Final answer:
The Midwest and Great Plains region is a major agricultural area, with the Midwest being America's breadbasket due to its fertile land and adequate water supply. The area is also known for its distinct cultural features, such as the Midlands dialect and political open-mindedness. The geographic distinction and historical migration have shaped the region's agricultural practices and individualism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Midwest and Great Plains are pivotal regions in the United States characterized by their vast agricultural land, known as America's breadbasket. The climate in this region becomes more arid moving westward, which influences the type of agriculture practiced. In drier areas nearer to the Rocky Mountains, cattle ranching prevails, whereas grain farms dominate regions with sufficient water availability, often utilizing irrigation. The dominant city of Chicago developed as a market town for livestock and grain, with its growth intricately tied to a network of rail lines. While these areas remain vital food producers, technological advancements in agriculture have led to a decrease in the farming population and a long-term demographic shift.
Culturally, the Midwest is marked by a "neutral" Midlands dialect due to the area's central location and lack of geographic isolation. The population here has fostered a strong sense of individualism, influenced by the sparseness of the region and the isolation of ranchers and homesteaders. However, despite the individualistic attitudes, there is a history of political open-mindedness and compromise, shaped by varied domestic and international migration. Midwesterners tend to hold traditional values but with a more moderate political stance, exemplified by their openness to different political philosophies and reluctance to restrict political rights based on religious or historic grounds.
The geographic distinction between the Midwest's Corn Belt and the West's Wheat Belt is demarcated by the 100th meridian. The Corn Belt, centering around Iowa, was historically tallgrass prairie with rich soil, now largely converted to cropland for corn and soybeans. Regional identities such as the Midwest, Rust Belt, Sun Belt, or Bible Belt are often based on perception rather than formal boundaries. The history of the Great Plains also reflects the transformative impact of the horse on native societies, shifting from agriculture to nomadic hunting lifestyles with the bison herds.