How many McDonald's restaurants are there in the U.S.?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, your big brain and any links below::
There are roughly 14,000 McDonald’s US locations. What state has the least McDonald’s restaurants?
What appears to be the approximate spot on the American map that is the farthest distance from any McDonald’s restaurant?
Describe which parts of the country are home to the most McDonald’s restaurants.
Electoral college votes are calculated by adding the number of senators per state (2 each) plus the number of House Representatives per state (depends on population). Big states like California have the most electoral college votes (55) and small states like Wyoming are tied with others for having the least electoral college votes (3). How many states have more electoral college votes than McDonald’s?
There are two different kinds of power and ways for countries to achieve their foreign policy goals. Soft power lies in the ability to attract and persuade. Whereas hard power—the ability to coerce—grows out of a country's military or economic might, soft power arises from the attractiveness of a country's culture (movies, music, and food), political ideals, and policies. As of 2022, McDonald’s ran 40,275 restaurants worldwide. The U.S. military is deployed in most countries around the world, with between 160,000 to 170,000 of its active-duty personnel stationed outside the United States. Relative to the U.S. military, how valuable is McDonald’s to American power?
As of 2010, the farthest place in American between McDonald’s restaurants was in North Dakota: between the tiny Dakotan hamlets of Meadow and Glad Valley: 107 miles distant from the nearest McDonald's. What is the consequence of the ubiquity (there are so many and they are everywhere) of McDonald's?
Scholars have argued that basic “Americanism” is our nation’s fundamental belief in Liberty, Egalitarianism, Individualism, Populism, and Laissez-faire economics. In 2001, the investigative journalist Eric Schlosser wrote, Fast Food Nation. This phrase also describes how fast food and its industrial methods have shaped American culture, the economy, and daily life. Explain whether you think “Fast Food Nation.” is a good description of the U.S..
McDonald's is a potent symbol of globalization. Can you think of any better known or more global symbol than McDonald's?
Subway has the most restaurant locations in the United States, with roughly 20,000 to 24,500 shops nationwide. It leads all other fast-food and restaurant chains in total store count, outnumbering second-place Starbucks (~14,800 to 16,800 stores), third-place McDonald's (~13,400 to 13,900 stores), and Dunkin’ (who cares). Is there anything more American than McDonald's?
The Big Mac Index Theory, also known as the Big Mac Theory or Big Mac Index, is an informal pricing index to measure the purchasing power of foreign currencies by looking at the price of a Big Mac in each country. The Big Mac Index also provides a test on how exchange rates affect the cost of goods in various countries. According to the visual below* currently, what’s the most expensive Big Mac in the world?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Look at a Google Maps of your community and type in McDonald's. How far could you drive around before you ran into the nearest McDonald's? Without speeding or breaking any laws, see how many McDonald's you can drive to in 30 minutes.
Get Creative
Create an updated American flag that references or includes McDonald’s imagery.
Learn More*
Get AP Exam Ready with anytime access to our fabulous gamified online exam-prep resources, self-guided workshops, interactive reviews, games, and exclusive content. This comprehensive suite of materials is specifically designed to help students master the content and skills required for success on the AP United States Government and Politics Exam, such as reading comprehension and concept application.
