Geography 1869?

Imagine a time when your teacher would have you open your Geography book and begin to learn about the 36 states and 10 territories. But wait, there are four missing! Alaska and Hawaii are two obvious ones, but can you name the other two?  How about we study the barren wasteland of Patagonia.  Do you know were Patagonia is located?  Ah! Let's not forget Prussia-what modern day countries were a part of Prussia?  What if the teacher asked you to speculate on the Unknown Region of Africa?  Could you even ponder such a question?  These are just a few of the things on political maps students would  have been learning in 1869. 

Of course, if you do just a bit of research you can learn that the missing states can be accounted for by the creation of Oklahoma and by the split of "Dakota" into North and South states; Patagonia could have been found in the modern day southern parts of Argentina; Prussia was made up of Germany, Poland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and parts of Russia; and Africa's so-called Unknown Region has mostly been transformed into what we now know as the Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another point of interest is the Angelo American's perception of the world around them. There is a short lesson on man where you can read statements like these: "The earth was made for Man; hence he is found in every country and in every climate" and, referring to the Caucasian, or White race, "Most of the nations of Europe and America belong to this race.  The Caucasian race is superior to all others in intelligence, energy, and courage."

In modern times, however, we know that man is not found in every part of the world, though he has explored nearly every part of it. And although many European nations, Canada and the United States still have a majority of Caucasian people, most people have begun to accept racial equality.

Now you see how taking a glimpse into the past can show you just how far we have progressed through time.