The United States & Canada

The Region Today

The EconomySection I

Economic Activities

The U.S. has a Market Economy People allowed to own, operate, & profit

fro their own business Businesses allowed to hire Government protection of private

property & workers Canada has a more Command

Economy More public ownership of industry Private ownership still encouraged

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Both Economies are Post-Industrial Movement from

agricultural to industrial began at the turn of the 20th century

Currently, less emphasis on heavy industry

More focus on service & high-tech business

Post-Industrial Economics

75% of US & Canadian workers in service jobs Government, education, banking, etc.

Located in Central Business Districts of Communities “Downtown”

High-Tech industries less dependent on location Silicon Valley in California▪ Home to 20 high-tech companies▪ Near population center▪ Comfortable yearly climate

Manufacturing

20% of regions economy

Robotics have changed industry

Great Lakes Region Manufacturing Belt Rust Belt Current work to retool old

factories & mills

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Region Manufacturing Centers California & Washington-

Aircraft Midwest-Automobile California-Food

Processing Northeast & Quebec-

Logging/Timber Manufacturing

Agriculture

Commercialized farming of Commodities Commodities: Goods for

sale 5% of farms

commercially owned Remaining owned by

families 1 Billion acres in the U.S.

used for farming 167 Million acres in

Canada

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Farm size has grown, number of farmers has decreased High Costs Unpredictable Markets Risk of Natural Disaster Time & Work

Agricultural Products

Cattle Industry Western &

Southern U.S. Prairie provinces of

Canada Wheat Belt

Great Plains Corn Belt

Midwest Ohio to Nebraska

Agricultural Advancements

Examples Beef Cattle▪ Traditionally: Large spaces and open grassland

Mainly found in West & Southwest▪ Today: Breeds developed to need less space Spread throughout South

Dairy Cattle▪ Traditionally: Found in Northeast & Upper Midwest

Cooler Climate & better pastures▪ Today: Automation & improved feed

Found across U.S. today

Trade & Interdependence

Global economy Interconnection of trade across borders

Exports & Imports US▪ Trade deficit: Spends more on imports than makes on

exports▪ Costly U.S. production▪ Foreign tariffs on U.S. goods

Canada▪ Trade Surplus▪ Smaller population▪ Spends greatly in imports but exports equal it out

Trade Agreements

1989-U.S. & Canada sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

1994-U.S., Canada, & Mexico sign North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) World’s largest trade bloc Eliminated trade barriers Strengthens economic bonds Makes Outsourcing easier▪ Easier to move business across Mexican

border

United Against Terror

U.S. & Canada created Smart Border Acts Monitor people & goods

Free & Secure Trade (FAST) Complete & reliable records on cargo Surveillance of cross-border trade Intelligence sharing

Transportation & Communication

After WWII more people began buying cars

Highway/road systems built through population centers Along Mississippi & Ohio

Valleys Trans-Canadian Highway

4860 miles from British Columbia to Newfoundland

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Pollution Problems Smog in urban areas Solutions: Mass Transit▪ Buses▪ Commuter Trains▪ Subways▪ Elevated Trains▪ Monorail

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Busiest Airports Atlanta’s Hartsfield▪ 384,000 Flights in 2012▪ 38.2 Million passengers in 2012

Chicago’s O’Hare▪ 2400 flights a day▪ 66.6 million passengers annually

Toronto’s Pearson International▪ 34.9 million passengers in 2012▪ 433 thousand flights in 2012

Other Transportation Systems

35% of goods travel by rail

15% of goods travel by water

20% of goods travel by truck

¼ of oil and natural gas travel via pipeline

Communication

Development of cellular and digital services

E-mail & internet Communication,

commerce, travel, etc.

People & Their EnvironmentSection II

Managing Resources

Poor management in the past has lead to major problems today Clear Cutting▪ Destroyed Old-growth forests▪ Endangered wildlife and habitats▪ Caused erosion

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Conversion of wetlands to agricultural land▪ Eliminated natural fisheries▪ Destroyed natural water purification systems▪ Devastated coast storm and flood buffer

zones

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Overfishing Amount caught exceeds natural

reproduction Canadian ban on Cod fishing

Species Decline Example: Low wolf populations in

Western Canada▪ Exploding elk populations

Invasive Species

Animal: Asian Carp, Africanized Honeybee, Burmese Python, Cane Toad, Emerald Ash Borer, European Starling, Giant African Snail, Northern Snakehead, Nutria, Wild Boar, & Zebra Mussels

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Plants: Autumn Olive, Kudzu, & Sacred Bamboo

Issues: Blocked waterways, Crop destruction, species displacement

Human Impacts

Acid Rain Precipitation that carries acidic materials▪ Sulfur dioxide & Nitrogen oxide released into

environment Effects Eastern U.S. & Canada Corrodes Stone & metal buildings Damages crops & pollutes soil Bodies of water can become biologically

dead

Acid Rain

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Smog Same chemicals as acid rain Reacts to sunlight and sinks to the

surface Damages plants Harms eyes, throats, & lungs Air quality tested daily Solution▪ More fuel efficient cars & bio/green

transportation

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Water Pollution Introduction of sewage, industrial, &

agricultural waste Illegal dumping, leaks, or seping into

groundwater Affects natural wetland habitat Causes eutrophication▪ Promotion of algae growth▪ Depletion of oxygen levels in the water▪ Fish die offs▪ Eventually lake may cease to exist

Reversing Pollution Effects

1972, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Canada & the U.S. Combat water pollution of the Lakes

Regional concerns over water pollution

NAFTA raises environmental issues along Rio Grande

Future Challenges

Looking at affects of global warming Deforestation & use of fossil fuels Carbon levels at millennial highs Affects seen in Arctic regions▪ Thinning of ice sheets▪ Thawing of permafrost▪ Loss of Arctic habitat

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Cleaner energy options Nuclear Energy Solar Power Wind Energy Hydroelectric Power