THE UNITED STATES & CANADA

Chapter 5

I. HISTORICAL OVERVIEWA. Scientists believe that people migrated to North America thousands of years ago from Asia

B. Colonial Heritage• 1. colony – territory separated from but subject to a

ruling power• 2. Spanish (Florida, Texas, southwest US); French

(Quebec, Canada & Louisiana); English (13 colonies on the Atlantic coast)

• 3. 13 colonies revolted and formed the United States of America (using the principles from the English government)

• 4. After many wars, French Quebec came under English rule (although many Canadians still speak French)

C. Growth & Conflict• 1. the US & Canada both expanded westward to the Pacific

Ocean• 2. both purchased pieces of land, fought wars for land, or

took the land over from the Native Americans that lived there

D. New Technology• 1. Industrial Revolution – time period where the power

shifted from human to machine• 2. throughout the 1800s both the US & Canada started using

new technologies to produce great quantities of goods• 3. railroads and steamships helped move people and

products

II . PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

A. The US and Canada have high mountain chains in the west, plains in the center, and lower mountains in the east

B. Continental divide – a boundary that separates rivers flowing toward opposite sides of the continent (Rocky Mountains)

C. Great Lakes – 5 large bodies of water that were formed by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago (lie on the border of Canada & the US)

III. CLIMATES

A. The US & Canada are affected by latitude, elevation, & distance from oceans

B. Both nations have climate differences between the east and west, because the Rocky Mtns. block winds from the Pacific Ocean

C. Since Canada is farther north than the US, they have a generally colder climate

IV. ECOSYSTEMS

A. In the US and Canada, you see the following ecosystems:• 1. arctic tundra• 2. coniferous & deciduous forests• 3. grasslands• 4. desert scrub

B. Some areas (Hawaii, northern Canada, Alaska) have much of their original vegetation, while many other places have been drastically altered and their environments limit the native species

V. PEOPLE & CULTURE

A. Population• 1. US = 275 million people• 2. Canada = 31 million people

B. In both countries, ¾ of people live in urban communities

C. Both countries have:• 1. high life expectancies• 2. high rates of literacy (extensive education

systems)

VI. ECONOMICS, TECHNOLOGY, & ENVIRONMENT

A. People of both nations have a high standard of living (measurement based on available education, housing, health care, and nutrition)

B. Advanced technology – high-tech industries are an influential part of both countries’ economics

C. Electricity needs – both countries are continuing to develop new ways to produce energy due to their increasing populations

UNITED STATES

CANADA

Electricity Consumption

3,279 billion kilowatt-hours

475.1 billion kilowatt-hours

Petroleum Imports

2.7 billion barrels per year

255.7 million barrels per year

Coal Consumption

933.7 million tons

56 million tons

Fossil Fuel Use 70.34% 27.18%Hydro Energy Use

8.96% 59.77%

Nuclear Energy Use

18.61% 12.25%

Other Energy Source

2.09% 0.8%