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.

The United States & Canada

The Region Today

The EconomySection I

Economic Activities

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

…Continued

Both Economies are Post-Industrial Movement from

agricultural to industrial began at the turn of the 20th century

Currently, less emphasis on heavy industry

More focus on service & high-tech business

Post-Industrial Economics

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

Manufacturing

20% of regions economy

Robotics have changed industry

Great Lakes Region Manufacturing Belt Rust Belt Current work to retool old

factories & mills

…Continued

Region Manufacturing Centers California & Washington-

Aircraft Midwest-Automobile California-Food

Processing Northeast & Quebec-

Logging/Timber Manufacturing

Agriculture

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

…Continued

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

Agricultural Products

Cattle Industry Western &

Southern U.S. Prairie provinces of

Canada Wheat Belt

Great Plains Corn Belt

Midwest Ohio to Nebraska

Agricultural Advancements

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

Trade & Interdependence

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

Trade Agreements

1989-U.S. & Canada sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

1994-U.S., Canada, & Mexico sign North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) World’s largest trade bloc Eliminated trade barriers Strengthens economic bonds Makes Outsourcing easier▪ Easier to move business across Mexican

border

United Against Terror

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

Transportation & Communication

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

…Continued

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

…Continued

Busiest Airports Atlanta’s Hartsfield▪ 384,000 Flights in 2012▪ 38.2 Million passengers in 2012

Chicago’s O’Hare▪ 2400 flights a day▪ 66.6 million passengers annually

Toronto’s Pearson International▪ 34.9 million passengers in 2012▪ 433 thousand flights in 2012

Other Transportation Systems

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

Communication

Development of cellular and digital services

E-mail & internet Communication,

commerce, travel, etc.

People & Their EnvironmentSection II

Managing Resources

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

…Continued

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

zones

…Continued

Overfishing Amount caught exceeds natural

reproduction Canadian ban on Cod fishing

Species Decline Example: Low wolf populations in

Western Canada▪ Exploding elk populations

Invasive Species

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

…Continued

Plants: Autumn Olive, Kudzu, & Sacred Bamboo

Issues: Blocked waterways, Crop destruction, species displacement

Human Impacts

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

Acid Rain

…Continued

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

…Continued

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

Reversing Pollution Effects

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

Future Challenges

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

…Continued

Cleaner energy options Nuclear Energy Solar Power Wind Energy Hydroelectric Power