How the States Got Their Shapes

Season 1

10 episodes · May 3, 2011

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  • S1E1

    A River Runs Through It

    May 3, 2011

    How has water has literally shaped the States? There's surprising history hidden in the blue, squiggly lines on the map. Did the founding fathers make a mistake along the Georgia Tennessee border? Can that boundary actually change because of water? Why does Maine have so much water? Why was Nevada was left high and dry? -- All these answers can be found in the unique shapes of these states.

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  • S1E2

    The Great Plains, Trains, and Automobiles

    May 10, 2011

    The history of transportation is hidden in the lines of the map. From canals to trains and cars, how did getting around help draw the American map? Could Chicago have been in Wisconsin? Why are states out West or so big and boxy? And why did we almost had a state called Forgottonia?

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  • S1E3

    Force of Nature

    May 17, 2011

    How have massive geological events helped create the American map? Long before the Founding Fathers drew the map, mother nature shaped some states. How did an asteroid create the border for three states and change history? How did glaciers plow the great plains and how did natural disasters continue to alter the map?

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  • S1E4

    State of Rebellion

    May 24, 2011

    How did the most rebellious states took shape? How did they earn their outsized features and outspoken reputations. For instance, why does Montana looks like it took a bite out of Idaho? Why wasn't Texas broken up into five states? And why exactly do we have not one but two Carolinas?

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  • S1E5

    Living on the Edge

    Jun 7, 2011

    Mysterious or fringe areas and how they shaped the states are examined. States include Nevada; Florida; Missouri; and Georgia.

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  • S1E6

    Use it or Lose it

    Jun 14, 2011

    The role of politics is examined. States include Ohio; and Missouri. Also: Washington, D.C.

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  • S1E7

    Church and States

    Jun 21, 2011

    The influence of religion is considered. States include Utah; and Kansas; and New England states.

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  • S1E8

    A Boom with a View

    Jun 28, 2011

    The influences of money and prosperity are examined. States include Wisconsin; North Carolina; and North Dakota.

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  • S1E9

    Culture Clash

    Jul 5, 2011

    Conflict can sometimes arise between different cultures that share the same state. Find out how culture clashes all over the country have shaped our map.

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  • S1E10

    Mouthing Off

    Jul 12, 2011

    We all live in the same country, so why do we sound do different? It's a matter of where you are on the map. Why didn't the southern accent exist until after the Civil War? How did California athletes end up coining so many new words? Why do we have so many different words for the same things -- like pop versus soda? Will one particularly strong accent cause New York to break up and create a 51st state?

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