1. North America

2. Important Terms
Nation: a group with a shared culture inside a land area (ex: Cherokee Nation)
State: sovereign territory with distinct borders (ex: Canada)
Nation-State: land where nation and state are within the same sovereign territory (ex: Japan)
Political Sovereignty: absolute control of a state by a government
Ethnic Sovereignty: control for an ethnic group inside of a functioning politically sovereign state

3. Government of the United States
Representative Democracy: people rule through elected representatives
Federal Republic: powers divided among nations & state governments

5. SuBREGIONS OF THE u.s. – the Northeast
9 northern states
New England: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey

6. SuBREGIONS of the U.S. – the Midwest
12 states
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa

7. SUBREGIONS OF THE u.s. – thE soUTH
¼ Land area of U.S.
16 states
Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia

8. SUBREGIONS OF THE u.s. – thE West
13 states
Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska
Great Plains to the Pacific Ocean
Including Hawaii & Alaska

9. NAFta: North American free trade agreement
Trade agreement between U.S., Canada & Mexico – 1994
One of world’s largest trading blocks
Eliminates trade barriers
Increased economic activity between the three countries
Strengthened political and economic positions in global economy
NAFTA allows US Companies to set up assembly plants in Mexico = lower labor cost

10. UN: United nATIONS 190 countries
Keep peace & stability around the world
Provide diplomatic & humanitarian solutions to issues

11. United against terrorism
After 9/11, US & Canada created the Smart Border action plan to enhance border security
Focuses on
Monitoring the flow of people/goods
Securing infrastructure
Sharing information
The FAST Program – The Free & Secure Trade Program
Sharing & coordination between US and Canadian law enforcement

12. Political geography of Canada
Provinces: political units
1830: Political disputes between French (Lower) & English (Upper) speaking settlers
1867 – British North America Act passes creating the Dominion of Canada
Loose confederation (political union) of Ontario, Quebec Nova Scotia & New Brunswick

14. Governing Canada 1931 - Independent nation from Britain
Parliamentary Government: system in which legislative and executive function are combined in a legislature called a parliament
Large federal government & smaller provincial governments
Canada is independent, Queen of England is symbolic head
Parliament: appointed Senate & elected House of Commons
Prime Minister: head of the government & majority party leader in Parliament
Each of 10 provinces has its own legislature & premier (prime minister)

15. Subregions of Canada 10 provinces & 3 territories
Atlantic Provinces: Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador
Quebec & Ontario: Core Provinces
Center of political life
Ottawa = capital of federal government
Prairie Provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta
Pacific Provinces: British Columbia, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories & Nunavut (Inuit population)