1. History & Government of US and Canada

2. History  Thought mainly that N. Americans came from Asia to Alaska from a land bridge.  10,000 years ago people lived in most parts of North America

3. European Colonies  Europeans came in 1500s searching for farmland, minerals, and political and religious freedom.  The first permanent settlement was Plymouth Rock.

4.  1775 British Colonies fought a war for independence  New country of U.S. set up a republic- a government in which people elect their own officials, including their head of state.  George Washington was the first president of the U.S.

5.  1800s Canada and the U.S. expanded westward  The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the U.S.  By trade or treaty, the US gained control of all land between the two oceans.  1867 the U.S. acquired Alaska from Russia and added Hawaii and some other islands in the Pacific and Caribbean.

6.  Southern colonies had mild climate and arable land – land fit for growing crops.  Used African slave labor for the large scale farming  some worked to end slavery and helped people escape north through the Underground Railroad, an informal network of safe houses, helping thousands of escaping enslaved people make their way north to freedom.

7.  1861 to 1865 American Civil War caused by disputes over slavery, along with economic and political differences.  President Abraham Lincoln and the north defeated the south. With the Emancipation Proclamation, abolished slavery and gave African Americans equal protection under the law and the right to vote.

8. US Government  Both Canada and the U.S. have a democracy with a federal system.  1787 – drafted the Constitution to create a strong central government.  amendments- changes or additions to the Constitution  the first 10 amendments- Bill of Rights- guarantee the basic rights of citizens, including the freedoms of speech, religion, and the press.  U.S. government- 3 branches: executive, legislative, and judicial branches.  Executive - the president, vice president, and the president’s cabinet- a group of special advisers to the president.  legislative- the U.S. congress- the House of Representatives and the Senate.  judicial- Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

9. Canadian Government  Canada created as a dominion- a partially self- governing country with close ties to Great Britain.  Canada gained full independence in 1931, but the British government has the ability to approve changes in their constitution.  British monarch still head of the state- appoints a governor general to act in their place.  Most of the population of Canada is British, English and French.  Parliament- national legislature made up of the Senate and the House of Commons.

10. Trade  Canada trades with the United States more than with any other country.  In 1993, the North America Free Trade Agreement was signed, eliminated tariffs between Canada, US, and Mexico.  US trade is currently a deficit – importing more goods and services than exporting.  US consumes more oil than any other country on Earth.  These are two elements contributing to the current economic crisis.