1. USA and CANADA
Region at a Glance

2. 1. LOCATION

4. WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE REGION?
What do you want to learn?

5. 2. HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

6. Physical Geography Canada
Canadian Shield: Ancient rock formation ~2.5 billion years old
Hudson Bay – 2nd largest bay in the world
St. Lawrence Seaway: Gateway to the Atlantic from the Great Lakes
Rocky Mountains
USA
Vast central plain
Mountains in west - Rockies
Hills and low mountains in east - Appalachians
Rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska
Rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

7. Climate Regions Canada USA Subarctic and Tundra in northern region
Humid Continental (four regular seasons) along the southern border of Canada
Also: Steppe, Highland, and Marine West Coast
USA
Mostly temperate
However…
Tropical in Hawaii and Florida
Arctic in Alaska
Semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River
Arid in the Great Basin of the southwest

8. Natural Hazards Canada Winter storms throughout
Droughts in the interior provinces
Earthquakes along the Pacific Coast
USA
Hurricanes in Atlantic and Gulf regions
Earthquakes along the Pacific coasts
Tornadoes and extreme heat events (drought, grassfires) in the interiors

9. Human Environment Interaction
Erie Canal
St. Lawrence Seaway: Locks
Taming the Mississippi
Hoover Dam
Transcontinental Railroads
National Highway System

10. 3. MOVEMENT

11. Population and Migration in the New World
Columbian Exchange - The exchange of plants, animals, disease, and people (slaves) between the old and new worlds.
Melting Pot (USA) vs Mosaic (Canada)
Dust Bowl – Period of severe dust storms during the 1930s affecting the US and Canadian prairies; caused by severe drought and poor farming practices
Megalopolis – Chain of large metropolitan areas
Quebec City – Windsor Corridor
Northeast
Great Lakes
Texas Triangle

12. Population Geography of Canada
About 90% of Canada’s population lives within 100 miles of the US-Canadian border.
One-third of Canada’s population lives in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Dust Bowl

13. 4. PLACE
What’s it like? Looking at the 9 Cultural Traits

14. Historical Geography of Canada
Prehistory – Ancestors of Inuit (Eskimos): Beringia
CE – Vikings: Greenland/Newfoundland
1497 – Giovanni Caboto: Newfoundland, British
16th/17th centuries – British/French territorial opposition. Britain defeated France in the French and Indian war, but French settler’s remained
18th century – Protestant British (Upper Canada) and Roman Catholic French (Lower Canada)
1830s – Political and ethnic revolts
1867 – Dominion of Canada: Upper/Lower Canada + colonies. Other territories by the 20th century

15. Historical Geography of the USA
18th century – Thirteen colonies
1803 – Louisiana purchase
1840s – Mexican cession and Texas
1840s – Gold rush
1850s to 1890s – Westward expansion
1898 – Hawaii
1945 to Present – Postwar sunbelt explosion

16. Overview of United States
3rd largest country by size (after Russia and Canada)
3rd largest population (after China and India) = 310,232,863 (July 2010 est.)
Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Most powerful military in the world – Nearly half of global military spending is done for the US military alone. Only 4% of GNP, though.
Guarantor of global political, military, and economic stability

17. Canada 2nd largest country in land area
Made up of ten provinces and three territories
Largest block of population settled in the southeast near the valley of the St. Lawrence Seaway
Longest undefended border in the world: >5000 mi
Extensive social safety network: old age pensions, family allowance, unemployment insurance, and welfare
Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a federal state with a democratic parliament
Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth, with Queen Elizabeth II as the “Head of State”

18. Economic Geography of Canada and the USA
Post-industrialized economies
Agriculture →
Industrialization →
Tertiary/Quaternary Activities →
Higher Quality of Life
Market-oriented/capitalist economies with highly diversified employment sectors
Major focus on tertiary and quaternary jobs
USA: Largest, most technologically powerful, industrialized economy in the world – nearly 25% of global GDP, though currently in crisis
Canada: 3% global GDP
USA: Guarantor of global political, military, and economic stability

19. Difference Between Canadians and Americans
Tom Brokaw Explains Canada

20. Sketch Map Rubric 5 = Exceeds Expectations (91 – 100%)
Neatly sketched, labeled thoroughly and accurately, colored appropriately (see directions for guidelines), includes TODAL, ready for display in classroom.
4 = Meets Expectations (81 – 90%)
Mostly neatly sketched, mostly labeled thoroughly and accurately (may have some misspellings, incorrect use of capitalization; see directions for guidelines), colored appropriately, incudes TODAL.
3 = Mostly Meets Expectations (71 – 80%)
May be slightly lacking one or more of the following: neatly sketched, thorough and accurate labels, appropriate coloration, TODAL.
2 = Below Expectations (61 – 70%)
Turned in late, had to be redone, not neatly sketched, not legible, inappropriate coloring, lacking TODAL.
1 = Not Completed (50%)
0 = Not Attempted/Not Turned In (0%)

21. 5. REGIONS

22. Regions of Canada
Maritime Atlantic Provinces- Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edwards Island, and Newfoundland.
Core – Quebec and Ontario (Includes French Canada
Prairie Provinces – Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, and Alberta
Western Province- British Columbia
Northern Frontier- Nunavut,
Northwest Territory, Yukon
©2010, TESCCC

23. Maritime or Atlantic Provinces
Atlantic Canada - consists of the provinces of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island
Cod fishing - mainstay of region’s economy ever since earliest settlement
The Grand Banks – Shallow waters in the Atlantic, have long been a rich source of fish harvest because of the mixing of warm waters from the south and cold from the north.
Recently, the Banks have become so over- fished that they have lost their capacity to support the region's fishing population.
©2010, TESCCC

24. Core Provinces
Ontario and Quebec - the two provinces which make up the core of Canadian settlement and political influence.
Two-thirds of Canada's population lives in this region.
The margins of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes make up the areas of primary settlement and industrial activity.
Ontario- strongly British, and Quebec is powerfully French in its cultural flavor, with 80% of the Quebec population of French origin.
©2010, TESCCC

25. Prairie Provinces
Prairie region - made up of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Wheat, petroleum, and coal
Newly discovered “shale oil” reserves may be larger than the Middle East.
Major urban centers include Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg.
©2010, TESCCC

26. Western Provinces
Western Frontier - centered in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the mouth of the Fraser River.
More than one-half of the province's population lives in the Vancouver area, which is the region's main industrial, administrative, financial, and cultural center.
Vancouver is home to the second largest Chinatown in North America.
Shares many of the same characteristics at the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.
©2010, TESCCC

27. Northern Frontier: Territories
Canadian North – sparsely populated
Nickel, copper, and uranium are the major resource metals mined and exported from the area.
Forestry, pulp manufacture, and hydroelectricity - additional economic resources
Nunavut is the newest political unit. (1999)
©2010, TESCCC

28. AVAILABLE ONLINE AT MR. BENTON’S WEBSITE!
UNIT 4 Exam Review
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT MR. BENTON’S WEBSITE!

29. Major Regions of the United States
Northeast
Midwest/Rust Belt
South
Great Plains
Western Interior
Pacific West
Alaska and Hawaii

30. Northeast
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia
Historical Geography
longest history of European settlement, gateway to immigrants.
financial and manufacturing hub early in the industrial revolution.
Economic Geography
Rural areas are agricultural – primary sector
Urban areas are major world economic centers – tertiary, quaternary sectors
Cultural Geography
Very diverse, large population – many ethnic groups and languages
Usually votes Democrat

31. Midwest “Why is it called the Rust Belt?”
Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa
Historical Geography
Once the “Western Frontier”, hence the name.
Breadbasket of the U.S., as this is an agricultural region.
Also known as a manufacturing, blue-collar hub of the U.S.
Economic Geography
Formerly mining and manufacturing center – primary and secondary sector
Decline in recent past, hurt area economy, jobs moved away
Cultural Geography
Large cities, declining population - Urban Gentrification in some places. “White Flight” in 1960’s-80’s.
Mainly blue collar, rural areas mainly white

32. South
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Virginia, W. Virginia, Kentucky, and Louisiana
Historical Geography
settled as an agricultural region, with slavery and cash crops
Anglo Protestant plantation farmers were dominant group.
Significant in US Civil War ( ) and Civil Rights Movement (1960’s)
Economic Geography
Agriculture, new heavy industry, tourism
Moving from primary sector to secondary and tertiary sectors
Cultural Geography
Large African-American population
Strongly Christian, usually votes Republican
Culture still has connection to Civil War

33. Great Plains Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
Historical Geography
Staging point of war between the native people and the American settlers, especially after the 1862 “Homestead Act”.
Was also used for cattle grazing and cattle drives, cities founded as railroad hubs for cattle.
Economic Geography
Agriculture – farming and cattle, Primary sector
Region makes enough food to feed whole world
Cultural Geography
People are mainly Anglo, Protestant
Mainly rural – lots of small towns, fewer cities

34. Western Interior States
New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas
Historical Geography
Mining towns, Outlaws (Wild West)
Cattle/Sheep Grazing, Reservation Lands
Las Vegas and Reno- Gambling towns
Cultural Geography
Low population density
Large Hispanic population, as well as Native Americans

35. Pacific West States California, Oregon, Washington
Historical Geography
Population grew during the 1840’s “Gold Rush”.
Grew again when irrigation and canals brought water to dry areas for farming.
Economic Geography
Mostly mining and ranching, primary sectors; tourism, tertiary sectors.
High-tech centers in San Francisco, Seattle areas – quaternary sector
Entertainment and media in Southern California
Cultural Geography
Presently, about one-seventh of the United States population lives in southern California.
Rapidly increasing urban population, due to high birth rate and immigration
Large Hispanic population

36. Alaska and Hawaii Alaska and Hawaii, Pacific Ocean
Historical Geography
Alaska was purchased from Russian Empire in 1867, for $7.2 million, became a territory in 1912, and the 49th state of the U.S. in 1959.
Hawaii was independent republic from 1894 until 1898, then annexed by USA. Attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, Became a state in 1959.
Economic Geography
Tourism and fishing, agriculture in Hawaii
Oil, mining, and forestry important in Alaska
Cultural Geography
Large populations of Hawaiians, Native Americans, and Asians

37. 6. CURRENT EVENTS