World Regional Geography March 10, 2010 Reading: Marston Chapter 6 pages , (beginning with Rural Poverty) Goode’s World Atlas pages 67-69, Next Week: Map Quiz #3 North America USA & Southern Canada from space at night

Canada: Political Map

Historical Notes: US & Canada Different paths to independence Similar settlement patterns East-to-West Canadian expansion inhibited by Canadian Shield Plains & Mountain regions initially by-passed Industrialization Northeast US Limited in Canada Urbanization Similar to industrialization pattern in US Canadian core North / South variations

Culture: US & Canada Immigrant Nations Wide variety of cultural influences Mixing of musical and artistic styles Ethnic enclaves World-wide connectivity Export of America Import and inclusion of foreign culture Sports Export or American/Canadian sports Import of foreign players

Economies: US & Canada Sectoral Shifts Regional Variations Inequality United States: world’s largest economy Canada: 9 th largest economy Measured by Gross National Product (GNP), the value of all goods and services produced by countries citizens/companies, regardless of location.

Canadian Economy Staples economy Early dependence on resource extraction Lack of large industrial sector Shift to services Regional Variations Atlantic provinces Quebec/Ontario Prairies British Columbia

American Economy Three major shifts Agriculture Industrialization Services & the New Economy

American Economy Regional Variations Northeast Upper Midwest (“Rust-Belt”) South & Southwest (“Sun-Belt”) Great Plains Mountain West West Coast

Wealth & Inequality “Rich getting richer and poor getting poorer” US Poverty Rate: 13.2% 39.1 million people Child poverty rate: 17% 58% of Americans will spend at least 1-year in poverty Why? Low government benefits Stagnation of lower income wages

Wealth & Inequality Rural vs. Urban Poverty

Wealth & Inequality 40% will experience poverty

Geographic Disparities $16,036 $43,670 $31,781 $77,519 $74,346 $34,987

Migration Migrant or mover? Mobility or migration? Temporary / Seasonal workers Commuters What is permanent? Any permanent change in residence involving the detachment from daily activities at one place and the engagement in daily activities at another. Who is a migrant?

Types of Migration Internal International In both cases, migration is a significant contributor to the demographic transition. Internal migrants are in-migrants and out-migrants. International migrants are immigrants and emigrants.

Types of International Migrants Legal Illegal Refugee Asylee

Why do People Migrate? Pull factors: characteristics of the receiving region that draw migrants Push factors: characteristics of the sending region that drive out-migrants Benefits (B) Push & pull factors Costs (C) Distance Social changes The Migration Decision: A Social Science Model If B > C, then a migration occurs

Who Migrates? Age Schedule Age Schedule of Migration Female Male

Who Migrates? Variations in schedules Rural / Urban Labor / Family

Immigration to the United States Three Major Waves Present

Immigration to Canada Early Immigration (Pre-1750) Largely French Post-1750 Similar to US patterns Significant increase in British and Irish British restrict American immigration to Canada Present Day Asians account for 50% of immigrants Hong Kong – Vancouver 10% of Canadians speak a language other than English or French.

Internal Migration: US & Canada US: Four Major Shifts Rural-to-urban East-to-West South-to-North Urban-to-Suburban Another shift?? Northeast & Midwest to the Sun-belt Canada: Two Shifts Rural-to-urban East-to-West

Internal Migration: US

Assimilation vs. Multiculturalism US Model: Assimilation The “Melting Pot” A mixture of many cultures fusing into one unique American culture. Canadian Model: Multiculturalism Right to retain individual cultures Languages Peaceful coexistence