

Instructional Rationale: Visualizing the Midwest as a connected agricultural region helps students understand why this area is called America's Breadbasket.

Missouri¶

Missouri is where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi River. The state has two major cities:

St. Louis on the Mississippi River, with the famous Gateway Arch
Kansas City on the western border, known for barbecue

Missouri is a "gateway" state—it was where many settlers gathered before heading west on the Oregon Trail.

Kentucky¶

Kentucky is known for:

Horse racing (the Kentucky Derby is the most famous race)
Bluegrass music
Coal mining in the eastern mountains
Mammoth Cave, the world's longest cave system

Southern States in This Chapter¶

Several southern states are covered in this chapter because of their connections to neighboring regions.

Alabama¶

Alabama is a Southern state with important civil rights history. The city of Montgomery was where Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat, sparking the Civil Rights Movement.

Alabama also has:

Steel manufacturing in Birmingham
The Port of Mobile on the Gulf of Mexico
NASA's space program at Huntsville

Georgia¶

Georgia is known as the "Peach State." Atlanta, the capital, is:

The busiest airport in the world
Home to major companies like Coca-Cola
A center for music and culture

Georgia also has:

Beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast
The Appalachian Mountains in the north
Peanut farming (Jimmy Carter was a Georgia peanut farmer!)

Florida¶

Florida is called the "Sunshine State" for good reason—it has warm, sunny weather most of the year! Florida is famous for:

Theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios
Beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
Oranges and citrus fruits
The Everglades, a unique wetland ecosystem
Miami, a major international city

Florida is a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides.

Hurricane Country

Florida is often hit by hurricanes. People who live there prepare carefully for hurricane season (June through November).

Louisiana¶

Louisiana is unlike any other state! French and Spanish influences created a unique culture, especially in New Orleans. The state is known for:

New Orleans and Mardi Gras celebrations
Cajun and Creole food (gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish)
Jazz music
Swamps and bayous
The Mississippi River delta

Mississippi¶

The Mississippi state shares its name with the great river. The state has:

Rich musical history (blues music started here)
Cotton farming
Important Civil Rights history sites
The Mississippi River's western border

Arkansas¶

Arkansas (pronounced "AR-kan-saw") is known for:

The Ozark Mountains
Hot Springs National Park
Rice farming
Walmart's headquarters (the world's largest company started here!)

State	Capital	Famous For
Alabama	Montgomery	Civil Rights history
Georgia	Atlanta	Peaches, busiest airport
Florida	Tallahassee	Theme parks, beaches
Louisiana	Baton Rouge	New Orleans, Cajun food
Mississippi	Jackson	Blues music
Arkansas	Little Rock	Ozark Mountains

The Southwest Region¶

The Southwest Region has a very different landscape from the Midwest and South. It's characterized by:

Deserts: Hot, dry land with cacti and mesas
Hispanic heritage: Spanish and Mexican influences
Native American cultures: Many tribes have lived here for thousands of years
Dramatic scenery: Canyons, rock formations, and painted deserts

We'll explore specific Southwest states in Chapter 8 and Chapter 9.

Diagram: Midwest and Southern States¶

Central US States Interactive Map **Type**: microsim **Learning Objective**: Students will locate (L1) Midwest and Southern states and compare (L4) their geographic features. **Bloom Level**: Analyze **Bloom Verbs**: locate, compare, distinguish

MicroSim Description: An interactive map showing states from the Midwest and South together. Students can toggle between viewing agricultural regions, major rivers, and state boundaries. The map shows how the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, and Gulf of Mexico connect these regions. Information panels describe each state's key features.

UI Complexity: Medium - Multi-layer toggle map with comparison features

Instructional Rationale: Seeing central US states together helps students understand geographic connections between the Midwest, South, and their shared waterways.

Connections Between Regions¶

The Mississippi River¶

The Mississippi River connects many of the states we learned about:

It starts in Minnesota
Flows past Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri
Continues past Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi
Passes through Louisiana on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

This mighty river has always been a highway for shipping goods between regions.

Agriculture¶

Farming connects the Midwest and South:

Midwest: Corn, wheat, soybeans
South: Cotton, peanuts, rice, citrus

Together, these regions feed America and much of the world!

Key Takeaways¶

What You Learned

The Midwest is called "America's Breadbasket" because of its farms
Great Lakes States include Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota
Chicago is the largest Midwest city and a major transportation hub
Southern states like Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana have unique cultures
The Mississippi River connects states from Minnesota to Louisiana

Review Questions¶

Why is the Midwest called 'America's Breadbasket'?

The Midwest is called "America's Breadbasket" because the region produces enormous amounts of food, especially:

Corn
Wheat
Soybeans

The flat land and rich soil of the Great Plains are perfect for farming. Iowa alone produces enough corn to fill 600 million bathtubs each year!

Which Great Lakes border Michigan?

Michigan is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes:

Lake Superior (north)
Lake Michigan (west)
Lake Huron (east)
Lake Erie (southeast)

Only Lake Ontario doesn't touch Michigan.

What makes Louisiana's culture unique compared to other states?

Louisiana has a unique culture because of its French and Spanish heritage. This shows in:

Food: Cajun and Creole cooking (gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish)
Music: Jazz was born in New Orleans
Celebrations: Mardi Gras is a famous festival
Language: Some people still speak Cajun French
Landscape: Bayous and swamps are unique to the region

What is the Gateway Arch, and where is it located?

The Gateway Arch is a famous monument located in St. Louis, Missouri. It's the tallest man-made monument in the United States at 630 feet tall. The arch symbolizes St. Louis's role as the "Gateway to the West"—the place where settlers gathered before traveling west on the Oregon Trail.

Name three things Florida is famous for.

Florida is famous for many things, including:

Theme parks: Disney World and Universal Studios
Beaches: On both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
Oranges: Florida produces most of America's citrus fruit
Warm weather: It's called the Sunshine State
The Everglades: A unique wetland ecosystem

How does the Mississippi River connect the Midwest and South regions?

The Mississippi River flows from the Midwest all the way to the South, connecting many states along the way:

Starts in Minnesota (Midwest)
Flows past Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri (Midwest)
Continues past Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi (South)
Ends in Louisiana (South) at the Gulf of Mexico

For hundreds of years, the river has been used to ship goods between regions, making it a vital connection between the heartland and the Gulf Coast.