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North America
World Geography
Coach Houp
Nations
United States of America
– Capital: Washington, D.C.
Canada
– Capital: Ottawa
Greenland (Part of Denmark)
– Capital: Nuuk
Agreements/ Alliances
United Nations
Organization of American States
North American Aerospace Defense Command
– NORAD
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Special-Relationship with Britain
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Missile Defense with Poland
War on Drugs with Latin America
Government – U.S.
Has a representative Democracy
– Any U.S. citizen that is over 18 years of age can vote
Federalist
Three branches of Government
– Executive
• Headed by an elected President
• Executes and Enforces the laws passed by the Legislative
Branch
• Operates in the White House
• Has a cabinet that helps make decisions
Three branches of Government
Legislative Branch
– Lawmaking body
– Bicameral
• Senate has 2 Representatives from every state
• House of Representatives is organized based on population
size of each state
– Can Impeach President
Judicial Branch
– Judicial Review
• Determine if actions follow Constitution
• Supreme Court the top court
Government – Canada
Parliamentary Government
Headed by a Prime minister
– Voted in by the Parliament and is normally
leader of the majority party
– Elected within 5 years
Federalist
Constitutional Monarchy
Judicial Branch has Judicial Review
Economy – U.S.
Capitalist mixed economy
–
–
–
–
Unemployment: 9.6%
GDP Growth: 1.6%
National Debt: $13.454 Trillion and rising
Poverty: 14.3%
• $10,590 Individual
• $21,203 Family of Four
Member of G20
Economy – U.S.
Trading Partners:
– China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany
Leading Import:
– Vehicles
Leading Export:
– Electrical Machinery
Top Producer of:
– Corn, Soybeans, Salt
Standard of Living:
– Avg. $50,233
Economy - Canada
Member of G20
Mixed Market
– Unemployment: 8.1%
– Very similar to U.S. economy, however with higher taxes
and more of a welfare state
– Government surplus in budget the last 6 years
GDP Growth Rate: 0.5%
– Net exporter of energy
• 2nd largest oil fields in the world
– Exports
• Wheat, Canola, Zinc, Uranium
Relatively high standard of living
History – U.S.
Established by British, French and Spanish
– 13 colonies
– Fought for independence from British in 1770’s and
won
– Established the Articles of Confederation originally
• Then created the U.S. Constitution and ratified it in 1789
Expanded westward toward the Rocky Mountains
– Fought a civil war during the 1860’s over the issue of
slavery
Participated in WWI and WWII
– Bombed by Japan in Pearl Harbor before WWII
Cold War between U.S. and Soviet Union (Russia)
post WWII until the late 1980’s.
History - Canada
Explored by Vikings, British and French
First Cities
– Port Royal 1605 and Quebec City 1608
Mainly controlled by British and French
throughout its history
– Center of war in 1812
Established independence in 1867 with the
Constitution Act
– Setup a confederacy
Population Characteristics – U.S.
306 Million people
– 11.2 million illegal immigrants
Growth Rate: .97%
Ethnic Groups
–
–
–
–
White: 80%
African Americans: 12.8%
Hispanic: 15%
Asian: 4.4%
Largest Cities:
– New York
– Los Angeles
– Chicago
Culture – U.S.
Multicultural
– Considered a melting pot due to the wide variety of
cultures
Dominantly western culture
– Western European influence
– However great deal of African influence as well
American Dream
– Social Mobility
Pop Culture very prominent
– Movies, TV, Internet, etc.
Culture – U.S.
Language
– English: 81%
– Spanish: 12%
– Other: 7%
• Chinese, French, German
Religion
– Christian: 78.4%
• Protestant more than Catholic
– Agnostic-Atheistic: 16%
– Islam: 1.6%
– Judaism: 1.4%
Population Characteristics –
Canada
Population: 31 Million
– Increase of nearly 5.4% in 5 years
Most population growth from influx of
immigrants
– .87% a year
Ethnic Groups
– English: 21%
– French: 15.8%
– Scottish: 15.2%
Culture – Canada
Influenced greatly by French and English
– Some aboriginal influence as well
Most of economy and culture is geared
toward U.S.
Maple Leaf symbol of Canada
Belief in multiculturalism
– Importance of appreciating other cultures
Hockey and Lacrosse very popular in
Canada
Culture - Canada
Language
– English and French officially
• English only: 67%
• French only: 13%
• Both English and French: 17%
– Chinese, Italian and German
Religion
–
–
–
–
Christians: 77%
No Religion: 16%
Islam: 1.9%
Jew: 1.1%
Climate – U.S.
Great variety in temperature
– Cold along Canadian border and hot to Mexican border
Land Use
– Shipping on Coasts
– Mining in West
– Farming in Plains
Rivers
– Mississippi River
– Missouri River
– Colorado River
Climate - Canada
Ottawa
– January
• Low: -15.3ºC
• High: -6.1ºC
– July
• Low: 15.4ºC
• High: 26.5ºC
Land features
– Niagara Falls
– Canadian Shield
• Contains most of Canada’s oil fields
– Hudson Bay
• Major Trading Center
– Lake Champlain
• Major Trading Center
Present Day – U.S.
Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
NATO
NAFTA
UN
– Security Council member and Headquarters
located in New York City
New President and worldwide image
Present Day - Canada
UN
NATO
NAFTA
Participated in Afghanistan War, however
greatly against Iraq War