The Region Today

Section I

The U.S. has a Market Economy People allowed to own, operate, & profit fro their own business Businesses allowed to hire Government protection of private property & workers Canada has a more Command Economy More public ownership of industry Private ownership still encouraged

Both Economies are Post-Industrial Movement from agricultural to industrial began at the turn of the 20 th century Currently, less emphasis on heavy industry More focus on service & high-tech business

75% of US & Canadian workers in service jobs Government, education, banking, etc. Located in Central Business Districts of Communities Downtown High-Tech industries less dependent on location Silicon Valley in California Home to 20 high-tech companies Near population center Comfortable yearly climate

20% of regions economy Robotics have changed industry Great Lakes Region Manufacturing Belt Rust Belt Current work to retool old factories & mills

Region Manufacturing Centers California & Washington- Aircraft Midwest-Automobile California-Food Processing Northeast & Quebec- Logging/Timber Manufacturing

Commercialized farming of Commodities Commodities: Goods for sale 5% of farms commercially owned Remaining owned by families 1 Billion acres in the U.S. used for farming 167 Million acres in Canada

Farm size has grown, number of farmers has decreased High Costs Unpredictable Markets Risk of Natural Disaster Time & Work

Cattle Industry Western & Southern U.S. Prairie provinces of Canada Wheat Belt Great Plains Corn Belt Midwest Ohio to Nebraska

Examples Beef Cattle Traditionally: Large spaces and open grassland Mainly found in West & Southwest Today: Breeds developed to need less space Spread throughout South Dairy Cattle Traditionally: Found in Northeast & Upper Midwest Cooler Climate & better pastures Today: Automation & improved feed Found across U.S. today

Global economy Interconnection of trade across borders Exports & Imports US Trade deficit: Spends more on imports than makes on exports Costly U.S. production Foreign tariffs on U.S. goods Canada Trade Surplus Smaller population Spends greatly in imports but exports equal it out

1989-U.S. & Canada sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 1994-U.S., Canada, & Mexico sign North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Worlds largest trade bloc Eliminated trade barriers Strengthens economic bonds Makes Outsourcing easier Easier to move business across Mexican border

U.S. & Canada created Smart Border Acts Monitor people & goods Free & Secure Trade (FAST) Complete & reliable records on cargo Surveillance of cross-border trade Intelligence sharing

After WWII more people began buying cars Highway/road systems built through population centers Along Mississippi & Ohio Valleys Trans-Canadian Highway 4860 miles from British Columbia to Newfoundland

Pollution Problems Smog in urban areas Solutions: Mass Transit Buses Commuter Trains Subways Elevated Trains Monorail

Busiest Airports Atlantas Hartsfield 384,000 Flights in Million passengers in 2012 Chicagos OHare 2400 flights a day 66.6 million passengers annually Torontos Pearson International 34.9 million passengers in thousand flights in 2012

35% of goods travel by rail 15% of goods travel by water 20% of goods travel by truck ¼ of oil and natural gas travel via pipeline

Development of cellular and digital services & internet Communication, commerce, travel, etc.

Section II

Poor management in the past has lead to major problems today Clear Cutting Destroyed Old-growth forests Endangered wildlife and habitats Caused erosion

Conversion of wetlands to agricultural land Eliminated natural fisheries Destroyed natural water purification systems Devastated coast storm and flood buffer zones

Overfishing Amount caught exceeds natural reproduction Canadian ban on Cod fishing Species Decline Example: Low wolf populations in Western Canada Exploding elk populations

Animal: Asian Carp, Africanized Honeybee, Burmese Python, Cane Toad, Emerald Ash Borer, European Starling, Giant African Snail, Northern Snakehead, Nutria, Wild Boar, & Zebra Mussels

Plants: Autumn Olive, Kudzu, & Sacred Bamboo Issues: Blocked waterways, Crop destruction, species displacement

Acid Rain Precipitation that carries acidic materials Sulfur dioxide & Nitrogen oxide released into environment Effects Eastern U.S. & Canada Corrodes Stone & metal buildings Damages crops & pollutes soil Bodies of water can become biologically dead

Smog Same chemicals as acid rain Reacts to sunlight and sinks to the surface Damages plants Harms eyes, throats, & lungs Air quality tested daily Solution More fuel efficient cars & bio/green transportation

Water Pollution Introduction of sewage, industrial, & agricultural waste Illegal dumping, leaks, or seping into groundwater Affects natural wetland habitat Causes eutrophication Promotion of algae growth Depletion of oxygen levels in the water Fish die offs Eventually lake may cease to exist

1972, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Canada & the U.S. Combat water pollution of the Lakes Regional concerns over water pollution NAFTA raises environmental issues along Rio Grande

Looking at affects of global warming Deforestation & use of fossil fuels Carbon levels at millennial highs Affects seen in Arctic regions Thinning of ice sheets Thawing of permafrost Loss of Arctic habitat

Cleaner energy options Nuclear Energy Solar Power Wind Energy Hydroelectric Power