Unit 1 Notes

Democracy is government of the people, by the people. In a democracy, constitutions guarantee individual rights.

Citizens in a democracy participate in order to limit the powers of the government and protect individual rights.

Citizens in the United States and Canada have different roles and responsibilities in their political system.

U. S. is often referred to as “melting pot” Canada is often referred to as “tossed salad”

Why are places like USA and Canada more populated than other places ? ( more freedoms, better wages, climate )

U. S. uses the free enterprise system. Free enterprise is the freedom of private businesses to operate competitively for profit with minimal government regulation.

What are some factors that limited migration and kept cultures from interacting with one another ?

ANSWER: Tropical rainforests, grasslands, forests, deserts, tundra, arctic, and mountains

Appalachian mountains Rocky mountains Rio Grande Great Lakes Death Valley

People settle near rivers, lakes, and oceans Mississippi River Great Lakes Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean

Many times factors such as severe weather and wild animal migration would PUSH people to settle in a particular area.

People today are PULLED to the US for many reasons. The main reason is that there are many more freedoms and more opportunity, such as making a better living.

The English language is one common trait between the US and Canada

However, the issue of language is the one cultural trait that separates the two dominant cultures in Canada. The two dominant cultures in Canada are French and English.

Today the US and Canada are cooperative ( get along with one another ), but in the late 18 th and 19th centuries they were very hostile toward one another.

Both US and Canada use the market system. Market system is one in which price is set by supply and demand.

Cultural Borrowing occurs when people from one country and people from another nearby country trade with one another. Or when people from 2 different cultures marry.

GDP ( gross domestic product ) GDP is a basic measure of a country's wealth of all goods and services made in a year.

In a limited government everyone, including all authority figures, must obey the laws. The powers are limited by citizens and / or constitutions.

In an unlimited government control is placed solely with the ruler and his / her appointees, and there are no limits placed on his / her authority. All powers are concentrated in the hands of a few with citizens relatively powerless.

US and Canada both have limited governments. Both US and Canada care about individual freedoms, equal opportunities, and fair treatment of all people, as well as private ownership.

A government that has a king as the sole leader is a monarchy.