Transcript United States and Canada

United States and Canada
A Land of Contrasts
United States and Canada
• North America’s vast and varied landscape
and abundant resources have attracted
immigrants and shaped the development of
the United States and Canada.
United States and Canada
• Landscape Influenced Development
• Anglo America
– U.S., Canada: former British colonies, most people
speak English
– Strong economic and political ties with one another
• Vast Lands
– Canada second largest country in the world by area;
U.S. third
– Together they cover one-eighth of the earth’s land
surface
Landscape Influenced Development
• Abundant Resources
– Landmass and natural resources attract immigrants
to both countries
– U.S. and Canada have developed into global
economic powers
• Major Landforms
– All major landforms are found in U.S. and Canada
– The two countries share mountain chains and
interior plains
Landscape Influenced Development
• The Eastern Lowlands
– Atlantic Coastal Plain extends from Delaware down to
Florida
– Gulf Coastal Plain goes from Florida, along Gulf of Mexico,
to Texas
– Piedmont—low plateau between coastal plains,
Appalachian Highlands
• The Appalachian Highlands
• Appalachian Mountains run 1,600 miles from Newfoundland
to Alabama
– include Green and Catskill mountains in the north
– Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains in the south
Landscape Influenced Development
• The Western Mountains, Plateaus, and
Basins
• Rocky Mountains run 3,000 miles from Alaska to
New Mexico
– Relatively young: 80 million years old
– Less erosion means rugged, 12,000-foot, snowcovered peaks
• Continental Divide—the line of highest points
along the Rockies
– separates rivers that flow eastward from those that
flow westward
Climate and Vegetation
• Almost every type of climate is found in
the 50 United States because they extend
over such a large area north to south.
• U.S. and Canada Climates
– U.S. has more climate zones than Canada
– U.S.: moderate mid-latitudes, Canada: colder high
latitudes
Northeast
• The Region
• New England—six northern states of
Northeast:
– Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass., Rhode
Island, Connecticut
– Middle Atlantic states: Pennsylvania, New York,
New Jersey
– Northeast has only 5% of land, but 20% of
population
Northeast
• America’s Gateway
– Europeans settled here first; region served as
immigration “gateway”
– Northeast was, and is, U.S. heart of trade, commerce,
industry
• Growth of the Megalopolis
• •Megalopolis—several large cities grow together
– “BoWash:” Boston, New York City, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C.
– 500 miles; 1/6 of U.S. population; connected by road,
rail, air links
The Midwest
• The Region
• •The Midwest—north-central U.S., known as
the American Heartland
– 1/5 of U.S. land, 1/4 of population
– early settlers came from Britain, Germany,
Scandinavia
The Midwest
• Agricultural and Industrial Heartland
– Central location, soil, climate make it nation’s
“breadbasket”
– corn, wheat, soy beans, meat, dairy; meat-packing,
food-processing
The South
• The Region
– The South—1/4 of U.S. land, more than 1/3 of
population
– 11 states were once part of the Civil War
Confederacy
– Texas was in Confederacy, sometimes considered
part of Southwest
The South
• The Old South
– Virginia was England’s first American colony
– South’s ethnic mix includes Africans, Hispanics,
Cajuns, Creoles
– Once agricultural, rural; now rapidly changing,
cities growing
The South
• The New South
– Agriculture: cotton, tobacco, fruits, peanuts, rice,
livestock
– Energy resources and air conditioning boost industry in
1950s
– “Sunbelt” attracts manufacturing, tourists, retirees
– industries: petroleum, steel, chemicals, textiles,
electronics
– metropolitan areas—large cities and nearby suburbs,
towns
The West
• The Region
– The West—from Great Plains to Pacific, plus Alaska
and Hawaii
• 1/2 of U.S. land, 1/5 of population
• people settle where climate and landforms are most
favorable
The West
• Developing the West
– California is most populous state
• Los Angeles the West’s cultural, commercial center
– Economy: foreign trade with Asia; varied industries
• farms, ranches, logging, fish, mines, oil, tourism, film,
computers
Canada
History and Government of Canada
• Colonization by France and Britain
– French explorers claim much of Canada in 1500–
1600s as “New France”
– British settlers colonize the Atlantic Coast
– Coastal fisheries and inland fur trade important to
both countries
– Britain wins French and Indian War (1754–1763);
French settlers stay
History and Government of Canada
• Establishing the Dominion of Canada
– In 1791 Britain creates two political units called
provinces
• Upper Canada (later, Ontario): English-speaking,
Protestant
• Lower Canada (Quebec): French-speaking, Roman
Catholic
– Rupert’s Land a northern area owned by furtrading company
Government
• The Parliamentary System
• •In 1931 Canada becomes independent, British
monarch is symbolic head
– Parliamentary government:
• parliament—legislature combining legislative and executive
functions
– consists of an appointed Senate, elected House of Commons
• prime minister, head of government, is majority party leader
– All ten provinces have own legislature and premier
(prime minister) federal government administers the
territories
Economy Canada
Canada’s Primary Industries
• Farming, logging, mining, fishing: 10% of gross
domestic product
– Canada is the world’s leading exporter of forest
products
The Manufacturing Sector
• 15% of Canadians work in manufacturing, create
1/5 of GDP
– make cars, steel, appliances, equipment (high-tech,
mining)
• Service Industries Drive the Economy
– Most Canadians work in service industries, which
create 60% of GDP
Life in Canada
• Sports and Recreation
• Popular sports: skating, ice hockey, fishing,
skiing, golf, hunting
– Canada has own football league; other pro teams
play in U.S. leagues
– native peoples developed lacrosse, European
settlers developed hockey
• Annual festivals include Quebec Winter
Carnival, Calgary Stampede
Canada Regions
The Atlantic Provinces
• Harsh Lands and Small Populations
• Eastern Canada’s Atlantic Provinces:
• Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia, Newfoundland
• Only 8% of Canada’s population, due to rugged
terrain, harsh weather
Canada Regions
The Core Provinces—Quebec and Ontario
• The Heartland of Canada
–Quebec City: French explorer Samuel de
Champlain built fort in 1608
–60% Canada’s population live in Core
Provinces Ontario and Quebec
• Canada’s Political and Economic Center
• Ottawa, Ontario is the national capital
Canada Regions
The Prairie Provinces
• Canada’s Breadbasket
– Great Plains Prairie Provinces: Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta
– 50% of Canada’s agricultural production, 60% of
mineral output
– Alberta has coal, oil deposits; produces 90% of
Canada’s natural gas
Canada Regions
The Pacific Province and the Territories
• British Columbia—westernmost province,
mostly in Rocky Mountains
– 1/2 is forests; 1/3 is frozen tundra, snowfields,
glaciers
– Most people live in southwest; major cities are
Victoria, Vancouver
– Economy built on logging, mining, hydroelectric
power