Global StudiesGlobal StudiesUnit #2North America

North North AmericaAmericaGeographical region between the Arctic Circle and Mexico

Includes the countries of Canada and the United States

Physical Map of North Physical Map of North AmericaAmerica

Major Landforms and RegionsMajor Landforms and Regions Rocky Mountains – extends about 3000 miles along the

western section of the continent – the continental divide runs along the spine of the Rockies – east of the divide, rivers flow to the Atlantic ocean – west of the divide, rivers flow to the Pacific Ocean

Appalachian Mountains – eastern mountain system that runs about 1600 miles, from the American Southeast (Georgia) to the Laurentian Highlands in Canada

Great Plains – lie between the Rockies and the Appalachians. Area of rich soil and intense farming.

US plateaus and basins – west of the Rockies – Great Basin in Utah (Great Salt lake) – Death Valley in California

Glaciers – huge sheets of ice that cover much of Alaska and northern Canada

Canadian features – Coast Mountains (run along the western coast of Canada and link up with the Cascade Range at the US border) – Canadian Shield (east of the Canadian plains – an ancient region of rock covered by a thin layer of soil – not many inhabitants)

Physical Map of North Physical Map of North AmericaAmerica

Major Bodies of Water and Major Bodies of Water and RiversRiversGreat Lakes – Superior, Michigan, Huron,

Erie, Ontario – formed by melting glaciers -- take water from the Canadian plains and upper US Midwest to the Atlantic ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway – the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence form a major shipping lane between the two countries

Mississippi River – “Father of Waters” that drains water away from the great plains and to the Gulf of Mexico (the lowest point east of the Rockies). The MS river is fed by many tributaries, minor rivers that feed the main river, including the Ohio River and the Missouri River

Climate of North AmericaClimate of North AmericaNorthern arctic regions in Canada are very coldAs one moves south towards the Equator, the

temperature moderates, to the point where southern Florida and Texas are tropical.

Wind patterns generally flow from west to east (from the Pacific to the Atlantic) – when the moist air from the Pacific meets the western mountains, it rises and cools, producing rain (or snow) on the western side of the mountains. On the eastern side of the mountains, the now dry air warms and rushes into the plains. As that air moves across the plains, it encounters warm moist air coming from the Gulf of Mexico, producing often violent storms. The Appalachians are lower in elevation than the Rockies, so the wind patterns generally flow across them, into the eastern seaboard and out into the Atlantic.

Affected by elevation – warm, moist air is forced up – as the air rises, it gets colder and the moisture is compressed out

Natural Resources of AmericaNatural Resources of AmericaUnited States – alluvial (flood ) soils found in the

South and the Great Plains (left over from a vast inland sea and/or drainage of silt from the MS River) make for some of the best faming land in the world. The US also has huge stores of coal, natural gas, oil and wood – Minerals such as iron ore (largely found in the Upper Midwest) are important for industrial production.

Canada – great fishing grounds on both coasts (due in large part to the convergence of great ocean currents) – about 12 % of Canada is part of the Great Plains, and thus has the same type of soil for growing crops as the US Great Plains (albeit with a colder and shorter growing season) – mineral, oil and gas stores are similar to the US as well, but are often hard to reach due to the climate. Almost ½ of Canada is covered in forests.

North North American American HistoryHistory

American Indians before 1492American Indians before 1492

Arrived via a land bridge across the Bering Strait (between Siberia and Alaska) sometime between 30,000 and 10,000 years ago

Filtered down throughout the continent over the centuries

created hundreds of separate tribes and societies

Adapted to the environment wherever they went.

European Colonial Holdings in European Colonial Holdings in North America before 1763North America before 1763

European Colonization – part European Colonization – part 11Spain – 1492

◦Columbus ◦Conquistadors ◦Three Gs: God, Gold and Glory ◦Nueva Espana – “New Spain” – huge super

colony created to exploit the Indians◦Spanish missions set up in the American

Southwest and along the California coast – idea was to convert the Indians to Christianity – led to a system of loosely held territories

◦Colombian Exchange – movement of goods, food, disease, culture and people between the Old World and New World (be prepared to give examples)

European Colonization – part European Colonization – part 22France – Canada and Louisiana

◦ Quebec -- French speaking even today◦ Louisiana -- Strong French influence, combined

with Creole from the islands◦ Big reason for colonization -- MONEY FROM FUR

TRADERS◦ Small settlements in Canada -- Montreal and

Quebec City centered on trade with the Indians◦ Big missionary effort -- French will use the

Indians as allies against the English -- this effort will be largely unsuccessful, but the French will try

◦ French trappers will eventually make it to the Great Lakes area and down the Mississippi

◦ Important to remember -- French colonies founded over money and TRADE. THEY'RE REALLY THE ONLY EUROPEAN POWER THAT TREATS THE INDIANS AS ALLIES

European Colonization – part European Colonization – part 33 England – Along the East Coast Virginia (Southern Colonies)

◦ 1607 – Jamestown settled◦ Important aspect of southern colonies -- started for

Money. They quickly turn to crops and Mercantilism (tobacco, Rice, indigo)

◦ DEFINE MERCANTILISM AND TRIANGLE TRADE ON THE BOARD (Sugar -- Rum -- Slaves)

◦ 1619 -- Dutch ship blown off course by a storm lands in Jamestown. They trade Black Africans for supplies. The Africans are not slaves, but rather indentured servants -- slavery will not come to Virginia in full force until the 1640s.

Massachusetts (New England)◦ Religious descent -- Puritans unhappy with the Church of

England -- it's too Catholic◦ 1620 -- Pilgrims (separatists) settle Plymouth after

crossing on the Mayflower◦ Will bring the idea of the people ruling themselves ◦ Thriving trade system takes hold -- only substance

agriculture, but fishing and shipping create wealth

Independence of the United Independence of the United StatesStates 1775 – After heavy taxation by the British, and frustrated

by a lack of representation in Parliament, 13 of Britain’s American colonies rebelled against the mother country

July 4, 1776 – Declaration of Independence signed ◦ Restates the “Social Contract” (enlightenment idea)

Men form governments Governments must be responsive to men If a government is not responsive to men, then men

have the right to change the government◦ List of Grievances – what the king did to break the

contract 1781 – War ends with an American victory Sep 1783 – Treaty of Paris awards the United States

independence from Britain Sep 1787 – US Constitution is published (it takes about 9

months to get it adopted) – established the government we have today with 3 branches (legislative, executive and judicial)

Settlement and Independence in Settlement and Independence in CanadaCanada French originally settled the St. Lawrence River valley in the 17th

century 1713 – after a series of wars, France and Britain sign a treaty that

gives Acadia to the British (now called Nova Scotia) – many Acadian Catholics leave for Louisiana – their descendents are known as the “Cajuns”

1754 – War breaks out between British and French colonists over land in the Ohio River valley (west of the Appalachians) – French and their Indian Allies were eventually defeated

1763 – Under a treaty signed in Paris, all French possessions east of the Mississippi River go to England (under the same treaty, Spain, a French ally, received all land west of the Mississippi)

1867 – British provinces in Canada are granted the right to rule themselves – they are united under one “dominion” – Canadians were still British subjects and thus had to follow the directives from London, but could make their own rules at home

During both World Wars – Canada follows Great Britain into the wars, but at the end of each the country is granted more freedom and independence

1976 – French Canadians (some of whom want Quebec to become a separate country) gain status when Canada officially becomes a bilingual (two language) country. French and English are both official languages. In the same year, Canadians gained complete independence from England when they received the right to change their constitution without English permission.

Diversity in North AmericaDiversity in North America Ethnic Groups – people who share a common culture,

language and history Since early colonial times, millions of immigrants from all

over the world came to Canada and the United States looking for the promise of a better life.

1619 – first Africans arrive in Virginia By 1861 – over 4 million African slaves in the United

States Before 1850 – most immigrants came from Northern and

Western Europe (mostly English) During the mid 1800s – immigrants from Asia began to

come to America’s western shores. Many Chinese immigrants left the west coast to work on the railroads crossing the country

Early 1900s – millions of immigrants cross the Atlantic from Southern Europe (the Italians are the most famous)

Since 1950 – influx of Latino immigrants (they now make up the largest minority in the country with just over 13%)

Religious Diversity – important concept to US culture is the ability to worship (or not to worship as the case may be) any way we choose

Italian Immigrants (early 20Italian Immigrants (early 20thth century)century)

Immigrants TodayImmigrants Today

THE UNITEDTHE UNITED

STATES TODAYSTATES TODAY

Physical Map of the United Physical Map of the United StatesStates

The NortheastThe Northeast

centered around the megalopolis – a coastal region where cities and suburbs have grown so much that they seem to run into one urban area – stretches from Boston to Washington DC

most densely populated region in the country

economy is based on the cities – they serve not only as trading centers, but financial, educational and communication centers as well

The SouthThe South Warm, moist weather and great soil make the South a

great place for farming Cotton used to be “king” in the region, but now a wide

variety of crops are grown. Citrus fruits are grown in Florida and South Texas Rice and Sugar are found in Louisiana and Southeast

Texas Peanuts and Peaches – Georgia Shellfish – famous from the Chesapeake Bay area (VA

and MD) Oil – found in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and offshore

in the Gulf of Mexico Timber (especially Pine) – found throughout the South Southern Cities – vast changes since World War II due

to industrialization and the shift of population from the Northeast to the Sunbelt

Washington DC – our nation’s capital – lies between Virginia and Maryland

The MidwestThe MidwestAmerica’s “heartland” – rich soil produces an

agricultural centerOver the years, family farms have been

swallowed up by corporate farms – where large agricultural companies run efficient farms with modern machines and few farmers

Area has been hit hard by recession and over 1 million farmers have lost their land since 1980

Major Cities in the Midwest – trading centers that served to funnel agricultural products to the rest of the country and the world◦ St. Louis◦ Detroit◦ Chicago

The WestThe Westwealth of natural resources – minerals

such as coal, silver, gold and phosphates. Forty-niners – first miners of the gold rush

in the San Francisco area in 1849As a result of the gold rush (1849-50),

California’s population soared. Parts of the West have been reserved as a

natural wilderness, such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and the Painted Desert

Important Cities – Seattle, Portland (Oregon), San Jose (home of “Silicon Valley” – home of the computer industry)

CANADA TODAYCANADA TODAY

Map of Canada TodayMap of Canada Today

French Influence in French Influence in QuebecQuebec

remnant of the French settlement – dates back to the original colonization of the 1530s

Canada is really a bilingual country – 83% of the people in Quebec speak French as their 1st language

Francophones – people who speak French as their first language

Separatists – people in Quebec who want to separate from Canada and form their own country – they have been unable (so far) to accomplish their goal

OntarioOntariooriginally settled by English loyalists

after the American Revolutionthe wealthiest province in Canada home to Canada’s industrial heartland1/3 of Canada’s population – Centered

on the cities of Ottawa and TorontoRich in natural resources – timber,

minerals and fertile soilsAlso close to large population centers

of in the United StatesCanadian Shield (in northern Ontario) –

contains nickel and copper

Canadian PlainsCanadian PlainsIndigenous people – Canadian Indians –

descendents of the settlers who came across the Bering Strait

European Settlers came and brought diseases – 75% of the Indians wiped out

Buffalo herds were killed offBy 1900 – the plains were a

checkerboard of different ethnic settlements

Saskatchewan – center of “Canada’s Breadbasket” – think of the Great Plains stretching into Canada – also a province heavy into cattle ranching

British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaOn Canada’s west coast, south of

AlaskaIndian peoples carved giant totem

poles – large wooden poles that were symbols for a group, clan or family

Discovery of gold brought miners and boomtowns

Today about 2/3 of the people live along the coast – many feel connected to the Pacific Rim countries (40% of the trade in British Columbia is with Asia)

Canadian Northern Lands – Canadian Northern Lands – the new frontierthe new frontier

Canadian NorthCanadian NorthHuge Oil Deposits – larger than Saudi

Arabia, but it’s heavy crude oil chemically locked with sand – the oil CAN be unlocked, but it’s an expensive undertaking

Large Diamond and Gold minesNorth of Yellowknife – is serviced by Ice

Roads in the winter that cross over frozen lakes

Global warming has brought the thought of the opening of polar shipping lanes

Area is experiencing a population boom