US History to 1877: Geographic Foundation Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key geographical, geological, and climatic terms introduced in History 1301.

History 1301

A course taught by Dr. Byerly entitled United States History to 1877.

1877

The year that marks the end of Civil War reconstruction and serves as the starting point for History 1302.

Pan Gaia

A supercontinent formed about $350\,\text{million}$ years ago by plate tectonics when Earth's continental landmasses crashed together; its name comes from Gaia (the Greek god of the Earth) and means "all Earth."

Appalachian Mountains

A mountain range formed by the collision of the North American Plate and Africa about $350\,\text{million}$ years ago, originally reaching estimated elevations up to $25{,}000\,\text{ft}$ before eroding over time to an average of $3{,}000$ to $4{,}000\,\text{ft}$ above sea level.

Mount Mitchell

A peak located in North Carolina within the Appalachian Mountains that reaches an elevation of over $6{,}600\,\text{ft}$.

Mount Washington

A peak located in New Hampshire within the Appalachian Mountains that reaches an elevation of over $6{,}200\,\text{ft}$.

Rocky Mountains

A mountain range in Colorado containing over $30$ peaks that exceed $14{,}000\,\text{ft}$ in elevation.

Piedmont

A broad, relatively flat plateau region sitting at the base of the Appalachian Mountains where the mountains used to be; the name literally translates to "foot of the mountain."

Coastal Plain

The region located beyond the Piedmont where running water from rivers flowing down the Appalachians deposited eroded debris and sediment.

Tidewater Region

An area largely associated with the coastal plain, especially around Chesapeake Bay, that became the site of early plantation agriculture such as tobacco plantations.

Fall Line

The line of contact where the Piedmont gives way to the coastal plain, marked by waterfalls, cascades, and rapids as rivers drop off the Piedmont.

Grist Mill

A mill powered by a water wheel using falling water along the Fall Line to grind corn and wheat into cornmeal and flour.

Pleistocene

A geologic period commonly known as the Ice Age, occurring between $20{,}000$ and $10{,}000\,\text{years}$ ago, during which expanding polar ice caps caused sea levels to drop by as much as $200\,\text{ft}$.

Glacial Scour

The process by which Pleistocene glaciers scoured and scraped away fertile coastal plain soils in the northern United States, leaving behind thin, rocky soil that made large-scale farming difficult.

Estuaries

Drowned-out river mouths (such as those of the Hudson, Delaware, and Charles Rivers) formed post-Pleistocene when rising sea levels flooded river valleys, creating natural harbors that fostered commerce and trade.

C Climates

Humid, warm climate zones characteristic of the southeastern United States, featuring mild winters, hot summers, long growing seasons, and $40$ to $80\,\text{in}$ of annual precipitation.

D Climates

Humid, cold climate zones characteristic of the northern United States and upper Midwest, featuring freezing winters, shorter growing seasons, and $30$ to $50\,\text{in}$ of annual precipitation (much of it occurring as winter snow).

B Climates

Dry or arid climate zones, such as those in West Texas, characterized by low annual precipitation ($10$ to $14\,\text{in}$ per year) that severely limits agriculture.

Super Bison

Prehistoric bison roaming North America during the Pleistocene that were approximately three times larger than modern bison.

Mammoths and Mastodons

Large prehistoric elephant-like animals that roamed North America during the Pleistocene epoch.