@tomaspueyo.bsky.social
14. Global Buffers
The US has contained all alternative superpowers:
• Monroe Doctrine➡️No enemies in America
• Co-opted Europe in WW2
• Buffer vs Russia: Europe + Alaska
• Buffer against China: 🇯🇵🇰🇷🇵🇭🇦🇺🇳🇿🇹🇼
The US has contained all alternative superpowers:
• Monroe Doctrine➡️No enemies in America
• Co-opted Europe in WW2
• Buffer vs Russia: Europe + Alaska
• Buffer against China: 🇯🇵🇰🇷🇵🇭🇦🇺🇳🇿🇹🇼
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
14. Global Buffers
The US has contained all alternative superpowers:
• Monroe Doctrine➡️No enemies in America
• Co-opted Europe in WW2
• Buffer vs Russia: Europe + Alaska
• Buffer against China: 🇯🇵🇰🇷🇵🇭🇦🇺🇳🇿🇹🇼
The US has contained all alternative superpowers:
• Monroe Doctrine➡️No enemies in America
• Co-opted Europe in WW2
• Buffer vs Russia: Europe + Alaska
• Buffer against China: 🇯🇵🇰🇷🇵🇭🇦🇺🇳🇿🇹🇼
13. Desert Mountain Barrier
Mexico is more threatening: Bigger population, close to the Mississippi Basin
But the border is much narrower than with Canada, it's desertic, mountainous, and Mexico is much more exposed to the US than vice-versa
The US co-opted Texas for that reason
Mexico is more threatening: Bigger population, close to the Mississippi Basin
But the border is much narrower than with Canada, it's desertic, mountainous, and Mexico is much more exposed to the US than vice-versa
The US co-opted Texas for that reason
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
13. Desert Mountain Barrier
Mexico is more threatening: Bigger population, close to the Mississippi Basin
But the border is much narrower than with Canada, it's desertic, mountainous, and Mexico is much more exposed to the US than vice-versa
The US co-opted Texas for that reason
Mexico is more threatening: Bigger population, close to the Mississippi Basin
But the border is much narrower than with Canada, it's desertic, mountainous, and Mexico is much more exposed to the US than vice-versa
The US co-opted Texas for that reason
12. Ice Barrier
Canada is too cold to host a big population. This pushes its population south, which connects all of Canada's population centers to the US more than each other, making it impossible for Canada to be a US enemy
Canada is too cold to host a big population. This pushes its population south, which connects all of Canada's population centers to the US more than each other, making it impossible for Canada to be a US enemy
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
12. Ice Barrier
Canada is too cold to host a big population. This pushes its population south, which connects all of Canada's population centers to the US more than each other, making it impossible for Canada to be a US enemy
Canada is too cold to host a big population. This pushes its population south, which connects all of Canada's population centers to the US more than each other, making it impossible for Canada to be a US enemy
11. If that were not enough, mountain ranges add further defense. It's impossible to invade the US, but even if an invasion was possible, it would be stopped at the mountains
This would have been impossible:
This would have been impossible:
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
11. If that were not enough, mountain ranges add further defense. It's impossible to invade the US, but even if an invasion was possible, it would be stopped at the mountains
This would have been impossible:
This would have been impossible:
All of this is extremely well defended by:
10. Ocean Barriers
The two largest oceans in the world are on each of the US's coasts, protecting it from hostile neighbors
10. Ocean Barriers
The two largest oceans in the world are on each of the US's coasts, protecting it from hostile neighbors
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
All of this is extremely well defended by:
10. Ocean Barriers
The two largest oceans in the world are on each of the US's coasts, protecting it from hostile neighbors
10. Ocean Barriers
The two largest oceans in the world are on each of the US's coasts, protecting it from hostile neighbors
9. Energy
The US is the 1st producer of both oil & gas!
This is thanks to its amazing reserves, product of an inland sea in the Mississippi Region millions of years ago!
The US is the 1st producer of both oil & gas!
This is thanks to its amazing reserves, product of an inland sea in the Mississippi Region millions of years ago!
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
9. Energy
The US is the 1st producer of both oil & gas!
This is thanks to its amazing reserves, product of an inland sea in the Mississippi Region millions of years ago!
The US is the 1st producer of both oil & gas!
This is thanks to its amazing reserves, product of an inland sea in the Mississippi Region millions of years ago!
8. Natural Coastal Ports
Rivers + rugged coast+ big tides➡️Some of the best natural ports in the world, protected from sea storms in their estuaries
Rivers + rugged coast+ big tides➡️Some of the best natural ports in the world, protected from sea storms in their estuaries
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
8. Natural Coastal Ports
Rivers + rugged coast+ big tides➡️Some of the best natural ports in the world, protected from sea storms in their estuaries
Rivers + rugged coast+ big tides➡️Some of the best natural ports in the world, protected from sea storms in their estuaries
7. Intracoastal Highways
Ships can travel Boston➡️Mexico barely touching open seas, instead protected by chains of islands that cover nearly all of the US’ Atlantic coast.
Mississippi+intracoastal waterways➡️more internal navigable waterways than the rest of the world combined!
Ships can travel Boston➡️Mexico barely touching open seas, instead protected by chains of islands that cover nearly all of the US’ Atlantic coast.
Mississippi+intracoastal waterways➡️more internal navigable waterways than the rest of the world combined!
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
7. Intracoastal Highways
Ships can travel Boston➡️Mexico barely touching open seas, instead protected by chains of islands that cover nearly all of the US’ Atlantic coast.
Mississippi+intracoastal waterways➡️more internal navigable waterways than the rest of the world combined!
Ships can travel Boston➡️Mexico barely touching open seas, instead protected by chains of islands that cover nearly all of the US’ Atlantic coast.
Mississippi+intracoastal waterways➡️more internal navigable waterways than the rest of the world combined!
6. Great Lakes
The US has another amazing, navigable system, the Great Lakes
They reach the ocean through the amazing St Lawrence River, all infrastructure financed by Canada!
Luckily, Great Lakes & Mississippi Basin are connected via Chicago!
The US has another amazing, navigable system, the Great Lakes
They reach the ocean through the amazing St Lawrence River, all infrastructure financed by Canada!
Luckily, Great Lakes & Mississippi Basin are connected via Chicago!
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
6. Great Lakes
The US has another amazing, navigable system, the Great Lakes
They reach the ocean through the amazing St Lawrence River, all infrastructure financed by Canada!
Luckily, Great Lakes & Mississippi Basin are connected via Chicago!
The US has another amazing, navigable system, the Great Lakes
They reach the ocean through the amazing St Lawrence River, all infrastructure financed by Canada!
Luckily, Great Lakes & Mississippi Basin are connected via Chicago!
5. Political Integration
The Mississippi Basin is highly connected, trades more, exchanges more culture, and unites more politically
Compare with East Coast river basins: Rivers flow parallel to each other➡️13 original colonies
It's not a coincidence they fought a civil war:
The Mississippi Basin is highly connected, trades more, exchanges more culture, and unites more politically
Compare with East Coast river basins: Rivers flow parallel to each other➡️13 original colonies
It's not a coincidence they fought a civil war:
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
5. Political Integration
The Mississippi Basin is highly connected, trades more, exchanges more culture, and unites more politically
Compare with East Coast river basins: Rivers flow parallel to each other➡️13 original colonies
It's not a coincidence they fought a civil war:
The Mississippi Basin is highly connected, trades more, exchanges more culture, and unites more politically
Compare with East Coast river basins: Rivers flow parallel to each other➡️13 original colonies
It's not a coincidence they fought a civil war:
4. Mississippi Trade
Many huge rivers on flatland➡️the US has more navigable internal waterways than the rest of the world combined!
This is extremely useful because moving goods over water is 10-30x cheaper than overland
Many huge rivers on flatland➡️the US has more navigable internal waterways than the rest of the world combined!
This is extremely useful because moving goods over water is 10-30x cheaper than overland
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
4. Mississippi Trade
Many huge rivers on flatland➡️the US has more navigable internal waterways than the rest of the world combined!
This is extremely useful because moving goods over water is 10-30x cheaper than overland
Many huge rivers on flatland➡️the US has more navigable internal waterways than the rest of the world combined!
This is extremely useful because moving goods over water is 10-30x cheaper than overland
3. Farmland
The water flows from these mountains calmly, because the entire region is extremely flat
Many calm rivers on flatland➡️the Mississippi Basin the world's largest contiguous piece of farmland.
➡️The US is the 3rd food producer and 1st exporter worldwide
The water flows from these mountains calmly, because the entire region is extremely flat
Many calm rivers on flatland➡️the Mississippi Basin the world's largest contiguous piece of farmland.
➡️The US is the 3rd food producer and 1st exporter worldwide
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
3. Farmland
The water flows from these mountains calmly, because the entire region is extremely flat
Many calm rivers on flatland➡️the Mississippi Basin the world's largest contiguous piece of farmland.
➡️The US is the 3rd food producer and 1st exporter worldwide
The water flows from these mountains calmly, because the entire region is extremely flat
Many calm rivers on flatland➡️the Mississippi Basin the world's largest contiguous piece of farmland.
➡️The US is the 3rd food producer and 1st exporter worldwide
This is caused by the funnel effect of its 2 big mountain systems: The Sierra Nevada / Rockies to the West, and the Appalachians to the East
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
This is caused by the funnel effect of its 2 big mountain systems: The Sierra Nevada / Rockies to the West, and the Appalachians to the East
2. The Mississippi Basin
It's the 4th largest drainage basin in the world and occupies 40% of the contiguous 48 US states, touching 32 of the US’s 50 states. 11 US states directly take their name from it.
It's the 4th largest drainage basin in the world and occupies 40% of the contiguous 48 US states, touching 32 of the US’s 50 states. 11 US states directly take their name from it.
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
2. The Mississippi Basin
It's the 4th largest drainage basin in the world and occupies 40% of the contiguous 48 US states, touching 32 of the US’s 50 states. 11 US states directly take their name from it.
It's the 4th largest drainage basin in the world and occupies 40% of the contiguous 48 US states, touching 32 of the US’s 50 states. 11 US states directly take their name from it.
1. Size
The US is the 4th largest country. It spans an entire continent, reaches two oceans, and is big enough to be a geographic heavyweight in the world
The US is the 4th largest country. It spans an entire continent, reaches two oceans, and is big enough to be a geographic heavyweight in the world
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
1. Size
The US is the 4th largest country. It spans an entire continent, reaches two oceans, and is big enough to be a geographic heavyweight in the world
The US is the 4th largest country. It spans an entire continent, reaches two oceans, and is big enough to be a geographic heavyweight in the world
Never bet against the US:
Ppl think its biggest strength is its institutions, the dollar, entrepreneurship... But one of its biggest assets is its geography 🧵
Ppl think its biggest strength is its institutions, the dollar, entrepreneurship... But one of its biggest assets is its geography 🧵
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Never bet against the US:
Ppl think its biggest strength is its institutions, the dollar, entrepreneurship... But one of its biggest assets is its geography 🧵
Ppl think its biggest strength is its institutions, the dollar, entrepreneurship... But one of its biggest assets is its geography 🧵
Why does this matter so much?
Because if we understand history as a mechanism, the result of massive, hidden forces like climate, crops & economics, we can stop blaming each other for terrible past deeds, and instead steer humanity in the right direction, together.
Because if we understand history as a mechanism, the result of massive, hidden forces like climate, crops & economics, we can stop blaming each other for terrible past deeds, and instead steer humanity in the right direction, together.
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Why does this matter so much?
Because if we understand history as a mechanism, the result of massive, hidden forces like climate, crops & economics, we can stop blaming each other for terrible past deeds, and instead steer humanity in the right direction, together.
Because if we understand history as a mechanism, the result of massive, hidden forces like climate, crops & economics, we can stop blaming each other for terrible past deeds, and instead steer humanity in the right direction, together.
In sum:
Climate made Northern crops cheap to grow & easy to automate. This made farmers richer, fostered entrepreneurship & industrialization, & made slavery superfluous.
This also made the North grow faster, as most immigrants moved there
Climate made Northern crops cheap to grow & easy to automate. This made farmers richer, fostered entrepreneurship & industrialization, & made slavery superfluous.
This also made the North grow faster, as most immigrants moved there
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
In sum:
Climate made Northern crops cheap to grow & easy to automate. This made farmers richer, fostered entrepreneurship & industrialization, & made slavery superfluous.
This also made the North grow faster, as most immigrants moved there
Climate made Northern crops cheap to grow & easy to automate. This made farmers richer, fostered entrepreneurship & industrialization, & made slavery superfluous.
This also made the North grow faster, as most immigrants moved there
In the 1800s South, labor was the biggest cost of farming, so slavery made growing cotton, tobacco & sugarcane profitable. That's why all cash crop areas (including the Caribbean & Brazil) had so much slavery
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
In the 1800s South, labor was the biggest cost of farming, so slavery made growing cotton, tobacco & sugarcane profitable. That's why all cash crop areas (including the Caribbean & Brazil) had so much slavery
And cotton mechanization was too hard for 1850:
• More mud and uneven soil (for water draining) were too hard for machines
• Cotton boll fibers are delicate, requiring human hands
For similar reasons, tobacco, rice & sugarcane require much more work than wheat, barley & oats
• More mud and uneven soil (for water draining) were too hard for machines
• Cotton boll fibers are delicate, requiring human hands
For similar reasons, tobacco, rice & sugarcane require much more work than wheat, barley & oats
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
And cotton mechanization was too hard for 1850:
• More mud and uneven soil (for water draining) were too hard for machines
• Cotton boll fibers are delicate, requiring human hands
For similar reasons, tobacco, rice & sugarcane require much more work than wheat, barley & oats
• More mud and uneven soil (for water draining) were too hard for machines
• Cotton boll fibers are delicate, requiring human hands
For similar reasons, tobacco, rice & sugarcane require much more work than wheat, barley & oats
Meanwhile, cotton grows in hotter & humid climates, which means more pests, more weeds, more waterlogging, and so more soil prep
Cotton bolls open at different times, requiring several runs to pick them
Cotton bolls open at different times, requiring several runs to pick them
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Meanwhile, cotton grows in hotter & humid climates, which means more pests, more weeds, more waterlogging, and so more soil prep
Cotton bolls open at different times, requiring several runs to pick them
Cotton bolls open at different times, requiring several runs to pick them
These features also made them easy to mechanize:
• Machines didn't get stuck in mud
• They didn't need parts to adapt to different plant sizes
• Grains are tough and can stand a beating
• Machines didn't get stuck in mud
• They didn't need parts to adapt to different plant sizes
• Grains are tough and can stand a beating
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
These features also made them easy to mechanize:
• Machines didn't get stuck in mud
• They didn't need parts to adapt to different plant sizes
• Grains are tough and can stand a beating
• Machines didn't get stuck in mud
• They didn't need parts to adapt to different plant sizes
• Grains are tough and can stand a beating
The soil where wheat, barley, & oats grow is easier to prep because climate is drier and cooler, so crops have fewer pests and weeds, and there's no waterlogging
Grains grow to a similar height and at the same time, so they can all be reaped together.
They're easy to store.
Grains grow to a similar height and at the same time, so they can all be reaped together.
They're easy to store.
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The soil where wheat, barley, & oats grow is easier to prep because climate is drier and cooler, so crops have fewer pests and weeds, and there's no waterlogging
Grains grow to a similar height and at the same time, so they can all be reaped together.
They're easy to store.
Grains grow to a similar height and at the same time, so they can all be reaped together.
They're easy to store.
Eg, cotton took 4x more work than wheat!
Wheat took ~35 hours of work per acre (h/a):
• Preparing soil: 13h/a
• Reaping: 14h/a
• Threshing: 8h/a
Cotton took ~130 h/a!
• Field prep: 70h/a
• Harvesting: 60 h/a
How is that possible!?
Wheat took ~35 hours of work per acre (h/a):
• Preparing soil: 13h/a
• Reaping: 14h/a
• Threshing: 8h/a
Cotton took ~130 h/a!
• Field prep: 70h/a
• Harvesting: 60 h/a
How is that possible!?
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Eg, cotton took 4x more work than wheat!
Wheat took ~35 hours of work per acre (h/a):
• Preparing soil: 13h/a
• Reaping: 14h/a
• Threshing: 8h/a
Cotton took ~130 h/a!
• Field prep: 70h/a
• Harvesting: 60 h/a
How is that possible!?
Wheat took ~35 hours of work per acre (h/a):
• Preparing soil: 13h/a
• Reaping: 14h/a
• Threshing: 8h/a
Cotton took ~130 h/a!
• Field prep: 70h/a
• Harvesting: 60 h/a
How is that possible!?
2. But why was there slavery in the South and not the North?
Crops
Northern crops (wheat, barley, oats) have 2 key features compared to Southern ones (cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, rice):
a. They take much less work
b. Most of that work was easy to automate
Crops
Northern crops (wheat, barley, oats) have 2 key features compared to Southern ones (cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, rice):
a. They take much less work
b. Most of that work was easy to automate
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
2. But why was there slavery in the South and not the North?
Crops
Northern crops (wheat, barley, oats) have 2 key features compared to Southern ones (cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, rice):
a. They take much less work
b. Most of that work was easy to automate
Crops
Northern crops (wheat, barley, oats) have 2 key features compared to Southern ones (cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, rice):
a. They take much less work
b. Most of that work was easy to automate