The United States and Canada

Physical Geography What large bodies of water surround the United States and Canada? Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Arctic Ocean Which major landforms and/or waterways do the United States and Canada share? Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Great Plains, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans How do Canada and the United States rank in size compared with other countries? Second and third

Landforms Appalachian Mountains located in the East Extend from Newfoundland in Canada to Alabama (1600 miles) These mountains are very old and have been eroded by the elements Rocky Mountains located in the West are rugged and extend from Alaska to New Mexico These mountains are very young (about 80 million years old) and have jagged peaks that reach more than 12,000 feet high

Appalachian Trail

Springer Mountain, GA

Resources Both the U.S. and Canada are leading agricultural and industrial nations due to the abundance and variety of natural resources (especially water) The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River form one of the world’s major shipping routes (St. Lawrence Seaway connects Great Lakes to Atlantic Ocean by raising and lowering the water level) Most of Canada’s energy exports come to the United States because it is the world’s biggest consumer of energy resources

Settlement Migration of nomads from Asia over Beringia (land bridge that once connected Siberia and Alaska) European exploration of the “New World” Spanish settled South; St. Augustine, FL French settled North and Canada (for fish and fur) English settled Maine to Georgia; Jamestown, VA Displacement of Native Americans Columbian Exchange: exchange of goods, plants, animals, and diseases between Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa (see p. 136)

A New Nation American Revolution (founding of the U.S.) Louisiana Purchase: nearly doubled size of U.S. when purchased Mississippi to Rocky Mts. from France Civil War (agricultural South and slave labor against industrialized North) Westward movement aided by transcontinental railroad Industrialization and urbanization led to Americans and immigrants moving to large cities to work in textile factories, steel industries, oil, and food processing Movement from a rural, agricultural nation to an urban, industrialized nation (suburbs)

A New Nation Cont. 1790 people were self-employed farmers, worked from sunrise to sunset in the field 1890s worked in factories or service industries, 60 hour work week for $12/wk, unsafe conditions, as young as 12 21st century average worker in office, in front of computer, 40 hrs/wk, government regulated safety environment

Government Representative Democracy: created by Constitution, people rule through elected representatives Federal Republic: powers divided among federal, state, and local governments 3 branches of government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) See chart p. 139

Economy Has 10% of the world’s exports Free enterprise: private ownership, supply and demand Driven by service industries (banks, stores, restaurants) provides a service rather than a product Called a postindustrial economy because manufacturing no longer plays a major role A major world trading power, Mexico and Canada

Language and Religion Multicultural due to immigrants Language: English, Spanish Religious freedom; majority are Christians (Protestants, Roman Catholics)

Subregions Northeast: known as “America’s Gateway” because of its location; fishing, farming, manufacturing, and service industries; megalopolis – “BosWash” where several large cities and surrounding areas grow together Midwest: occupies 1/5 of the land; known as the “breadbasket” due to fertile soil and mild climate; trade, transportation, and distribution center Dust Bowl: drought, misuse of land, dust storms devastated Great Plains in the 1930s (see p. 150) led to abandonment of many farms

Subregions cont. The South: mixed culture, “sunbelt”, began as agricultural society but is becoming more industrial; metropolitan areas - large cities and the nearby suburbs and towns The West: is most rapidly growing region of U.S., varied economic activities, technology, foreign trade