"The evolution of the South differed markedly from that of the North. Prior to the Civil War, the self-sufficient plantation economy truncated urban development. After the war, the southern economy slowly evolved from rural to urban, and in the process began mirroring the North." The cultural and geographic elements of the South Atlantic, have shaped its history, and causing lasting effects on the populace. San Francisco's history took extremely different turns than that of the South Atlantic, but Europeans exploited and utilized both lands for their advantage. European colonists settled the South Atlantic and profited on the labor of slaves, while Spanish conquerors sought a similar effect in practically eroding the existence of Native Americans. Today, the South Atlantic is resembling an urban environment such as San Francisco more than ever before however.
South Carolina plantation, representing the "Old South" (www.destination360.com)
Atlanta, Georgia, representing the "New South" (www.foreclosurelistings.com)
History's Effects on Demography & Settlement
The population of the South Atlantic, with the presence of whites being the largest percentage in all states, followed by that of blacks, and then Hispanics, shows that the history of the land, molded by slave-holding and the plantation lifestyle, has affected its population. In Virginia, for example, the population of whites in 2010 was 68.6%, the population of blacks was 19.4%, and the population of Hispanics was 7.9%. The push factor for blacks that was prevalent in the Southern Atlantic until 1970, was cruel and disparaging Jim Crow laws. Though some racial discrimination occurred in San Francisco, during the moratorium on Chinese immigration due to the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), Chinese immigrants labored willingly in the city, and were not cruelly or physically punished, though they were detained against their will for questioning. Similarly, the large amount of Chinese laborers is reflected on the current population. Pull factors for African-Americans were the employment opportunities in Northern manufacturing industries.
Climate & Geography
The Southern Atlantic differs greatly in its climate in comparison with San Francisco. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy, while winters are mild with very little rain and rare snow. San Francisco's temperatures are much more moderate, due to its proximity to the cool ocean influence. The Southern Atantic's geography is more diverse than that of San Francisco, as it features the Barrier and Sea island coasts, the upland Southeastern plain, swamps, the Piedmont, which is the "foot of the mountains". Its watersheds are also different, featuring both redwater and blackwater rivers, not native to San Francisco.
Economy
Though it took a century for the South Atlantic to reach the development of the North, several important industries have created a relatively stable future for the region. The poor yeoman, a "Freeholder of lower status- conservative, family-oriented, and holding communal values- who owned and worked his own farm." (587, Mayda), was largely superseded by the competition from mechanized farming in the early twentieth century. Tobacco is still an important crop, with headquarters in the Southern Atlantic. Other important crops are rice, indigo, cotton, peanuts, and the classic "Georgia peach". The modernized hog industry is central to Southern Atlantic agribusiness, despite unintended consequences to the land caused by CAFOs, including animal cruelty, polluted groundwater and air, overfertilization and excess waste, and antibiotic resistance in humans caused by antibiotics used in pigs. The automobile industry remains present in the Southern Atlantic, which includes a newly opened Honda business-jet manufacturing facility. San Francisco, has not exerted nearly as much effort in agribusiness as the Southern Atlantic, instead focusing on the financial, technology, medical research, and trade sectors. In parts of the Carolina triad, biotechnology is being pursued however.
Sustainability
San Francisco has made a more consistent and effective effort towards sustainability than the Southern Atlantic. However, South Carolina has beginning the process to popularize renewable energy and green building. Georgia is seeking to become, "the 'Silicon Valley of ethanol,' converting tree waste to biomass." (229, Mayda) Despite these sparse efforts, a more unified approach must be sought out in order to reach the potential of San Francisco's green standards.
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