How the States Got Their Shapes
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How the States Got Their Shapes

2010, History  -   25 Comments
6.92
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Ratings: 6.92/10 from 24 users.

How the States Got Their ShapesEvery line on the U.S. map tells a story. Every border reflects their history - their struggles for independence, their internal conflicts over states rights and slavery, their westward expansion, and the mastery of their natural resources.

They are so familiar with the map of United States, but do they know why their states look the way they do? Every shape on the map tells a great story about their past.

Why is California bent? To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of shifting borders for slavery.

Why does Missouri have a boot? Because of a massive earthquake. Examines how every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political and social history of America.

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OKSC
OKSC
12 years ago

Probably the best viewing on TV.

robertallen1
robertallen1
12 years ago

@who_me_yeah_you

I am not responsible for the irresponsible of actions of the incompetent government of this country. I have no social obligations except for personal ones.

robertallen1
robertallen1
12 years ago

The documentary would have been much better without the garbage in the background.

Vandermoore
Vandermoore
12 years ago

Enjoyable, though at points slightly annoyingly presented. I particularly like that it shows how Americans enjoy their history, for though they have so little of it compared to us in the Old World, they seem to have way more of it as they value every tiny bit of it, which is admirable at least. A scientific approach to it seems sadly lacking, but perhaps that's what keeps it alive in the general populace and imagination.
Still, this documentary is entertaining for the few fun facts it presents as well as the insight into the American attitude towards history.

adilrye
adilrye
12 years ago

Very interesting and entertaining documentary. I find American history (all aspects of it) quite interesting.

Abjective
Abjective
12 years ago

A typical American documentary. They forget to explain one major factor the expulsion and genocide of the natives of every part of their lands to create this great America.

Keri-Anne Nichols
Keri-Anne Nichols
12 years ago

Very interesting! I really enjoyed it. I am from America but live in another country. I often forget how Amercia is so rich in history and how the states were shaped is so facinating because there reasons are all so diverse like - water, gold, slavery ect. extremely historical stuff and always interesting on the amazing power of greed.....it's true they did not touch upon many states but I think it was because they chose the sates that had the most significance in such a claim to it's land or maybe that's all they could fit in an hour twenty.....It would be nice to have a part 2!

Tony
Tony
12 years ago

Great Doc!

charlie
charlie
12 years ago

i wish he explained more about that little piece of land in north MN

Plilip
Plilip
12 years ago

This Documentary should be renamed to, "How some of the states got their shapes". They didn't mention Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi.

TheBalkan
TheBalkan
12 years ago

He forgot Maine!

Jorge Nunes
Jorge Nunes
12 years ago

Even though I'm not an american, i really liked this documentary. I always find fascinating to know how a state or country came to existence and i'ts borders become about.

raul123
raul123
12 years ago

Wow !!! a really Wonderful Documentary...

Loved it

DomCar
DomCar
12 years ago

I like the intro, they give a brief overview of what to expect from the documentary and it makes it really exciting. I couldn't wait for the doc to start. Awesome stuff

bornin62honest
bornin62honest
12 years ago

wow! I didn't know most of that. How cool!

thanks v.