The United States and Canada Today

• Chapter 8 and 9

Place-Name Geography

• Early settlement patterns can be “seen” through place-name geography.

• Cities and towns in the USA and Canada have Native American, Spanish, French, or German names.

• Montreal- French: hill in the center of a city

• Mississippi- Native American: great river

• New Braunfels-German• San Antonio- Spanish:

Saint Anthony• Georgia- English: King

George III• Texas- Caddo Tribe

Colonization• The British became

the main influence in the United States, and eventually established 13 colonies.

• The 1st Europeans to sail to Canada were the Vikings, but they built no colonies.

• By 1608, France had permanent settlements in Canada.

• By the early 1700s, Britain had established permanent settlements in Canada, too.

Government• The United States is a

democratic republic.• Citizens vote for a

president and congressional representatives that make the laws.

• Political divisions within the United States are called “states.”

• Canada is a constitutional monarchy because Queen Elizabeth is their symbolic leader.

• Citizens vote for a prime minister and parliamentary representatives that make the laws.

• Political divisions within Canada are called “provinces” and “territories.”

Proud to Be Canadians

• Because of a harsh climate in the north, most Canadian cities are located within 200 miles of the U.S. border and have friendly ties with the U.S.

• Canadians are very proud of their culture and history and do not want to be dominated by the U.S.

• They also have a strong sense of political independence- and do not always agree with the decisions that American leaders make.

Proud To Be Canadian

• Canada “Rant”

A Multicultural Country• Because of its long

history of immigration, American culture includes traditions, foods, and beliefs from all over the world.

• 99% of Americans are either immigrants or descendants of immigrants.

• Geographers and historians refer to the United States as a “melting pot” or “salad bowl” of cultures. President Jimmy Carter called our country a “mosaic.”

Which metaphor do you believe is the most accurate description of ethnic diversity in our nation?

Belts Are Another Name for Region

Settlement Patterns

• The northeast is most densely populated and home to the oldest urban areas.

• The older, more industrial areas have become less important; earning the name “Rust Belt.”

• The west is the most rural of the regions.

• In recent years, the population has been shifting from the NE to the south and west; the “Sun Belt.”

Indigenous Peoples

• American “Indians” had a variety of rich cultures established before the arrival of European immigrants. They were treated with little or no respect by the U.S. government and pushed onto reservations so the land could be settled.

• Inuit people of the Canadian arctic finally earned a self-governing territory in 1999. It is named Nunavut, which means “our land.”

A Service Economy• Although both Canada and the United States

began as agricultural societies, today the economies are based on service industries.

U.S. Trade with Canada

• The United States and Canada have the world's largest bilateral trading relationship, translating into over $1 billion in goods crossing the border every day.

NAFTA• The North American Free Trade Agreement

among the United States, Canada and Mexico went into effect in 1994.

• NAFTA, which impacts the 406 million people of the three North American countries, moved to reduce trade barriers and establish agreed upon trade rules between the countries.

• Since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994, total two-way merchandise trade between the United States and Canada has grown by 125%.

Environmental Issues

• The U.S. consumes vast amounts of energy and produces huge amounts of waste.

• Acid rain and fertilizer run-off are two issues that affect our environment.

• Irrigation and damming have led to water shortages- especially in the American west.

• Over-fishing is a problem in both American and Canadian waters.