What large bodies of water surround the United States and Canada?

Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Arctic Ocean

Which major landforms and/or waterways do the United States and Canada share?

Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Great Plains, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

How do Canada and the United States rank in size compared with other countries?

Second and third

Appalachian Mountains located in the EastExtend from Newfoundland in Canada to

Alabama (1600 miles)These mountains are very old and have been

eroded by the elementsRocky Mountains located in the West are

rugged and extend from Alaska to New MexicoThese mountains are very young (about 80

million years old) and have jagged peaks that reach more than 12,000 feet high

Both the U.S. and Canada are leading agricultural and industrial nations due to the abundance and variety of natural resources (especially water)

The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River form one of the world’s major shipping routes (St. Lawrence Seaway connects Great Lakes to Atlantic Ocean by raising and lowering the water level)

Most of Canada’s energy exports come to the United States because it is the world’s biggest consumer of energy resources

Migration of nomads from Asia over Beringia (land bridge that once connected Siberia and Alaska)

European exploration of the “New World”Spanish settled South; St. Augustine, FLFrench settled North and Canada (for fish and fur)English settled Maine to Georgia; Jamestown, VADisplacement of Native AmericansColumbian Exchange: exchange of goods, plants,

animals, and diseases between Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa (see p. 136)

American Revolution (founding of the U.S.)Louisiana Purchase: nearly doubled size of U.S. when

purchased Mississippi to Rocky Mts. from FranceCivil War (agricultural South and slave labor against

industrialized North)Westward movement aided by transcontinental railroadIndustrialization and urbanization led to Americans and

immigrants moving to large cities to work in textile factories, steel industries, oil, and food processing

Movement from a rural, agricultural nation to an urban, industrialized nation (suburbs)

1790 people were self-employed farmers, worked from sunrise to sunset in the field

1890s worked in factories or service industries, 60 hour work week for $12/wk, unsafe conditions, as young as 12

21st century average worker in office, in front of computer, 40 hrs/wk, government regulated safety environment

Representative Democracy: created by Constitution, people rule through elected representatives

Federal Republic: powers divided among federal, state, and local governments

3 branches of government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial)

See chart p. 139

Has 10% of the world’s exportsFree enterprise: private ownership, supply

and demandDriven by service industries (banks, stores,

restaurants) provides a service rather than a product

Called a postindustrial economy because manufacturing no longer plays a major role

A major world trading power, Mexico and Canada

Multicultural due to immigrantsLanguage: English, SpanishReligious freedom; majority are Christians

(Protestants, Roman Catholics)

Northeast: known as “America’s Gateway” because of its location; fishing, farming, manufacturing, and service industries; megalopolis – “BosWash” where several large cities and surrounding areas grow together

Midwest: occupies 1/5 of the land; known as the “breadbasket” due to fertile soil and mild climate; trade, transportation, and distribution center

Dust Bowl: drought, misuse of land, dust storms devastated Great Plains in the 1930s (see p. 150) led to abandonment of many farms

The South: mixed culture, “sunbelt”, began as agricultural society but is becoming more industrial; metropolitan areas - large cities and the nearby suburbs and towns

The West: is most rapidly growing region of U.S., varied economic activities, technology, foreign trade