The BEST episodes of How the States Got Their Shapes season 1
Every episode of How the States Got Their Shapes season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of How the States Got Their Shapes season 1!
We are so familiar with the map of United States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? Every shape on the map tells a great story about our past. This special examines how every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique... geography, political and social history of America.
#1 - A River Runs Through It
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/3/2011
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.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#2 - State of Rebellion
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/24/2011
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?
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#4 - Mouthing Off
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/12/2011
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?
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#5 - The Great Plains, Trains and Automobiles
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/10/2011
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?
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#6 - Church and States
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/21/2011
The influence of religion is considered. States include Utah; and Kansas; and New England states.
Watch Now:Amazon
#9 - Force of Nature
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/17/2011
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?
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV