Chapter 2 - Geography: North America PDF

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North America's geography, power & politics...

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North America Chapter 2 Geographic themes o o o o o

North America’s use of resources has enormous environmental impacts. Globalization has transformed North America. North Americans have political freedoms. Urban areas are expanding spatially. Birthrates are declining while populations age.

North America: A region o o

United States Canada

Physical geography o o

North America has a variety of climate types. North America has a variety of landforms.

Landforms o o o o

Coastal lowlands Eastern mountains Central lowlands Western mountains

Climate o o o o

Landforms influence movement of air masses. North America is wettest in eastern and southeastern areas. North America is driest in western and northern parts. The large size of the region creates a wide temperature range.

Vulnerability to climate change o o o o o

Sea level rise affects populated coasts. Higher temperatures affect arid agriculture zones, and aquifers shrink. Hurricanes increase in intensity. Strong economies support short-term solutions. Long-term solutions are more difficult to define. Examples Coastal erosion: Alaska Sea level rise: Florida

Air pollution o o o

High levels of GHG increase smog. The United States produces the vast majority of acid rain, but much is deposited on Canada. Smoke from wildfires is becoming an increasing concern across the west

Water o o o o o

Water depletion is a source of concern in major agricultural areas. Aquifer depletion is happening at an alarming rate Water pollution is especially problematic in U.S. rivers. Marketing potable water results in environmental damage. Colorado River Compact

Human impacts on the biosphere Loss of natural habitat o o o

Agriculture is a major driver of habitat loss. Urban sprawl is increasing habitat loss. Habitat loss forces native plants and animals to be replaced by non-native species.

Sources of human impacts o o o o

Oil extraction occurs in coastal and interior areas. Logging (especially clearcutting) in the Pacific Northwest reduces species diversity. Mountaintop removal (a coal mining practice) results in widespread watershed pollution. Fracking is known to trigger earthquakes.

Environmental Success Stories o o o o o

National Park Service - First and largest National Park Service in the world Wilderness Act EPA (both US and Canada, have collaborated in the past) Clean Air Act Clean Water Act

Humans over time o o o

Humans first settled the region 25,000 years ago. Europeans arrived in the sixteenth century. Native Americans were vulnerable to Europe’s disease and technology.

Europeans transformed the region o o o

Southern settlements engaged in agriculture supported by the labor of enslaved Africans. Northern settlements used European technology in early industries. The mid-Atlantic region became the economic core.

Expansion west of the Mississippi and Great Lakes o o o o

The Great Plains became known as North America’s breadbasket. From the 1840s onward, people were attracted to the mountain west and Pacific coast. The southwest is rooted in early Spanish colonization. California’s mild climate and year-round agriculture attracted settlement.

European impact on indigenous peoples o o o o

Settlement of Europeans displaced American Indians and Aboriginal peoples. Reservations were established for displaced peoples, often geographically different from their native lands. Poverty, loss of culture, and violence continue to plague indigenous peoples. Some tribes are pursuing active development projects.

Globalization and development o

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Canada and the United States have common economic systems. - Farming was the initial economic system. - Industrial development followed. - Then service-based economies with technology sectors emerged. Asymmetry characterizes the economic relationship between the two countries.

Decline in manufacturing employment o

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High production costs motivated corporations to move factories. - First to southeastern United States - Then to Mexico, China, and other places Technology and automation contribute to decline in manufacturing employment.

Growth of the service sector The service (tertiary) sector is the economic base of the North America’s economy. o o

This sector includes high paying jobs. Low-paying jobs are more common.

The service sector includes the knowledge economy (quaternary sector). The digital divide affects poor and rural populations. Globalization and free trade o o o

Canada and the United States advocate for trade barriers to be reduced. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) promotes increased trade among Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The United States experiences a perennial trade deficit.

Walmart on the global scale o

Walmart has more than 11,000 retail stores in 28 countries and employs 2.2 million people.

Debt and politics in the United States o o o

Debt is the money the United States borrows. 66% of the debt is owed to U.S. citizens who own Treasury securities. 34% is owed to foreign governments.

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Responses to U.S. debt vary along political party lines.

Changing food-production systems o o o

Paradox: Large acreage but low employment Family farms decline as agribusiness increases. Organic farming is helping to revive family farming.

Changing transportation networks o o o o

Automobile and truck-based transport dominate. The U.S. Interstate Highway System and the Trans-Canada Highway System are major high-speed networks. Air transportation is vital to business travel. Air service is organized as a hub-and-spoke network.

Relationships between Canada and the United States o

Similarities – Former British colonies – English is dominant language – Similar democratic political traditions – Federations (of states or provinces) – Representative democracies – Share a 4200-mile border (6720 km) – Landscape similarities in urban structure – Ethnically diverse

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Asymmetries between Canada and the United States - The U.S. population is 10 times that of Canada. - The U.S. economy is 10 times that of Canada. - Internationally, Canada supports civil society. - The United States is an economic, military, and political superpower. - Canada’s federal government has become weaker. - The U.S. federal government has expanded its powers. - Different levels of support for the social safety net - Two healthcare systems

Power and politics in North America Power and politics o o o o o o o

North America has relatively high levels of political freedom. Voting rights have expanded. The selection of candidates moves through a primary voting process. Many are frustrated with the role of money in politics. Afghan women line up to vote in the country’s first legitimate elections in decades. A U.S military base in Japan Haitian refugees off the coast of Florida are sent back to Haiti

Gender in national politics o o o

Women voters are a potent political force in both countries. Women vote for factors relevant to their priorities. Gender equity in political offices does not exist.

Drugs and politics in North America o o o o o

The United States is the world’s largest importer of illegal drugs. Government responses to illegal drugs vary. Escalation in prescription drug abuse Failure of war on drugs New approaches to managing drugs

Urbanization o o o o o o o o o o

80% of North Americans live in metropolitan areas. Central cities lose population to suburbs. Post-World War II saw rapid growth of suburbs. Conurbation continues. Urban sprawl diminishes fringe farmland. Livability and smart growth are new trends. Inner city decay, segregation, and redlining affect poorer central city families. New trends in urban planning: Smart growth planning increases livability. Las Vegas: Ranks low on livability Atlanta: Low-mid ranking on livability

Factors influencing lower fertility – – – – –

Economic development Urbanization Health care Women working Increased education

Population density in North America o o

The population is growing US population is drastically higher than in Canada

Immigration and diversity Immigration plays an important role. o o o o o o o

Pull factors bring immigrants. Push factors force immigrants from their countries of origin. Immigrants increase levels of diversity. Spatial patterns of immigration are changing. Immigrants help to maintain population levels. Immigrants are usually youthful. Immigration is a debated issue

Race, ethnicity and poverty o o o o o

The majority of Americans favor equal opportunities for minority groups. Diversity is increasing. Income discrepancies exist. The culture of poverty is counterproductive to social advancement. Single-parent families headed by women are the poorest.

Religion o o o

Christianity is currently the predominant religious affiliation. 23% of the population in both countries reported having no religious affiliation. A majority of North Americans favor the separation of church and state.

The American family o o o o

The nuclear family became the norm in the post 1900-industrial age. This compact family structure suited industry and business. By the 1980s, 70% of working-age women were in the paid workforce. The demand for commercial child care is high.

Households by type o

There is no longer a typical household type....