Canadaand

United States of America

VIKINGS• Vikings were from Norway, Sweden and

Denmark• Norsemen (Vikings) colonized Iceland and

parts of Greenland from years 800-1400

• Viking sailors attempted to colonize parts of Canada around the year 1000 but failed

NativesFirst nations

Canada’s Native American population Began trading with Europeans along Atlantic Coast

French Canadians• France lost all its Canadian territories to Britain after losing the seven years war or the French and Indian wars in 1763

• The areas of Quebec today still speak French

Canada

• Officially a bi-lingual country (English speaking majority and French speaking minority)

Canada• British government passed

British North America Act in 1867 that established the Dominion of Canada– Canada is a member of the

Commonwealth of Nations, but autonomous

• Gained independence from Britain in 1931

• Set up a parliamentary government similar to England

Canada• Although Canada is an independent

nation, the monarch of Great Britain is ceremoniously the head.

• Ottawa is the capital of Canada

Canada is one of the world’s richest countries*Farming

- only 5 percent of land is arable

-Farming only uses only 3%of labor force but still produces large amounts of food

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories• Provinces

– Prince Edward Island– New Brunswick– Nova Scotia– Newfoundland– Ontario– Quebec– Saskatchewan– Manitoba– Alberta– British Columbia

* Most of Canada’s population lives near the United States border because of the Mild Climate.

• Atlantic Provinces–Prince Edward Island, New

Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland

• industries include, fishing, logging, mining, and ship building.

*Largest exporter of Timber in the WORLD!

Quebec and Ontario•1. Quebec is largest province in land area (French speaking)–Montreal is the largest city in Quebec

•2. Ontario is largest in population (English speaking)–Toronto is the largest city in Ontario

– 60% of Canadians live in these provinces

• Prairie Provinces–Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta–Canada’s “Breadbasket”

50% of Canada’s agricultural production

60% of mineral production

• Pacific Provinces and Territories–British Columbia, Yukon Territory,

Northwest Territory, Nunavut–Make up western and northern

Canada

• British Columbia–Lies within Rocky Mountain range–Half is forest and 33% is frozen–Vancouver, British Columbia is

Canada’s largest port

• Territories-Are less sovereign and completely controlled by the Canadian government in Ottawa – Yukon Territories– Nunavut– Northwest Territories

• Mostly wilderness or frozen

• Some logging, fishing, and mining take place

Canada• Canada relies on trade; NAFTA opened

easier trade between US and Mexico (85% of exports go south and 75% of imports come from south)

• U.S. is the main trading partner of Canada

• 85 percent of exports go to U.S.• 75 percent of imports come from U.S.

Canadian Demographics• 28% British Origin• 23% French Origin• 15% Other European• 2% Native American• 6% African, Arab, Asian• 26% Mixed Origin

• Population 34 Million

United States

• The United States broke away from the rest of British North America in 1783

• The United States grew rapidly through wars and land purchases

• American nationalism led to wars with Mexico and Spain

America’s Prestige• Following the defeat of Spain in 1898

America gained world recognition• After the end of World War 1 America

became a major world power• Following World War 2 America was the

most powerful country in the world

The end of colonialism• Following the end of WWII America

became the dominant power in the world– Supplied food and manufactured goods for

much of the world• France, Britain, Soviet Russia, and

Germany were destroyed and broke.

• America pressured the British and the French to give up their colonies and open them up for trade with everyone

• Between 1945-1970 most colonies became independent and open for global trade

Globalization

• increasing integration of economies around the world,

• the movement of goods, services, and capital across borders

Benefits of Globalization

• Wider variety of goods and services• lower prices• more and better-paying jobs• improved health• higher overall living standards.

The Great Plains

• Flat plains that makes up the central part of Canada and The United States

• Fertile soil and the food it produces are one of Canada and the U.S’ main resources

Agricultural Giant• US supplies 40% of world’s corn,

20% of cotton and 10% of wheat/cattle/hogs

• Different products produced in different parts of country–Midwest and South have crop

farming–West has livestock ranching

Waterways• The St. Lawrence

Seaway• Goods can travel

from the Atlantic ocean as far west as Duluth, Minnesota– Through the Great

Lakes

Waterways• The Mississippi River is

one of the only navigable rivers in the United States

• Goods can travel from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico

• This waterway makes SHIPPING important

The Mississippi River Alluvial Plain

• created by the Mississippi River on which lies parts of seven states, from southern Louisiana to southern Illinois.

• Alluvial Plain-largely flat landform created by the deposition of sediment over a long period of time

American Demographics

• 80% White• 13% Black• 4.5% Asian• 1% Native American• 1.5% Pacific Islander

• Population 312 Million people

Rocky Mountains

• Rocky Mountains stretch from the Laird River in British Columbia to the Rio Grande in New Mexico

• The Rocky Mountains are much younger than the Appalachian mountains

Rocky Mountains

• Continental Divide- line separating rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico from those that flow into the Pacific Ocean

• Runs along the Rocky Mountains

Appalachian Mountains

• Stretch from the CANADIAN province of NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR to central ALABAMA in the UNITED STATES

Appalachian Mountains

• Much older Mountain Range that has eroded over the past 480 million years

Northeast (New England)• Nations 1st megalopolis

developed in Northeast (BosWash)

• Rust Belt” - named because of the declining traditional industries.– Current industries are

electronics, communications and chemicals, steel and petroleum

The South (The Sunbelt)

• Economy based on Manufacturing, Service, and agriculture

• Warmer climate makes for ideal agriculture

• The southwestern states have an Arid to Semi-Arid climate and mountainous

• These areas have a large Native American and Mexican influence

• Santa Fe, New Mexico is the oldest capital city in North America

The Midwest (Breadbasket)

• The Breadbasket of America

• known for agriculture– main crops are

corn, wheat, soybeans, meat and dairy goods

• industries are steel and auto-making

The West

• The Rocky Mountains are the dominant geographic feature of this region of the West.

• These states are sparsely populated

• Mining and tourism are the main industries

• Washington and Oregon have a Marine West Coast Climate

• California has a Mediterranean Climate-good for agriculture

• Many tech companies are headquartered in the Pacific states