geography final semester 2

Germany's Military Build-Up

• Germany expanded its army and navy, notably through the Schlieffen Plan, aiming to avoid a two-front war.

Role of Alliances in WWI

European alliances created a balance of power but also meant that conflicts between two countries could escalate into a larger war.

Britain's Entry into WWI

Britain declared war on Germany after Germany invaded Belgium, violating its neutrality.

Stalemate in World War I

Trench warfare led to a deadlock on the Western Front, with neither side gaining significant ground

Technological Advancements in WWI

Innovations included machine guns, tanks, airplanes, and chemical weapons, changing the nature of warfare.

Life in the Trenches

Soldiers faced harsh conditions: mud, disease, and the constant threat of attack.

Zimmerman Note

A secret German proposal to Mexico to join the war against the U.S.; its interception helped bring the U.S. into WWI.

Purpose of the Treaty of Versailles

To formally end WWI and impose penalties on Germany.

Reparations Required of Germany

Germany was required to pay significant reparations to the Allied powers.

BRAT Acronym

B: Blame (Germany accepted responsibility), R: Reparations (payments to Allies), A: Army (limited to 100,000 troops), T: Territory (lost land).

Consequences of the Treaty of Versailles

Economic hardship and national resentment in Germany, contributing to the rise of extremism. (started wwii)

U.S. Congress Rejection of the League of Nations

The U.S. Senate refused to join, fearing entanglement in future conflicts.

Overpopulation Definition

When a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment.

Causes of Overpopulation

• High birth rates, lack of family planning, and decreased mortality rates, immigration

Physiological Density

Number of people per unit area of arable land

Agricultural Density

Number of farmers per unit area of arable land

How Agricultural Density Decreases

Through mechanization and improved farming techniques.

Total Fertility Rate

Average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.

Doubling Time

The time it takes for a population to double in size.

Lowest Life Expectancy

• Typically found in developing countries due to limited healthcare and resources.

Infant Mortality Rate

Number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births

Ecumene Definition

Inhabited land where people have made their permanent home.

• Natural Increase Rate (NIR)

The percentage by which a population grows in a year.

Highest NIR Stage

Stage 2 of the Demographic Transition Model

• Lowest Crude Birth Rate Stage

Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.

Crude Birth Rate Definition

Number of live births per 1,000 people per year

Crude Death Rate Definition

Number of deaths per 1,000 people per year.

Demographic Transition Model Stages

• Stage 1: High birth and death rates; Stage 2: High birth rates, declining death rates; Stage 3: Declining birth and death rates; Stage 4: Low birth and death rates.

Stages 1 and 4 Similarity

Both have low natural increase rates.

Population Pyramid Definition

A graphical illustration showing the distribution of various age groups in a population.

Developing Countries Preventing Overpopulation

Implementing family planning and education programs.

Thomas Malthus' Conclusion

Population growth would outpace food supply, leading to famine and conflict

Sex Ratio Definition

The ratio of males to females in a population.

Two Most Populated Countries

China and India

Epidemiology Definition

The study of how diseases spread and can be controlled

Most Lethal Recent Epidemic

COVID-19 pandemic

International Migration

Movement across country borders

Internal Migration

Movement within a country

Push and Pull Factors (with examples)

Cultural: Religious persecution (push), freedom (pull); Economic: Lack of jobs (push), employment opportunities (pull); Environmental: Natural disasters (push), favorable climate (pull).

Voluntary Migration

Movement by choice.

Forced Migration

Movement due to external pressures (e.g., war)

Interregional Migration

Movement from one region to another within a country

Intraregional Migration

Movement within the same region

Three Main Waves of U.S. Immigrants

First Wave: Northern and Western Europeans; Second Wave: Southern and Eastern Europeans; Third Wave: Latin American and Asian immigrants.

Zelinsky Migration Transition Model

Links migration patterns to stages of demographic transition

Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration

Most migrants move short distances; long-distance migrants head to economic centers.

Intervening Obstacles Examples

Physical barriers, political restrictions.

• Trail of Tears

Forced relocation of Native Americans in the 1830s

Refugee

Flees country due to persecution

Asylum Seeker

Seeks protection in another country

Internally Displaced Person (IDP)

Displaced within their own country.

Remittance

Money sent by migrants to their home country.

Chain Migration

Migration of people to a location because relatives or members of the same nationality previously migrated there.

Brain Drain

Emigration of skilled professionals

Unauthorized Immigrant

Enters or stays in a country without legal permission.

Quota Act of 1924

Limited immigration based on national origins.

Urbanization

The increase in the number of people living in cities.

Suburbanization: U.S. vs. World

In the U.S., people move from cities to suburbs. Globally, urban growth often happens due to people moving into cities for the first time.

Central Business District (CBD)

The commercial and business center of a city, usually downtown.

Suburb

A residential area outside the main city.

Hinterland

• The area surrounding a city that provides it with goods and resources.

Borchert’s Epochs

Sail/Wagon (1790–1830s): Cities grew near ports and waterways; Iron Horse (1830–1870): Railroads helped cities expand inland; Steel Rail (1870–1920): Long-distance rail linked major cities; Auto/Air/Amenity (1920–1970): Cars and planes shaped suburban growth; Information Tech (1970–Now): Digital technology influences city development.

Organic City

A city that developed naturally over time without a planned layout.

Planned City

A city designed with a set layout before construction (e.g., grid system).

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of cities into rural areas.

Three Reasons for Urban Sprawl

• Population growth, cheaper land outside cities, dependence on cars.

New Urbanism

A movement promoting walkable, mixed-use communities to reduce sprawl.

Megalopolis

A chain of connected cities (e.g., Boston to Washington, D.C. – the "BosWash" corridor).

Manufacturing Core (Rust Belt)

Located in the Northeast and Midwest U.S.; known for old factories and industrial cities. Challenges: Job loss, population decline, economic shifts.

Human Impact on the Environment

Building, pollution, resource use, and deforestation.

Current World Population

About 8 billion.

Conserving Resources (sustainability)

Using natural resources wisely to avoid waste and ensure availability for the future.

• Major Issues Humans Cause

Deforestation: Cutting forests → loss of biodiversity, climate change; Air Pollution: Factories, cars → health issues, smog; Global Climate Change: Emissions → rising temps, sea level rise; Clean Water Access: Pollution and overuse → water scarcity; Oil/Nuclear Accidents: Spills or meltdowns → long-term damage (e.g., Deepwater Horizon, Chernobyl).

Sustainable Development

Growth that meets present needs without harming future generations.

Outbreak

A sudden rise in disease in a specific area.

Endemic

A disease that is constantly present in a region

Epidemic

A rapid spread of disease across a large area.

Dr. John Snow (1854)

• Traced a cholera outbreak in London to a contaminated water pump, founding modern epidemiology.

Bubonic Plague

Originated in Asia; spread to Europe via trade routes; killed millions in the 1300s.