Study Notes

USAUSAMain ConceptsMain Concepts

LocationLocation

North AmericaNorth America Northern and Western HemispheresNorthern and Western Hemispheres North of MexicoNorth of Mexico South of CanadaSouth of Canada Stretches between Atlantic and Pacific Stretches between Atlantic and Pacific

OceanOcean Alaska is NW of CanadaAlaska is NW of Canada Hawaii is in the Pacific OceanHawaii is in the Pacific Ocean

SizeSize

The US is the fourth largest country The US is the fourth largest country in the world.in the world.

LandformsLandforms

Shares landforms with Canada & Mexico Shares landforms with Canada & Mexico (example: Rocky Mtns., Great Plains)(example: Rocky Mtns., Great Plains)

Numerous north-south travel corridors Numerous north-south travel corridors (more highways N-S than E-W)(more highways N-S than E-W)

Spectacular landforms include Spectacular landforms include Yellowstone National Park and Grand Yellowstone National Park and Grand CanyonCanyon

These attract many touristsThese attract many tourists Most tourists come from CanadaMost tourists come from Canada

Rivers and LakesRivers and Lakes

Water resources are shared between Water resources are shared between Canada and USACanada and USA

Natural Resources p1Natural Resources p1

Many natural resources incl. waterMany natural resources incl. water Water used for drinking, farming, Water used for drinking, farming,

industries, hydroelectricityindustries, hydroelectricity Rivers/Lakes/Oceans = fishRivers/Lakes/Oceans = fish US may purchase water from US may purchase water from

CanadaCanada Large area of rich farmlandLarge area of rich farmland Large mineral depositsLarge mineral deposits

Natural Resources p2Natural Resources p2

Lots of Coal – used to make Lots of Coal – used to make electricityelectricity

Petroleum ( still needs to buy from Petroleum ( still needs to buy from Canada and Saudi Arabia)Canada and Saudi Arabia)

Forest cover 1/3 of U.S, but still Forest cover 1/3 of U.S, but still imports lumber (mainly from imports lumber (mainly from Canada)Canada)

ClimateClimate

Much of US is mild – crops grow Much of US is mild – crops grow year roundyear round

Ideal for fruits, vegetables, cereal Ideal for fruits, vegetables, cereal (wheat / corn)(wheat / corn)

Hawaii – tropical fruitsHawaii – tropical fruits Warm climates attract touristsWarm climates attract tourists

PoliticalPolitical

50 states – 48 border each other50 states – 48 border each other Washington D.C. = capitalWashington D.C. = capital Whitehouse = President’s official Whitehouse = President’s official

residence residence Embassies / AmbassadorsEmbassies / Ambassadors Democracy – elected by peopleDemocracy – elected by people Voting age is 18Voting age is 18

Economic - PrimaryEconomic - Primary

Uses natural Uses natural resourcesresources

Farming, fishing, Farming, fishing, forestryforestry

Largest food Largest food producerproducer

Many Many agricultural agricultural products:products:

BeefBeef PigsPigs

DairyDairy WheatWheat

SoybeansSoybeans CottonCotton

CornCorn FruitsFruits

ChickensChickens VegetableVegetabless

EggsEggs TobaccoTobacco

Agricultural productsAgricultural products

Economic – Secondary p1Economic – Secondary p1 ManufacturingManufacturing Most industrialized country in the worldMost industrialized country in the world Industries include cars, trucks, Industries include cars, trucks,

medicine, clothing, paper products, medicine, clothing, paper products, computer equipment, televisions, computer equipment, televisions, machinery, chemicals, gasoline & machinery, chemicals, gasoline & plasticsplastics

Most Important: food processing, Most Important: food processing, wireless phones, computer hardware / wireless phones, computer hardware / software, jet planes, space equipmentsoftware, jet planes, space equipment

Economic – Secondary p2Economic – Secondary p2

American inventions:American inventions: Assembly line productionsAssembly line productions TV / satellite broadcastsTV / satellite broadcasts Plastic containersPlastic containers Computers/early internetComputers/early internet Fast foods/snacksFast foods/snacks 24% work in this sector24% work in this sector

Economic – ServiceEconomic – Service

73% work in this 73% work in this sectorsector

Education, banking, Education, banking, health, real estate, health, real estate, transportation, transportation, communications, communications, restaurantsrestaurants

Help people – do not Help people – do not make something.make something.

Provide a service.Provide a service.0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Tertiary

Secondary

Primary

Market EconomyMarket Economy

Companies compete for profitCompanies compete for profit Customers influence what is madeCustomers influence what is made

TradeTrade

Canada and the USA are each Canada and the USA are each other’s most important trading other’s most important trading partnerspartners

NAFTANAFTA

Created in 1994Created in 1994 Free trade between Canada, USA Free trade between Canada, USA

and Mexicoand Mexico Reduce / remove tariffs (tax on Reduce / remove tariffs (tax on

imports)imports) Encourage tradeEncourage trade Mexican factories = lower costs / Mexican factories = lower costs /

higher profithigher profit

PopulationPopulation

Population not spread evenlyPopulation not spread evenly Metro area = dense population Metro area = dense population

centre – more than one citycentre – more than one city Local example: GTA – Toronto + Local example: GTA – Toronto +

Brampton +….Brampton +…. 75% urban (77% in Canada)75% urban (77% in Canada) Population nearly 300 millionPopulation nearly 300 million

PeoplePeople

Native Americans – 2 million Native Americans – 2 million Melting Pot – most people are Melting Pot – most people are

immigrantsimmigrants Include European, African-American, Include European, African-American,

Hispanic, Asian.Hispanic, Asian. Most recent immigrants – Mexico, Most recent immigrants – Mexico,

Philippines and HaitiPhilippines and Haiti

American Way of LifeAmerican Way of Life

FamiliesFamilies Fewer two parent families Fewer two parent families Fewer children per familyFewer children per family

EducationEducation Literacy rate = 97%Literacy rate = 97% 20% of High School students go to 20% of High School students go to

UniversityUniversity Adult Education for manyAdult Education for many


LanguagesLanguages No official languageNo official language English and Spanish most commonEnglish and Spanish most common

BeliefsBeliefs Freedom of religionFreedom of religion 56% Protestant, 28% Catholic, 10% 56% Protestant, 28% Catholic, 10%

nonenone 84% Christian84% Christian


FoodFood Convenience / fast foodConvenience / fast food Drive-throughDrive-through Frozen / processed foodFrozen / processed food Many ethnic foods are popularMany ethnic foods are popular


MusicMusic Jazz, soul, blues, r&b, hip hop, rap, Jazz, soul, blues, r&b, hip hop, rap,

rock and roll very popular all over rock and roll very popular all over worldworld

Latin, African, Indian music Latin, African, Indian music influencing American musicinfluencing American music


CelebrationsCelebrations 44thth. Of July: Independence in 1776. Of July: Independence in 1776 Thanksgiving: Pilgrims – first Thanksgiving: Pilgrims – first

harvestharvest President’s Day – honour George President’s Day – honour George

Washington & Abraham LincolnWashington & Abraham Lincoln Easter, Christmas, Passover, Diwali, Easter, Christmas, Passover, Diwali,

RamadanRamadan