C H A P T E R Innisfree McKinnon University of Oregon © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Lecture Outline The Future of North America 19

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Learning Objectives The Tragedy of the Commons Invasive Species "Young" elderly & "older" elderly Melting Pot vs. Cultural Pluralism Discrimination against African Americans

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Learning Objectives Heterolocalism vs. spatial proximity The impact of globalization Smart Growth Urban Sprawl, suburbs and exurbs American Exceptionalism

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Environmental Issues The Legacy of the Past During 19 th century – growing awareness of the limitations of resources Extinctions & near extinctions The closing of the frontier in 1890

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Environmental Issues 20 th Century Crises 1927 flood of the Mississippi River The Dust Bowl 1948 industrial air pollution in Donora, PA 1960s growing awareness 1970 the U.S. EPA was founded

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Environmental Issues in the 21 st Century The Tragedy of the Commons –How can we balance individual and societal priorities? Invasive Species –What should be done to help endangered species and/or control exploding populations? Global Warming –What can be done to adapt to change?

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Responses to Environmental Issues Increasing Environmental Education Developing policies of environmental sustainability

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Demography and Population Patterns The Legacy of the Past 17 th & 18 th centuries – high birth rates, high death rates 19 th & 20 th centuries – falling rates of birth & death Steady increase in the median age Rising life expectancies –81.4 years in Canada –78.4 years in the U.S.

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Demographic & Population Patterns in the 21 st Century What are the impacts of this aging process on North American society? Ratio of retirees to working people –1:30 in the 1930s –1:3 today Length of retirement –4 years in 1930s –Often years today

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Demographic & Population Patterns in the 21 st Century Young elderly –Retirement oriented communities –Migration Older Elderly –Health issues –Need for care –Aging in place

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Culture, Race, and Ethnicity The Legacy of the Past Changing immigration patterns –Before 1890 northwest Europe – eastern & southern Europe –1920s-1960s restrictive immigration laws –1960s+ many immigrats from outside Europe

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Culture, Race, and Ethnicity The Legacy of the Past Changing patterns of prejudice –During 19 th & early 20 th century there was widespread discrimination against immigrants from: Ireland, eastern & southern Europe By WWII most European groups where broadly accepted

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Culture, Race, and Ethnicity The Legacy of the Past Discrimination against African Americans –Segregation –Substandard schools –Limitations in purchasing homes The Civil Rights Movement 1960s

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Culture, Race, and Ethnicity in the 21 st Century Melting Pot: Ethnic distinctions would disappear over the generations Cultural Pluralism: acceptance of ethnic distinctions within a broader community

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Culture, Race, and Ethnicity in the 21st Century Increasing # of people of mixed race Increasing heterolocalism

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. The North American Economy The legacy of the Past Until the early 20 th century –The primary sector dominated 19 th & early 20 th centuries –Massive growth in secondary sector late 20 th century –Declining secondary sector –Globalization

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Economic Shifts in the 21 st Century? Growth in tertiary & quaternary sectors Growth in large metro areas w/ global connections "Footloose" tertiary & quaternary activities Creative destruction (Deindustrialization) Technological Treadmill (Declining ag. employment)

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Urbanization and Shifting Urban Growth Patterns 20 th century –A shift of pop. to urban centers Post WWII –Increasing suburbanization

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Urbanization and Urban Settlement Patterns in the 21 st Century Growth at the urban fringe Exurbanization Sprawl –Loss of habitat –Car dependency –Pollution Edge cities

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Urbanization and Urban Settlement Patterns in the 21 st Century Smart growth –Density –Public transportation –Mixed use High cost of living –Pushing firms to relocate Declining pop. in old industrial cities

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North America's Role in the World Growing economic influence, political & military power since European settlement Dominion of Canada established 1867 Rapid pop. growth & increasing economic productivity in the 19 th century U.S. intervention in WWI –Less U.S. involvement in geopolitics between the wars Growing U.S. dominance during and after WWII The Cold War 1940s-1980s

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. North American Geopolitics and Globalization The end of the Cold War (late 1980s-90s) Resentment of U.S. cultural dominance Emerging economic powers –China –India American Exceptionalism

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. North America in the 21 st Century Rapid change & many challenges The tools of geographers can assist Geographic information systems (GIS) Planning for a sustainable future

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. End Chapter 19