How the States Got Their Shapes
How well do average Americans know their country? Brian Unger hits the road to uncover the history hidden in the lines and contours that make up the U.S. map through man-on-the-street quizzes and head-to-head competitions. Contestants battle to win some cash, show their state pride and display their knowledge of U.S. geography as they reveal how the country took shape.
- 2011-2012
- 2 seasons
- History Channel
- Documentary, Action & Adventure
- TV-PG
How well do average Americans know their country? Brian Unger hits the road to uncover the history hidden in the lines and contours that make up the U.S. map through man-on-the-street quizzes and head-to-head competitions. Contestants battle to win some cash, show their state pride and display their knowledge of U.S. geography as they reveal how the country took shape.
Season 2 Episode Guide
19 Episodes 2012
Episode 1
Red State vs. Blue State
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 22 mins
It's a rivalry that tears us apart every four years, but how did our nation divide into red states vs. blue states, and what happens to the states caught in the middle?
Episode 2
White Collar vs. Blue Collar
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 22 mins
Deep in the Rust Belt the white collar and blue collar divide has shaped our cities and our states. How did this rivalry change the way we all bring home the bacon?
Episode 3
Hillbilly vs. Redneck
Sat, Oct 6, 2012 22 mins
Two underdogs of American culture go head to head to prove how hillbillies and rednecks have shaped our states.
Episode 4
Hatfields vs. McCoys
Sat, Oct 6, 2012 22 mins
America's most iconic rivalry was more than just a feud between families. The fight between the Hatfields and McCoys nearly launched a war between two states.
Episode 5
North vs. South
Sat, Oct 13, 2012 22 mins
It's America's original rivalry, a divide that was so wide it took a war to close the gap. But have we really reunited, or are we still fighting a culture war?
Episode 6
Bigfoot vs. Aliens
Sat, Oct 13, 2012 22 mins
America is a nation under siege by unexplained phenomena. Whether you're afraid of Bigfoot or alien invasion might depend on what state you call home.
Episode 7
Great Lakes, Big Stakes
Sat, Oct 20, 2012 22 mins
Battles over access to lakefront property have made the Great Lakes region the most contested land on the entire map, and even pushed the states to a border war.
Episode 8
Battle of the Bible Belt
Sat, Oct 20, 2012 22 mins
With 85% of Americans affiliated with an organized religion, we're a nation of believers, but have we always practiced what we preached?
Episode 9
Vice vs. Virtue
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 22 mins
Americans have a lot of vices and they don't just stay in Vegas. From drugs to gambling, the state you live in may shape how bad you can be.
Episode 10
Midwest vs. The Rest
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 22 mins
It's the glue that holds our map together and feeds America, but the Midwest is more than just state fairs and flyover country.
Episode 11
Is West Best?
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 22 mins
In the battle between city and country, it looks like the city is coming out ahead in population, but is there something about the country that all the city slickers are missing?
Episode 12
City vs. Country
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 22 mins
The squabble between east coast and west coast leaves the rest of the country stuck in the middle. It's a rivalry that has made its way into our popular culture, but is there any common ground in this continental tug of war?
Episode 13
East vs. West
Sat, Nov 10, 2012 22 mins
We may be a law-abiding nation but we also admire the outlaw, and the clash between rebels and the rules has shaped our states. Which states like to make their own rules, and which do the heat have on lockdown?
Episode 14
Rebels & Outlaws
Sat, Nov 17, 2012 22 mins
Everything is bigger in Texas. It's the only state that acts like a country, but has it grown too big for its britches? We'll mess with Texas to settle this ten-gallon rivalry.
Episode 15
Mess with Texas
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 22 mins
Money makes the world go `round and in America, the pursuit of riches has shaped our states. In the race to grab all resources, which states came out on top?
Episode 16
State vs. State
Sat, Dec 8, 2012 22 mins
Does size matter when you're a state? While the giants like to throw their weight around, there are some scrappy underdogs that have made their mark on the map.
Episode 17
Rich vs. Poor
Sat, Dec 8, 2012 22 mins
After three years on the road, host Brian Unger is taking a different look at just how our states got their shapes. We'll hear about the unique American values that have made this country what it is today.
Episode 18
Big vs. Small
Sat, Dec 15, 2012 21 mins
Does size matter when you're a state? While the giants like to throw their weight around, there are some scrappy underdogs that have made their mark on the map.
Episode 19
The United Shapes of America
Sat, Dec 22, 2012 42 mins
How the States Got Their Shapes looks at how American values helped to make the country what it is today. In particular, it looks at how the values of independence, equality, enterprise, freedom, and competition helped to give the United States the shape that it has today.