World Regional Geography

Spring 2005

Chapter 11: North America

Global Prominence and Controversy

1950- US produced 1/2 of world's goods.

2000- Economic production- US, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, UK and Italy = 2/3 world economic output

Size- Russian Federation, Canada, China and US.

Population- US = 285 million, Canada- 31 million = 5% of world population

Regional Culture History

Canadian French- 25% of population - control Quebec and a national political force. Political conflict and French nationalism are still viable issues in the Canadian province of Quebec. Canada remains one of the few countries in the world with two official languages (French and English).

British North America Act of 1867- Canadian Independence- 1982- gains full independence.

Native Americans

Native Americans (First Nations = Canadian)- migrated to N.A. 20,000 yrs. Ago. 15500 AD, Spanish introduce horses- enabled plains tribes to migrate and radiacally changed their way of life.

Dawes Commission- federal entity whose primarily responsibility was to allocate tribal Trust land to individual tribal members. The Commission's work was completed in Indian territory (modern Oklahoma) in 1907, after over 250 years of genocidal wars and forced deportations had taken place. Native Americans were few in number (less than 1 percent of the total population)

European Settlers

French, Spanish, British and Dutch

Religious-Freedom Seekers (a web site on US Religious Freedom)

http://www.icrf.com/wrpt/USrpt.htm

First Products- Agriculture (tobacco, sugarcane, rice, cotton, etc.),timber, fish and furs. By 1850, US exported many foods to Europe- US size and climate made it possible to produce more and varied products for the European market.

Industry- textiles, metal goods and leather. Later- steel. This made the Northeastern US the economic and population center of the US.

Management of Manufacturing

Economic innovation and development center on manufacturing and changing the world economy.:

1. Economies of scale - larger and more productive factories

2. Horizontal integration allowing for expanded market share.

3. Vertical integration allowing for a wide range of related industrial activities (e.g., Andrew Carnegie's steel mills).

4. Production line assembly (e.g. Henry Ford)- Fordism

5. Machine tools- machines the manufacture and assemble parts.

§ United States continues as a leader in aerospace and information technology.

§ Seventy-five percent of all Canadian export and import activity is with the United States. The Canadian economy is largely natural-resourced based.

§ As a counter to European Union world trade competition, the United States, Canada, and Mexico have entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Changing demography

Rapid annual population growth rate in US is unusual among wealthy and technologically advanced countries. (2001: 285 million- by 2025: 340 million)- result of immigration (1/3 of population growth.)

New immigration- Hispanic, Russian and Asian (Vietnam, Korea and India)

Mainly highly educated people migrate to the US (computers, high-tech, science and engineering.)

2000 Census- 281 million- Anglo/European- 70%, African American- 12%, Hispanic- 13%, Asian- 4% and Native American- 1%. One half of African Americans live in South.

Hispanics- 5% of American homes use Spanish. Concentrations in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Florida (border States.) Fastest growing ethnic group.

Asians- concentrated on West Coast and Eastern, big cities. Large Vietnamese populations on Texas Gulf Coast.

Native Americans- 1970- 50% of population unemployed and 90% on welfare.

Internal migration- African Americans moved from rural south to urban north. Whites from northeast moved to west coast and south.

Canadian Immigration- West coast (Asian) and Toronto

Quebec- 25% descendents of French settlers- strong ethnic culture (language (French), religion (roman Catholic), and culture.) Parti Quebecois- political group seeking Quebec independence. 1995 referendum- almost 50% voted for independence from Canada.

First Nations- Cree (claim part of northern Quebec- would not join Quebec succession.) New province- Nunavut- "Land of the People" in 1999.

Physical Geography and Human-Environment Interaction

Tropical to Polar Climates

Climate- Mainly Midlatitude with polar, tropical and semi-arid

US has more Tornadoes than any other country in the world

Wide range of natural environments

1. Four main mountain spines (Rocky, Appalachian, Sierra and Cascades) each characterizing a different mountain-building process (e.g., folding, fault, volcanic, uplift and/or complex orogeny). Mount McKinley- highest peak at 2, 231 feet.)

2. Intermontane-arid or semi-arid from Mexico to Canada (all North American deserts located here).

3. Columbia mid-latitude rainforest in Washington state and British Columbia.

4. Boreal (subarctic) forests of Alaska and the Arctic tundra of Canada.

5. Great Plains (short-grass prairie) and tall-grass prairie of Oklahoma.

6. The interior plains (North America's most productive farm land) of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.

7. Canadian settlement mostly along narrow zone - along US border

8. Canadian Shield- oldest rocks in North America- large deposits of minerals.

9. Mississippi and Great Lakes Basins- largest area of lowland/fertile farmlands- 1/3 of Canada and US.

Natural Hazards

Greatest range of natural hazards in the world- hurricanes (East coast), tornadoes (plains), severe storms, earthquakes (West coast), volcanoes (West coast), floods (Mississippi), blizzards, ice storms and wildfires.

Environmental Problems- Caused by expansion, economic growth and agriculture. Problems- soil erosion, dust bowl, depletion of groundwater, wildfire increase, reservoir effects, mining, landfills, smog and acid rain.

World Roles

Leading member of G8, UN (Headquarters in NYC), NATO, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States (all headquartered in Washington, DC) and the World Trade Organization.

US has great influence on the global culture. This includes communications, media, transportation, politics, athletics, entertainment, recreation and travel.

Globalization Issues:

http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PII.jsp?topicid=104

Bad Coke

http://www.corpwatch.org/bulletins/PBD.jsp?articleid=10581

Globalization and Chiapus

http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PID.jsp?articleid=4148

Canada vs US on Democracy

http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PID.jsp?articleid=641

France on Globalization

http://www.ambafrance-us.org/news/statmnts/2002/global013002.asp

US- world's largest economy (twice size of Japan/ Canada is 8^th)

Subregions of North America

Regional Population Distribution

Highly urbanized (3/4 urban) 50% in urban area over 1 million

Primary population clusters- BosWash corridor, Chicago-Detroit, Florida to Texas coast, Texas Triangle and West Coast

Western (middle) US- sparsely populated

Canada- population concentrated along US border and West coast

The United States at a Glance

Urban areas- manufacturing and services, 85% of US real estate value occurs in 2.5% of land in urban areas.

Rural areas- struggle to maintain populations and jobs.

US is world's largest market economy

Problems of Affluence

Many of America's problems of economic disparity are often geographic in nature. The gap between the wealthy and the rest is growing. This can be shown geographically- within urban areas and between urban and hinterland areas. Factors causing inequality:

§ Competition for labor in foreign countries depresses the US labor market

§ Single parent families make represent 35% of the poorest 20% in the country.

1. Later marriage

2. Empty nest homes

3. Rising divorce rates and widowhood

§ Global scale of competition related to technology widens the gap between rich and poor.

§ Affluent regions of the country provide more opportunity for those who can afford it. Those in more depressed areas have less opportunity to change their positions. Strong urban, rural and suburban spatial arrangements explain and support this.

US population- 4.5% of world population uses 40% of world's oil.

People

US has a high birth rate for a developed country. Higher birth rates are within immigrant populations.

1. The majority live in a metropolitan area.

2. Over two-thirds of total real estate value found in urban environment.

3. Over 60% of the North American population and industrial capacity is found in an area bounded by the Great Lakes, Eastern Seaboard, Ohio River, and Mississippi River.

4. Five super-urbanized areas in North America:

a. Great Lakes (Chicago)

b. East Coast (New York City)

c. St. Lawrence Seaway (Montreal)

d. West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco)

e. Florida (Miami)

5. Over two-thirds of Canadian population and all major metro areas (except Edmonton, Alberta) are within 200 miles of U.S. border.

Economic Development

Manufacturing- 20% of workforce in 1990's. Hi-tech manufacturing areas:

§ Silicon Valley area of California

§ Boston

§ Fairfax County, Virginia

§ North Carolina Research triangle

§ Austin

§ Denver

US is a service sector economy.

Urban Landscapes- Urban Models

Central Business District (CBD)- core area of a city where main government, financial and business services are locted

Concentric Zone Model- a CBD surrounded by outer rings of development, from wholesale/light manufacturing to low/medium/high income residential areas.

Sector Model- a modified concentric zone model that incorporates rail and road networks. This changes the shape of the zone to follow the transportation corridor.

Multiple Nuclei Model- Further modified model where the CBD focuses upon financial and high end business services while shopping and industry move to locations separated from the CBD

Revitalization of inner city neighborhoods (urban renaissance) is a result of gentrification (movement of high income people in the urban center- leading to physical improvement of property and neighborhoods) processes.

Regions of the United States- changing over time

New England- 6 states of the northeastern corner of US. Old wealth, colonial and industrial history- tourism, Boston is key economic city

Megalopolis- Boston to Richmond, Virginia- an interconnected network of cities- over 50 million people. Area dominates economy, political realm and media industry.

Manufacturing Belt- Boston/New York to Chicago. Old US manufacturing heartland- still is area of most manufacturing. Infrastructure is aging. Pittsburgh was once steel capital of the world, Detroit automotive center of the world.

Appalachia- one of poorest regions- extraction of resources- primary sector has been dominant.

US Heartland (Midwest and Plains)- main farming region. Groundwater depletion is problem for future of area.

South- retains strong culture from Civil War history. New manufacturing area. Texas Triangle (Dallas/ Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio) and Atlanta- 2 of fastest growing urban economic environments.

Western Mountains- High altitude, arid with large Hispanic populations in south. Large amount of Federally owned land.

Pacific Coast- Second national core (Seattle to San Diego)- major aircraft manufacturing and high-tech industry. Hub to Asia- part of the Pacific Rim. Los Angeles economy is greater than that of South Korea.

Alaska and Hawaii- Extremes of climate and culture for US. Oil in Alaska (large areas owned by Federal government) Hawaii depends upon tourism.

Issue: Overseas Development Assistance- Canadian and US support compared-

Canada gives a greater percentage of its GNP to overseas aid programs than the US. Where the US give its money is often tied to current political issues (aid for Egypt and Israel, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.) and is money that may not support development projects.

Development Money:

http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp

Global Issues:

http://www.globalissues.org/

Canada

World's second largest in area; Northwest Territory is Canada's largest political division. Small population (25 million) concentrated mainly near U.S. border; overall low population density.

Toronto is largest city and financial/business hub

Ottawa is capital

Economically tied to the U.S.

a. Seventy-five percent of import-export activity with the U.S.

b. Natural resource based economy.

c. Friend and foe relationship with the United States.

Primary Sector economy- grain, timber and minerals (30% or world’s newsprint)

Canadian subregions.

Atlantic Provinces (Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Islands and New Brunswick)

1. This subregion has seen hard economic times. Tourism is helping but falling fish stocks and declining mining industry continues to limit economic growth.

2. Conflict with the United States over fishing rights continues.

3. High unemployment and declining fish stocks are serious barriers to economic progress. Nickel and cobalt mining will help in the long term.

Quebec

1. The French culture continues to grow in strength and political resolve.

2. A geographically diverse province extending from mainstream Canada to the Arctic. Rich in timber and metallic mineral resources.

3. Quebec produces 25% of Canadian manufacturing output.

Ontario

1. Has the majority of Canada's population, infrastructure and other economic assets.

2. Toronto is Canada's largest city and economic center.

3. A physically diverse region extending form the Great Lakes north to Hudson's Bay.

Prairie provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta)

Bulk of Canada's extensive agricultural land and developed coal, oil and gas resources.

British Columbia, with strong ties to Britain, continues as one of Canada's major tourist destinations, timber and mining centers. The region has developed strong trade and other economic ties to the Pacific Rim and East Asia.

Northwest Territory (Yellow-knife) is Canada's largest political subdivision. When combined with Yukon Territory (White Horse), it forms the largest part of Canada. Economic activities include gold and diamond mining, timber and tourism.

Nunavut- new territory in 1999.

Canadian Culture: (There’s much more than Americans realize- and we should be aware of the impact that Canadians have upon our culture- and if you think that Canadians don’t have a culture, then what does the US have?)

http://gocanada.about.com/cs/edmontonculture/a/canadianculture.htm

http://www.culture.ca/canada/english.jsp

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/ciw-cdm/culture_links-en.asp

Some of the humor that influences what we watch:

Bob and Doug (SCTV)

http://www.execulink.com/~bobnet/hoser/

Red Green Show

http://www.execulink.com/~bobnet/redgreen/

Eh! Magazine (This is a wonderful web site with good insight into Canadian culture. I have had an email or two from them and they are experts in this area- and a bright bunch.)

http://www.ehmagazine.ca/

Funny Canadian Web sites:

http://www.dvshop.ca/dvcafe/canada/culture.html

http://www.icomm.ca/emily/

Canadian Culture On-line Module (check out the other 4.)

http://www.ola.bc.ca/online/cf/module-5/q&c.html