What are the different ethnic and religious groups
that live in North America?
The People
• US population is among
the most diverse
• Diversity reflects influence
of immigration on the
country
• Canadians trace roots to
immigrants
• Some Canadians are
descendants of Native
Americans
The People
• People in the United
States and Canada have a
high standard of living
– Able to have many
personal choices and
opportunities
– Agricultural surplus makes
food inexpensive
– Housing varies (high-rise
apartments, multifamily
row houses, or suburban
houses)
– Owns phones, TVs, 94%
own computers
The People
• 50% of households are
married couples with 22%
have children under 18
• Households are smaller
than the past, 2008 61%
had one or two children,
compared to 46% in 1970
• Canadian characteristics of
family are similar to United
States
• 69% are married, with 41%
have children, 44% of
families with children have
one child, 39% have 2, and
17% have 3 or more
• Canada and the United
States both have aging
populations
United States
• Over 300 million people
• Many are descendants of
immigrants or are
immigrants
• 2.5 million are Native
Americans
• Europeans, Asians,
Africans, and Latin
American descendants
make up the rest of the
population
United States
• Immigrants came for
– religious freedom,
– political freedom,
– better economic
opportunities,
– fled war or natural
disasters
United States
• Natural resources and
rapid industrial and
economic development
attract immigrants
• Immigrants first faced
discrimination, but offered
hard work, talent,
enthusiasms, and diverse
cultural practices
• Immigrants today seek jobs,
education, career
opportunities, or refuge
from political situations
• 2008, 12.5% of US
population was foreign
born, half of foreign born
population are from Latin
America
Canada
• Immigrants to Canada
came for
–
–
–
–
–
Political freedom
Religious freedom
Economic opportunities
Education
Refuge from war
Canada
• Loyalists fled to Canada
from the British colonies
after the American
Revolution
• Many loyalists settled in the
Maritime provinces of Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick, and
Prince Edward Island
• Mix of ethnic origins
varies from province to
province
Canada
• Quebec is mostly French
descendants
• Over ¼ of Canadians identify
themselves as of mixed
ethnic origins
• Over 1 million identify
themselves as Native
American (Inuit), or of
mixed European and Native
American descent
Culture of United States of America
Language and Religion
– English is the main language of
the United States
– People also speak or use words or
phrases from other languages
– Some people are bilingual
– Growing Latino population has
made Spanish the second
common language
– Most Americans are Christian
– Other religions practiced are
Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and
Buddhism
Culture of United States of America
Education and Health Care
– Education is a network of
public and private schools
– Attending school is required
until age 16
– USA has a 99% literacy rate
– Health care is available to
many, but some are unable to
purchase health insurance
– The government is in the
process for providing health
care for all citizens
Culture of United States of America
The Arts
– First Americans integrated art,
music, and storytelling into daily
life
– European settlement caused art in
America to be dominated by
European traditions
– Mid 1800s people began to create
own art forms reflecting their lives
and culture
– Jazz was developed by African
Americans
Culture of Canada
Language and Religion
– Two official languages (English
and French)
– Reflects the power struggle
between French and British in
the past
– French is dominant in the
province of Quebec
– Other languages spoken are
German, Italian, and Chinese
– Native languages include Cree
and Inuktitut
– Christianity is the largest religion
– Other religions include Islam,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism,
and Sikhism
– Multiple religions reflect
Canada’s
diverse immigrant population
Culture of Canada
Education and Health Care
– 99% literacy rate
– Network of public and private
schools, each province is
responsible for organizing and
administering public education
– Required for students 6 to 16
– Government helps pays for
health care for all its citizens
– Each province finances and
manages its own health care
systems
– High life expectancies has led to
increased health care costs
which have resulted in limiting
benefits or raising taxes
Culture of Canada
The Arts
– Influenced
by
British,
French,
American,
and
native cultures
– Immigrant
population
has added to literature,
visual arts, theater, and
music
– Government
promotes
locally produced cultural
products in mass media
since 1950s
– Toronto is highly regarded
in theater and music
Where do the people of the United States and
Canada live?
United States
Density and Distribution
– Population density of United
States: 87 people per square
mile.
– Large population distribution
outside of urban areas.
– Northeast and Great Lakes
regions are MORE densely
populated b/c they are historic
centers of commerce and
industry.
– Pacific coast attracts people
looking for mild climate and
economic opportunities, which
leads to clusters of densely
populated areas
United States
Density and Distribution
– Subarctic region of Alaska, the
parched Great Basin, and parts
of the arid and semi-arid Great
Plains are the LEAST densely
populated.
– American South and Southwest
are the fastest growing areas.
• Area nicknamed the Sunbelt
for its mild climate; area draws
people to growing
manufacturing, service, and
tourism industries. Proximity
to Mexico and Caribbean
draws immigrants to the
region.
United States
Urban Areas
– Urbanization – movement of
people from rural areas to urban
areas
• Mechanized agriculture required
fewer workers leading to
movement to cities to find job
opportunities.
– Metropolitan area – includes a city
with a population of at least 50,000
people and outlying communities
called suburbs
• Most people in the U.S. live in
metropolitan areas.
– Urban Sprawl – As metropolitan
areas become crowded, leads to
the further spread of people and
suburban development
United States
Urban Areas
– Megalopolis – a great big area
that is made up of several large
and small cities
• Many U.S. population clusters
lie in coastal areas where
strong economies are linked to
world trade and can support
large populations.
• Pacific coast cities provide
important links to the rest of
the world, growth of inland
cities fueled by their proximity
to rivers and lakes.
– Example: Area between
Boston and Washington D.C.
along the Atlantic Coast an
called the Boswash
megalopolis.
Canada
Density and Distribution
– Most of Canada is inhospitable
due to rugged terrain and bitterly
cold climates.
– 90% of Canadian population
lives along the US-Canada
border
– Average population density is 9
people per square mile
– Most densely populated areas
clustered near waterways and
in places that support
agriculture
– Over past 100 years most
internal migration has been to
the Prairie Provinces of
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and
Alberta
• Migration due in part to the
discovery of oil and natural gas in
the arctic
Urban Areas
Canada
– Most population lives in
urban areas
– Toronto – largest city,
industrial
and financial center
– Montreal – industrial and
shipping center, ships reach
the inland through the St.
Lawrence & Ottawa Rivers,
and the Great Lakes.
– Vancouver – handles nearly all
trade between Canada and
Asia
– Edmonton – grew with
development of the
petroleum industry
How did the United States and Canada develop into
an interdependent and globalized economy?
Economic Activities
• Market Economies – allows
people to own, operate, and
profit from their own businesses.
– Allows businesses to hire
employees and pay them for their
work.
– Laws in place to protect private
property rights, employment
opportunities, and the health and
safety of workers.
– Both developed countries with
mostly industrial economies.
• Postindustrial Economies – place
less emphasis on heavy industry
and traditional manufacturing
and more emphasis on service
and high-tech businesses.
Economic Activities
– 7 7 % of the region’s workers
are employed in service jobs,
such as government,
education, health care, and
banking.
– Many of these service jobs
located in the central business
district of urban areas where
the high concentration of
office buildings and retail
shops is easily accessible from
the industrial areas as well as
from the suburbs.
• Central business district – a
traditional business and
commercial center referred to as
downtown.
Economic
Activities
– High tech industries –
less dependent on
location.
• Located in areas similar to
that of a person’s choice
of where to live: weather,
proximity to work, and
access to recreational
facilities
– Example: Silicon Valley – the
3rd largest high tech center
after New York and
Washington D.C.
» Located near a
cosmopolitan area,
year round pleasant
weather, and offices
nearby housing.
Economic Activities
Manufacturing
– 20% of both U.S. and Canadian
economies
– Companies began moving from the
Manufacturing Belt south to the
Sunbelt
– Rust Belt,͟ area left behind as
industries moved south to the
Sunbelt. Many old, unused
factories being converted for new
industries, a process called
retooling
• Examples:
– Sunbelt – transportation
equipment and machinery
– California/Washington –
aircraft and aerospace
equipment
– Midwest – automobiles
– California/Northeast – food
processing
– Canada/Quebec – wood based
products (timber resources)
Economic Activities
Agriculture
– Commercial agriculture –
producing agricultural
commodities
• Most farms are still owned by
families, rather than large
corporations, many have
formed cooperative operations
– Approximately 920 million acres
in US used for agriculture
– Approximately 167 million
acres in Canada used for
agriculture
Economic Activities
Agriculture
– Size of farms has decreased in
the U.S. due to:
• High cost of farming
• Unpredictable consumer
demand,
• Risk of natural disaster
• Time/hardwork to run a farm
Economic Activities
Agriculture
– Key agriculture products:
• Cattle Ranches – Western,
Southern, Midwestern, NorthCentral United States/ Prairie
Provinces, Quebec, and Ontario
in Canada
• Wheat Belt – Great Plains
United States/ Prairie
Provinces of Canada
• Corn – Corn Belt stretches
from Ohio to Nebraska/
Quebec, Ontario, and
Manitoba Canada
Economic Activities
Agriculture
– Agriculture
Technology:
• Dairy farming in the
United States can
occur in every
American state and
many Canadian
provinces as a result
of:
– Improved feed
sources and
automation
Transportation and Communications
The Automobile
– Most popular
means of personal
transportation
– Heavy investment in
highways, roads, and
bridges, which are also
important for the
transport of good.
– US roads/highways are
densest along the east &
west coasts, and the
Mississippi & Ohio River
valleys
Transportation and Communications
The Automobile
– Canada roads/highways
concentrated on the southern
part of the country
• Trans-Canada Highway runs
4,860 miles from Victoria,
British Columbia to
Newfoundland.
– Reliance on automobiles
results in air pollution and
traffic congestion in the
region’s cities
– Long-haul trucks carry about
28% of the region’s freight
Transportation and Communications
Other Means of
Transportation
– Airport networks
• Atlanta and Chicago’s
international
airports are two of
the busies in the
United States
• Toronto International
airport Canada’s
busiest airport
• Carry a small portion
of the region’s heavy
freight
Transportation and Communications
Other Means of Transportation
– Railroads/Pipelines
• Railroads – Move 36% of the
region’s freight
• Pipelines – carry about 20% of
region’s freight in the form of
oil and gas
– Waterways – Moves 13% of
Region’s freight
• Great Lakes – St. Lawrence
Seaway System used by both
US and Canada to transport
goods
• Mississippi River – used to
transport US grain/petroleum
products
Transportation and Communications
Communications
– Communication networks –
influenced the success of
region’s economy
– Mobile communication –
cellular and digital services
– Internet/Email – business
transactions/ personal
communications
Transportation and Communications
Communications
– Television , radio, newspapers
(local/national), magazines
(local/national), and
international news
– Canada’s
broadcasting/publishing
services publicly owned
– US Broadcasting/Publishing
services privately owned –
government regulations in
place to prevent development
of a monopoly
Trade and Interdependence
Global economy, the merging
of economies in which
countries are interconnected
and become dependent on one
another for good and services
Trade and Interdependence
Exports and Imports
– US spends more on imports
than it earns from exports 
resulting in a deficit
• US Deficit results from the
countries large consumer
population and growing
industries that require costly
energy purchases
• Some countries charge high
tariffs or taxes on imports,
which would increase the
price of US products and
reduce their sales abroad.
Trade and Interdependence
Exports and Imports
– Canada exports more than it
spends on imports 
resulting in a trade surplus
• Smaller population makes
energy needs less costly
• Canada’s actual export
revenues (profits) are closer
in total to the amount of
money spent on imports
Trade and Interdependence
NAFTA – North American Free
Trade Agreement
– Trade agreement between US,
Canada, and Mexico – created in
1994
– Created one of the world’s largest
trading blocks
• Eliminated trade barriers
• Increased economic activity among
three countries
• Strengthened their political and
economic positions in the global
economy
– Outsourcing – setting up plants,
service industries, and other
businesses abroad to produce parts
and products for domestic use or
sale.
– NAFTA allows US companies to set up
assembly plants in Mexico, where
labor costs are lower
Trade and Interdependence
United Against Terrorism
– After September 11, 2001 US and
Canada created the Smart Border
action plan to enhance border
security.
– Focuses on
• monitoring the flow of
People/goods
• Securing infrastructure
• Sharing information
• The Free and Secure Trade Program
(FAST program) – Establishes
complete and reliable records for
all cargo
• Sharing and coordination between
US and Canadian law enforcement
agencies have increased greatly
under the Smart Border plan.