Post on 31-Mar-2015
transcript
The UNITED STATES and
CANADA
Canada is the second largest country after
Russia.
United States is the world’s third largest country.
Share the longest, undefended border
in the world. 5,523-miles long
Geographic Advantages
A variety of latitudes means a variety of climates.
Good water resources are available (Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Mississippi, Ohio and Colorado)
There are a variety of BIOMES
• Forests, deserts, mountain areas, wetlands
Geographic Advantages
C.Productive soils are abundant especially in the Great Plains of the US.
Geographic Advantages
• The top soil (what is needed to make plants grow) is deep in most areas.• Glaciations pushed most of the Eastern Canadian top soil down into the US (Canadian Shield)
Abundant mineral resources compared to other world regions
Geographic Advantages
Disadvantages – barriers
In the past – explorers and settlers experienced problems with the terrain: Fall Line Region, Arctic Area, Rockies, wide rivers.
Disadvantages - distanceTransportation
Over Such Large Areas – It is difficult to get people and products to the market and to the mall! Both U.S. and Canada built transcontinental railroads in the latter 1800’s. We must build highways, airports; we depend on trucking and trains.)
Abundant Animal Life
• Most species are not depleted by humans yet.
Geographic Advantages
48 continuous states that lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
2 states that are not a part of the continental U.S.
Country has several territoriesPuerto Rico Virgin IslandsGuam
Territory: a geographic area belonging to the jurisdiction of a governmental authority.
What TWO states are not part of the
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES?
ALASKA
The US bought Alaska from this country…
A.Russia
B.China
C.England
D.France
Fast Facts
Capital Washington, D.C.Language No official languageCurrency U.S. DollarReligion 86% Christian
(Protestant)
Life expectancy 77.8 years
President- Barack Obama
Democracy with federal systems including a national government that shares powers with the states.
Economy
• Productive economically• Industrialized• market economy: prices of good
determined by supply and demand
Part of NAFTA (North American
Free Trade Agreement)
3 territories (Yukon, NW, Nunavut)10 provinces (Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan)
province: an administrative division within a country (similar to a state)
Fast FactsPopulation 32,225,000
Capital OTTAWA
Language English and French
Religion Roman Catholic / Protestant
Currency Canadian Dollar
Life Expectancy 79
Prime Minister-Stephen Harper
Democracy with federal systems including a national government that shares powers with the provinces and territories.
*federal parliamentary democracy
Prime Minister: is the most senior member of the cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system.
Parliamentary system: government where leaders of executive branch are drawn from legislature.
Economy
• Productive economically• Industrialized• Mixed economy: combines elements of
market economy but includes an element of governmental control.
The French-speaking province of ____ is
interested in gaining independence from
Canada.
QUEBEC
Rights
Individuals are guaranteed many rights including the right to speak and move freely.
Part of NAFTA (North American
Free Trade Agreement)
United States Canada
Both
Made up of 10 provinces
NIAGRA FALLS
Has 50 States
World’s longest
undefended border
Capital - Washington D.C.
Democracies with Federal
Systems
No official language
Mt. McKinley
Official languages are
French and English
In North America
GREAT LAKES
SUMMARY
United States• Washington D.C
• 50 states• No official language
• Mt. McKinleyBoth
• Democracies with federal systems• North America
• Longest Undefended border • Rocky Mountains
• Great Lakes • Individual Rights
• Economy prosperous
Canada• Ottawa
• 10 provinces and 3 territories• English and French