Question

Use a map of your state to answer this question: what factors did the founders of your state use to determine the states boundaries? Did your states founders choose boundaries based on physical features or lines of longitude and latitude? (My state is Tennessee)

Answer 1

Tennessee's boundaries were determined using a combination of natural features, like the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River, and surveyed lines such as lines of latitude and longitude.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the founders of Tennessee determined the state's boundaries, they considered a mix of natural features and surveyed lines. The state's eastern boundary largely follows natural features such as the Appalachian Mountains, which serve as a physical barrier and natural border with North Carolina. To the north, the boundary with Kentucky and Virginia is more aligned with lines of latitude.

Tennessee's western border with Arkansas and Missouri is defined by the Mississippi River, another significant natural feature. The use of both surveyed lines and physical features for defining boundaries reflects a common practice during the period of westward expansion and state creation in the United States.