United States of America and Canada

United States of America and Canada

Human Environment and InteractionSt Lawrence Seaway - North America’s

most important deep water ship route; joint project between USA and Canada.

A system of locks, canals, and channels that allow large ship to travel from central North America, through the Great Lakes, and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Human Environment and InteractionThe diagram below shows the sequence ships would travel from west to east. Notice the depth of the lakes, and the elevation change from Lake Erie to Montreal. Without the locks boats would not have been able to travel over this area because of waterfalls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLTfO6E1b40

Railroads Trains were instrumental in settling the western part of the United States of

America.

To encourage development of rail lines westward, the government offered railroad companies massive land grants and bonds. Railroads received millions of acres of public lands and sold that land to generate money for the construction of the railroads. The federal government gave 134 million acres of land as incentives to the railroads.

Human Environment and InteractionHoover Dam

Human Environment and Interaction

Human Environment and InteractionHoover Dam Why was it built

To help control flooding To provide water for irrigation To produce hydroelectric power

Population and MigrationBeringia-Land bridge that once connected Siberia and Alaska

Population and Migration• Columbian Exchange - The exchange of plants, animals,

disease, and people (slaves) between the old and new worlds.

Population and MigrationMelting Pot (USA) vs Mosaic (Canada)Melting pot is much closer to assimilation Mosaic is much closer to multiculturalism

Plano, TX –no “towns” Los Angeles- Chinatown, Korea town, Little

Italy,

Population Geography of Canada• About 90% of Canada’s

population lives within 100 miles of the US-Canadian border.

• One-third of Canada’s population lives in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Population Geography of USA East Coast-first settled, then West Coast, Middle America.

Culture/GovernmentCanada is a constitutional monarchy

and a federal state with a democratic parliament.

USA-Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Culture-People

Metis- People of French and Native heritage.

Immigrant-someone who comes to a new country. (Push or Pull) Railways (Pull)

Refugee- someone forced to flee their country due to war, persecution or violence. (Push)

Culture Religion• Canada-

Catholics 44% Protestants 30%

• USA-Protestants – 60%Catholics – 26%

Culture LanguageCanada - 2 official languages

French and English

USA - O official languages. The federal government has never mandated an official language

English spoken by 80% of AmericaSpanish spoken by 30% of

America

RegionsMaritime or Atlantic Provinces #5Easternmost provincesCod fishingThe Grand Banks

RegionsCore #4Home to ⅔ of the populationSettled along Great Lakes and St.

Lawrence RiverDivided between British and French

origins

RegionsWestern Provinces #2Borders Pacific OceanCentered on VancouverHome to the second largest Chinatown in

North America

RegionsNorthern Frontier #1Nickel, copper, and uranium minesHome to forestry, pulp manufacture, and

hydroelectricity industries

RegionsPacific WestPopulation boom during 1840s Gold

RushHome to mining, ranching, high tech,

and entertainment industriesRapidly increasing urban population

due to high birth rate and immigration

RegionsNortheastLongest history of European settlement,Gateway to immigrantsUrban areas are major economic centersDiverse population, usually votes

Democrat

RegionsMidwestOnce the “Western Frontier”Breadbasket of the USManufacturing blue-collar hubDeclining urban population

RegionsSouthFormerly based on slavery and cash cropsMoving from primary to secondary and

tertiary sectorsLarge African-American populationStrongly Christian, usually votes Republican

RegionsGreat PlainsStaging point of war between Native

Americans and American settlersCities founded as railroad hubs for

cattleHome to farming and cattle industriesMany small towns with fewer cities

RegionsAlaska and HawaiiAcquired by the US in late 19th

centuryHome to tourism, fishing, oil, mining,

and forestry industriesLarge Native American and Asian

populations