@tomaspueyo.bsky.social
China might rise as a superpower, and the US might shoot itself in the foot with many policies, but it's hard to undermine the US's best geography in the world.
I would personally never bet against the US.
I would personally never bet against the US.
September 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
China might rise as a superpower, and the US might shoot itself in the foot with many policies, but it's hard to undermine the US's best geography in the world.
I would personally never bet against the US.
I would personally never bet against the US.
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
There's a million more things to say about this, from the role of malaria & yellow fever, to the economic importance of cotton, immigration patterns, & more. You can read them here
unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/climate-ca...
Next: how all this predetermined the US of today
Follow for more!
unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/climate-ca...
Next: how all this predetermined the US of today
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Climate Caused the US Civil War
The story people know about the US Civil War is that the South had slavery and the North was free.
unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
There's a million more things to say about this, from the role of malaria & yellow fever, to the economic importance of cotton, immigration patterns, & more. You can read them here
unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/climate-ca...
Next: how all this predetermined the US of today
Follow for more!
unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/climate-ca...
Next: how all this predetermined the US of today
Follow for more!
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 contrast, Southern crops took lots of labor and were hard to automate, so slaves were crucial to grow them profitably. This locked it into slavery.
Slavery also pushed wages down, so few immigrants moved South, condemning to be outgrown by the North, which imposed abolition
Slavery also pushed wages down, so few immigrants moved South, condemning to be outgrown by the North, which imposed abolition
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
In contrast, Southern crops took lots of labor and were hard to automate, so slaves were crucial to grow them profitably. This locked it into slavery.
Slavery also pushed wages down, so few immigrants moved South, condemning to be outgrown by the North, which imposed abolition
Slavery also pushed wages down, so few immigrants moved South, condemning to be outgrown by the North, which imposed abolition
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
So the South invested in slaves vs machinery. The more it did, the more its entire economic system depended on slavery. In 1860, the value of slaves was higher than the capital of all US railroads, factories & banks combined!
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
So the South invested in slaves vs machinery. The more it did, the more its entire economic system depended on slavery. In 1860, the value of slaves was higher than the capital of all US railroads, factories & banks combined!
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
So, little labor for Northern crops:
➡️A single homestead could work a big farm
➡️Ppl literally reaped what they sowed, so really cared about improving yields
➡️It could mechanize, requiring investment
➡️Machines made Northerners more productive, increasing wages
➡️A single homestead could work a big farm
➡️Ppl literally reaped what they sowed, so really cared about improving yields
➡️It could mechanize, requiring investment
➡️Machines made Northerners more productive, increasing wages
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
So, little labor for Northern crops:
➡️A single homestead could work a big farm
➡️Ppl literally reaped what they sowed, so really cared about improving yields
➡️It could mechanize, requiring investment
➡️Machines made Northerners more productive, increasing wages
➡️A single homestead could work a big farm
➡️Ppl literally reaped what they sowed, so really cared about improving yields
➡️It could mechanize, requiring investment
➡️Machines made Northerners more productive, increasing wages
Why does this matter?
Because this was the source of slavery
It existed in both the North & South in 1800, but it disappeared in the North over the following decades because it was not necessary
Because this was the source of slavery
It existed in both the North & South in 1800, but it disappeared in the North over the following decades because it was not necessary
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Why does this matter?
Because this was the source of slavery
It existed in both the North & South in 1800, but it disappeared in the North over the following decades because it was not necessary
Because this was the source of slavery
It existed in both the North & South in 1800, but it disappeared in the North over the following decades because it was not necessary