North America World Geography Coach Houp

Nations United States of America –Capital: Washington, D.C. Canada –Capital: Ottawa Greenland (Part of Denmark) –Capital: Nuuk

Agreements/ Alliances United Nations Organization of American States North American Aerospace Defense Command –NORAD North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Special-Relationship with Britain North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Missile Defense with Poland War on Drugs with Latin America

Government – U.S. Has a representative Democracy –Any U.S. citizen that is over 18 years of age can vote Federalist Three branches of Government –Executive Headed by an elected President Executes and Enforces the laws passed by the Legislative Branch Operates in the White House Has a cabinet that helps make decisions

Three branches of Government Legislative Branch –Lawmaking body –Bicameral Senate has 2 Representatives from every state House of Representatives is organized based on population size of each state –Can Impeach President Judicial Branch –Judicial Review Determine if actions follow Constitution Supreme Court the top court

Government – Canada Parliamentary Government Headed by a Prime minister –Voted in by the Parliament and is normally leader of the majority party –Elected within 5 years Federalist Constitutional Monarchy Judicial Branch has Judicial Review

Economy – U.S. Capitalist mixed economy –Unemployment: 9.6% –GDP Growth: 1.6% –National Debt: $ Trillion and rising –Poverty: 14.3% $10,590 Individual $21,203 Family of Four Member of G20

Economy – U.S. Trading Partners: –China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany Leading Import: –Vehicles Leading Export: –Electrical Machinery Top Producer of: –Corn, Soybeans, Salt Standard of Living: –Avg. $50,233

Economy - Canada Member of G20 Mixed Market –Unemployment: 8.1% –Very similar to U.S. economy, however with higher taxes and more of a welfare state –Government surplus in budget the last 6 years GDP Growth Rate: 0.5% –Net exporter of energy 2 nd largest oil fields in the world –Exports Wheat, Canola, Zinc, Uranium Relatively high standard of living

History – U.S. Established by British, French and Spanish –13 colonies –Fought for independence from British in 1770’s and won –Established the Articles of Confederation originally Then created the U.S. Constitution and ratified it in 1789 Expanded westward toward the Rocky Mountains –Fought a civil war during the 1860’s over the issue of slavery Participated in WWI and WWII –Bombed by Japan in Pearl Harbor before WWII Cold War between U.S. and Soviet Union (Russia) post WWII until the late 1980’s.

History - Canada Explored by Vikings, British and French First Cities –Port Royal 1605 and Quebec City 1608 Mainly controlled by British and French throughout its history –Center of war in 1812 Established independence in 1867 with the Constitution Act –Setup a confederacy

Population Characteristics – U.S. 306 Million people –11.2 million illegal immigrants Growth Rate:.97% Ethnic Groups –White: 80% –African Americans: 12.8% –Hispanic: 15% –Asian: 4.4% Largest Cities: –New York –Los Angeles –Chicago

Culture – U.S. Multicultural –Considered a melting pot due to the wide variety of cultures Dominantly western culture –Western European influence –However great deal of African influence as well American Dream –Social Mobility Pop Culture very prominent –Movies, TV, Internet, etc.

Culture – U.S. Language –English: 81% –Spanish: 12% –Other: 7% Chinese, French, German Religion –Christian: 78.4% Protestant more than Catholic –Agnostic-Atheistic: 16% –Islam: 1.6% –Judaism: 1.4%

Population Characteristics – Canada Population: 31 Million –Increase of nearly 5.4% in 5 years Most population growth from influx of immigrants –.87% a year Ethnic Groups –English: 21% –French: 15.8% –Scottish: 15.2%

Culture – Canada Influenced greatly by French and English –Some aboriginal influence as well Most of economy and culture is geared toward U.S. Maple Leaf symbol of Canada Belief in multiculturalism –Importance of appreciating other cultures Hockey and Lacrosse very popular in Canada

Culture - Canada Language –English and French officially English only: 67% French only: 13% Both English and French: 17% –Chinese, Italian and German Religion –Christians: 77% –No Religion: 16% –Islam: 1.9% –Jew: 1.1%

Climate – U.S. Great variety in temperature –Cold along Canadian border and hot to Mexican border Land Use –Shipping on Coasts –Mining in West –Farming in Plains Rivers –Mississippi River –Missouri River –Colorado River

Climate - Canada Ottawa –January Low: -15.3ºC High: -6.1ºC –July Low: 15.4ºC High: 26.5ºC Land features –Niagara Falls –Canadian Shield Contains most of Canada’s oil fields –Hudson Bay Major Trading Center –Lake Champlain Major Trading Center

Present Day – U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan Wars NATO NAFTA UN –Security Council member and Headquarters located in New York City New President and worldwide image

Present Day - Canada UN NATO NAFTA Participated in Afghanistan War, however greatly against Iraq War