NATIONS: Borders & Power A govt. sets up clear boundaries where it has authority. Political Region – area that a government controls. Borders – boundaries.

NATIONS: Borders & Power

• A govt. sets up clear boundaries where it has authority.

• Political Region – area that a government controls.

• Borders – boundaries between countries.


• Levels of Government – most countries have several levels (cities, counties, states). These create units with authority over an overlapping area; one place might belong to more than one physical, cultural, or political region.


• Example: Houston– Citizens of Houston belong

to many political units:• City Government – Mayor-

Council form of govt. serving 2-year terms;• County Government –

Houstonians also belong to Harris County.• State of Texas – Residents are

part of Texas. Texas has it’s own state laws, regulates schools, drivers, crimes & punishments, highways, etc.


• National (Federal) Government – Houstonians are also part of the United States! This is the supreme government (highest level); if there is a clash between any two, the national govt. is supreme.

• Our national govt. is sovereign – not subject to any higher govt. authority.


• The world is divided into independent states, each with their own sovereign governments.

• Each independent nation has fixed borders. How are those determined?– 1. Physical Features –

Rivers, mountains, lakes, seas, oceans.

– 2. Historical Circumstance / Political Agreements

What makes up Texas’ boundaries?


• Examples of Boundaries:– 1. Expansion of the United

States:• Eastern border was set by

Atlantic; Western border shifted over time: – 1783 – Western Border was

Mississippi River; As we expanded west, this changed.

– Other borders were set by purchase & conquest (Mexican Cession, Mexican-American War).

Nations: Borders & Power

–2. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821; Texas broke off in 1836; border dispute led to war; Mexico surrendered half its land to the U.S. including California & New Mexico. Later, U.S. purchased parts of Arizona & New Mexico (Gadsden Purchase).


– 3. Israel and Palestine –1947 the United Nations voted to create a Jewish state; Arab leaders rejected this & declared war on Israel. Today borders shift as Israelis & Palestinians debate; major issue is whether a new Palestinian state should include a part of Jerusalem.

– Conclusion– both physical and human factors shape countries’ borders.


• Political Maps – designed to show boundaries separating countries, or states / counties, etc.

• Legend – explains what different lines indicate.


• Maps are called the “language of geography.”

• They can also be used to show distribution of political power or voting patterns:


• International Relations & Balance of Power:– No govt. in the world has

sovereign power over other nations. So nations compete and have conflicts to protect themselves & seek security.

– Balance of Power – idea that if one country grows too strong, others must band together against it. • Purpose of Balance – prevent a

single nation from getting so powerful it forces its will on other nations.


• Physical & Human factors influence power a nation has:– Size of country’s area;– Population;– Education level;– Armed forces & how

equipped they are;– Physical features of

country;– How productive a

country’s economy is.


• Major Powers in the World Today:– 1. United States – benefits of

a large land area, rich natural resources, high standards of living, high education level, experienced army, superior weapons.• After WWII, U.S. became a

superpower with world’s 1st nuclear weapons.

• After 9/11/2001 attacks, U.S. got involved in costly wars in Iraq, Afghanistan & rising economic competition from overseas.


– 2. China – Mao Zedong established Communist totalitarian dictatorship in China in 1949. They have world’s largest population & army, but low standards of living & inferior technology.• After Mao’s death, China has better

economy – welcomed foreign investors in 1990s; has the world’s fastest growing economy; continues to have large military – 1.6 million troops, nuclear weapons.

• Experts believe China will soon become world’s greatest power!


– 3. Russia – the leading part of the Soviet Union, one of the two superpowers after WWII; following defeat of Cold War with U.S., it had great economic challenges in transition from Communist to free-style economy. Continues to have a large, advanced military & possess world’s 2nd largest supply of nuclear weapons.


– 4. Japan – smaller population, but high education standards & inventiveness; renounced use of nuclear weapons after it was attacked in WWII. Still a major superpower based on economic strength.


• Associations of countries can also influence international relations:

• 1. United Nations – all sovereign nations in the world belong; founded after WWII to promote peace, prevent war & help development around world.


–All member states of the United Nations belong to a general assembly; a group of powerful states belong to the UN Security Council – has power to send UN peace-keeping forces to areas of conflict in the world. (members include the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, & France).


• 2. European Union – economic & political union of member states; many European states are members; throughout, people & goods pass freely; EU cooperates on many issues; Euro is common currency; citizens elect representatives to a European Parliament in Strasburg, France.


• 3. NATO – (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – political & military alliance formed in 1949 (after WWII) between many European countries & North American countries – member countries defend any actions against each other militarily (creating a balance of power); 28 members exist today.

NATIONS: Borders & Power A govt. sets up clear boundaries where it has authority. Political Region – area that a government controls. Borders – boundaries.

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