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Jessica Handley
Leaver
AP HuG- 3rd period
18 May 2016
Unit 7: Cities and Urban Land Use
As human beings, we shape the environment around us to tailor to our values and
belief systems. The landscapes that we have built are representative of the contemporary
ideals that have come about as a result of the globalization of our societies. Washington
D.C. is an example of such a landscape, as it has been built around our countrys
government system.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to go on a trip to Washington, D.C. with my
family. As our countrys capital, Washington D.C. is one of the most planned-out cities in
the world. It is the heart of all national political affairs, and therefore requires an efficient
and stable environment. It is characterized by marble buildings modeled off of ancient
Greek and Roman structures, but it also takes into account the structure of the United
States government. As my family and I walked around the city, which was getting ready
for the 4th of July, it was easy to recognize that the American people are proud of their
government. This pride is displayed in the grandeur of the buildings, and the amount of
space dedicated to the parks in the area. The buildings were magnificently designed to
encourage a nationalism amongst the American people, as it displays a certain dignity
that the government holds. Anybody who has seen pictures of or visited Washington D.C.
knows that much of the city is dedicated to memorial and park spaces. This is because
Washington D.C. is the center of all national pride in our country, and the city seeks to

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honor those who have fallen for this sovereignty that we hold dear. Washington D.C. is
only one of the many world capitals that displays the national pride of their countries.
Globalization has caused cities essential to the governmental structure of these countries
to dedicate a lot of time and money to the grandeur of their infrastructures.
Human geography is all about why human beings tailor the environment to
account for their values and belief systems. Washington D.C. is only one example of why
we put so much effort into the landscape around us. In my opinion, the answer is simply
about national pride and values. Without a sense of nationalism throughout our country,
we would not spend much of our time and money in order to evoke a sense of dignity in
our nations capital. Washington D.C.s many vast political buildings and memorials only
add to the effect of that pride. Another reason why we have tailored Washington D.C. to
have such a grandness is because we value our government very highly. Americans are
defined by their independence and democracy, and we wish to embody that we are
sovereign in the way that we portray our government.
As human beings, we shape the environment around us to tailor to our values and
belief systems. The landscapes that we have built are representative of the contemporary
ideals that have come about as a result of the globalization of our societies. Without a
sense of national pride or value of democracy, Washington D.C., our nations capital,
would not have been built with such grandness as it has today. As Americans, we are
proud to represent our independent ideals in our architecture and the way we use our
landscape.

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