Washington State History Geography and Government

Washington State History

• Geography and Government

Overview of Resources

• Textbook – Chapters 1, 2, and 13

• Teacher Resources

• Chapter 1, page 23
• Chapter 2, page 31
• Chapter 13, all activities

• Outline Maps

5 Regions of Washington State

• Coastal Range

• Puget Sound Lowlands

• Cascade Range

• Columbia Plateau

• Rocky Mountain

• Within which region is your most notable city located?

• (Page 11)

Coastal Range

• Varied elevation from sea level to 8000ft.

• Mild and moist climate that supports dense forests and lush vegetation

• Temperatures – Winter 35-55F, Summer 55-75F

• More than 40 inches of precipitation per year, western side of Olympics more than 200 inches a year.

• Sparsely populated

• Economic activities: fishing, forestry, farming, tourism

• (Page 12)

Puget Sound Lowlands

• Generally hilly, river valleys, flood plains, evergreen forests.

• Similar climate to Coastal Range, slightly warmer.

• 15-100 inches of rain, average 40 inches of rain.

• Temperatures: winter 35-55, summer 65-85.

• Most of Washington’s population lives here.

• Economic activities: forest products, transportation equipment, electronics, high tech, farming

• (Page 12)

Cascade Range

• Physical, climatic, and transportation barrier

• Elevation 4,000 to 14,000 ft. Mt. Rainier 14,411 ft.

• Active volcanoes

• West side moist and mile climate

• East side dry and extreme climate

• Precipitation: western side 100 inches, eastern side 20 inches

• Sparsely populated

• Mostly state and federal owned land – parks, forests and wilderness areas

• Economic activities: logging, mining, tourism

• (Page 14)

Columbia Plateau

• Constructed by 55 lava flows covering 193,000 square miles

• Hot, sunny summers with temperatures exceeding 100F, cold winters with temperatures below 0F

• Below 20 inches precipitation

• Grassland, pine trees

• Sparsely populated

• Economic activities: agriculture, manufactured products, hydroelectric power, aluminum, nuclear facilities, food processing, high tech, aerospace, transportation equipment, tourism, recreation, wood products, mining

• (Page 16)

Rocky Mountains

• Physically rugged and isolated

• Harsh climates – temperatures depend on elevation

• Grasses and forest

• Sparsely populated

• Economic activities: cattle and sheep ranching, hunting, tourism

• (Page 20)

East vs. West

• The Cascade Mountains act as a barrier between the two sides of Washington State.

• What words would you use to contrast Eastern Washington and Western Washington?

• Example: moist vs. dry

The Rainshadow Effect

• Read page 9

• Create a visual image that that describes the Rainshadow Effect.

• Focus on what happens with air and moisture.
• 3-5 steps in process

Rainshadow Effect Example

• How is your most notable place impacted by the Rainshadow Effect?

Geography Resources

• Websites

• Outline Maps and Geographic Information about Washington State http://www.netstate.com/states/maps/wa_maps.htm
• Infoplease Atlas http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/state/washington.html
• USGS Cascades Volcano Observatoryhttp://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/

• United Streaming

• www.unitedstreaming.com

Washington State Government

• Similarities to Federal Government:

• Constitution
• 3 Branches
• Legislative (Bicameral) – writes laws
• Executive – carries out laws
• Judicial – interprets laws
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
• Civil Rights
• Bill Process

Washington State Government

• Differences with Federal Government

• Representation
• 49 Legislative Districts by population
• 1 Senator, 2 Representatives from each district
• State Senator – 4 year term
• State Representative – 2 year term
• Executive Branch elections (List on p. 219)
• Tax structure (p. 220)
• Initiatives (p. 220) – Voters write and approve legislation.
• Referendums (p. 220) – Legislature writes and refers legislation to voters.

• Levels of Government – page 220

Tribal Governments

• Reservations established by treaty

• Tulalip – Point Elliot Treaty 1855

• Often several different tribes are represented on one reservation

• Tulalip - Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Skykomish

• Governments established by Constitution

• Tulalip - 1936

• Governed by Council or Committee

• Tulalip – Board of Directors, Committees

• Provide Government Service

• Social Services
• Resource Regulation
• Law Enforcement
• Economic Development
• Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs http://www.goia.wa.gov/default.htm

Additional Government Resources

• Websites

• Washington State http://access.wa.gov/
• Washington State Legislature Student Page http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature/StudentsPage/
• Snohomish County Government http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/
• City of Everett http://www.ci.everett.wa.us/
• Washington State Constitution http://www.courts.wa.gov/education/constitution/index.cfm