How the States got their Shapes

How great is the History Channel!

While other people are watching reality TV on MTV and elsewhere,
I'm enjoying a very different reality shown on the History Channel.
The program I watching is "How the States got their Shapes". This
is exactlty the type of program I enjoy. With a mixture of
famous, and not so famous, characters from the past and citizens today
effected by the curious decisions of state boundries, it delves into
the logical, political, and strange reasons for the lines that divide
up our country.

The program covers United States history topics as well known as the
California Gold Rush and the Mason-Dixon line to little known items such
as the Republic of Franklin that in the late 1700s applied to the Continental Congress for acceptance into the Union. The facts span
centuries, from the lines laid down by kings to the still on going disputes of boundries between various states such as Georgia and Tennessee. The creators also included some details of the personalities
of those involved, making sure this would not be a dry list of factoids,
but a fascinating look at how geography, commerce, crime, and egos all
played a part in defining state boundaries.

I can't recommend this program enough. Catch "How the States got their
Shapes" on the History Channel if you can, hopefully dragging the kids
off Facebook to join you.