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 - CanadaMember of G20Mixed 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

slaveryParticipated 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 FrenchFirst 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 CanadaBelief 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