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Atlantic: North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia

Geography North Carolina is a southeastern state located in the middle of the Atlantic coast. It covers 53,819 square miles (139,391 sq km) and is the twenty- eighth largest state by land area. To the north, North Carolina shares a border with Virginia. Tennessee bor-

ders the state on the west, Georgia on the southwest, and South Carolina on the south. The Atlantic Ocean is on the east. North Carolina can be divid- ed into three distinct geographic sec- tions: the Coastal Plain, the Piedmont, and the Mountains. The Coastal Plain covers about 45 percent of North Carolina. The Outer

Words to Understand in This Chapter

biotechnology— the use of living organisms such as bacteria to produce useful products. blockade— to block a port or other transportation route so that goods and people cannot pass through. cape— a large piece of land extending into the ocean. carpetbagger— a northerner who moved to the South after the Civil War to exploit the South’s weaknesses and make money. electoral votes— although the people vote in a popular election for the president, the president is officially elected by electoral votes. The number of electoral votes for each state is equal to the total of its U.S. senators and representatives. literacy test— a test that proves a person knows how to read and write. In the United States, it is now illegal to require a citizen to pass a literacy test to be able to vote. pharmaceuticals— legal prescription and nonprescription drugs. segregation— separation of a group of people based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

sound— a large body of water that separates two land masses. textile— cloth or other products produced by knitting or weaving.