Transcript The United States and Canada

The United States and Canada
Culture
THE UNITED STATES
A Diverse Society
• The United States is a nation of immigrants; therefore,
there are multiple ethnic traditions and different races.
• Breakdown of the population:
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European Ancestry – 70%
Hispanic Americans – 13%
African Americans – 12%
Asian Americans – 4%
Native Americans – 1%
• The largest ethnic groups  English, German, Irish, African,
French, Italian, Scottish, Polish and Mexican
Language and Religions
• English is the dominant language of the United States
– Spanish comes in as the second most common language in
the US.
– Majority of immigrants will continue to speak their native
language until they have learned English.
• Religious Freedom – cornerstone of American society
– There are over 1,000 different religious groups that
practice their faith in the United States.
• The major religious groups in the United States include
– Christians (Protestants and Roman Catholics), Jews,
and Muslims.
The Arts and Popular Culture
• There is a rich artistic heritage due to the diverse
population.
– The first artists – the Native Americans
– The Europeans brought their artistic traditions with them.
• The 19th century  major period of artistic development
– Seen in music, literature, painting and architecture
• Modern-Day  motion pictures and popular music are the
two most influential art forms
– This form of entertainment is influential across the globe
(cultural diffusion)
American Life Today
• The American Dream
– Immigrants come to the United States looking or a
better life for themselves and their children.
• Where Americans Live
– About 80 percent of Americans live in cities or
surrounding suburbs
• First moved from rural areas to cities, then cities to
suburbs
• Movement to the suburbs was made possible
by automobiles
Sub-Regions – The Northeast
• Quick Facts
– There are nine states that are found in this region.
– The region covers about 5 percent of the nation’s land area, but
is home to 20 percent of the country’s population.
• America’s Gateway
– The area received many of the first European settlers –
considered the “gateway” to American lands.
• The region is highly industrialized and urbanized.
– A lot of the seaboard cities serve as international trade centers.
– The amount of natural resources available in the region allow
for industrial growth and development.
– There has been a transition into manufacturing and service
industries.
The Northeast
• “Rust Belt” – the declining and abandoned traditional
industries
– Many of these industries have moved overseas or to warmer
climates in the United States.
• Growth of the Megalopolis
– Megalopolis = a region in which several large cities and
surrounding areas grow together
– The nation’s first megalopolis developed in the Northeast –
“BosWash”
• It stretches through 500 miles of highly urbanized areas (from Boston
to Washington, DC
• It contains one-sixth of the US population
• Rapid road, rail and air links are vital to its economic development and
expansion
Sub-Regions – The Midwest
• Quick Facts:
– There are twelve states that make up the region.
– The land is also referred to as the “American Heartland”
– The region occupies about 20 percent of the land and 25 percent of
the US population.
• Agricultural and Industrial Heartland
– The Midwest is often referred to as the “breadbasket”.
– The central location of the region makes it a trade, transportation, and
distribution area.
– The waterways also make cities more accessible.
• Changing the Face of the Midwest
– The number of farms is declining; therefore, more jobs are in the
service industries
• People and industries are moving away from the region to the
South and West.
Sub-Regions – The South
• Quick Facts
– There are sixteen states in this region
• Eleven of the states were members of the Confederacy during the Civil
War.
• Texas is sometimes considered a part of the Southwest (added with
some states from the West).
• The Old South
– The region has some of the oldest American settlements.
– There is a mix of cultures that reflect the diversity of its settlers.
• British, African, Hispanic, Cajun and Creoles are some of the major
groups.
– Sometimes referred to as part of the “sunbelt” because of the
climate.
The South
• The New South
– The region’s humid subtropical climate hindered
industrialization.
• Agriculture was the primary focus of South.
• Livestock activity was also prevalent in the region.
– Introduction of air conditioning (in 1950s) and the
region’s energy resources gave a boost to industry - - changed the cultural atmosphere in the region.
– Major industries are moving from the Midwest and
the Northeast.
• New populations mean changes in culture.
Sub-Regions – The West
• Quick Facts
– The region is composed of thirteen states; it is composed of lands stretching
from the Great Plains to the Pacific Ocean (and includes Alaska).
– The region covers 50 percent of the land area of the United States, but only 20
percent of the population.
• Settling in the West
– Same sort of settlement practices today as in the frontier days: wherever
landforms and climates are most favorable.
• Limited the interaction between groups of people
– The region is the most rapidly growing area in the United States.
• The increasing population means an increase in the diversity present.
• Developing the West
– Growth of the region in the 20th century was aided with air conditioning and
irrigation.
• Water supply allowed inland with the use of irrigation.
– Production of multiple goods and trade has also aided in the development of
the region.
• The cultural diversity is allowed to prosper
CANADA
The Atlantic Provinces
• These are the four eastern provinces – Prince Edward
Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland.
• Harsh Lands and Small Populations
– This region is home to about 8 percent of Canada’s
population.
– The majority of people live in coastal cities because of the
rugged terrain and severe weather.
• People make a living using what is available to them 
many depend on forestry and fishing industries
The Core Provinces
• This region is composed of the two provinces of Ontario
and Quebec.
• The Heartland of Canada
– This region is often referred to as the heartland of Canada
because of its importance socially, economically and politically.
– Three out of five Canadians live in this region.
– Most settlements are found along the St. Lawrence Seaway and
the Great Lakes.
– Two major culture are found in specific provinces of this region:
• Ontario – English-speaking majority
• Quebec – French-speaking Canadians
The Prairie Provinces
• There are three provinces that make up this region – Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta.
• Canada’s Breadbasket
– This region is connected to the Great Plains in the United States –
meaning the land is fertile and plentiful.
• A Cultural Mix
– Diverse populations found in each province including :
• Manitoba – Scots-Irish, Germans, Scandinavians, Ukranians and Poles
• Saskatchewan – South and East Asians; metis
• Alberta – European immigrants and Indian, Japanese, Lebanese and
Vietnamese
– The combination of cultures creates a varied culture, not specific to
one group
Pacific Province and Territories
• This region is composed of British Columbia and three territories – Yukon
Territory, Northwest Territory and Nunavut.
– This area makes up the western and northern parts of Canada.
• British Columbia
– More than half of the land is densely forested, making it difficult for human
habitation.
• Most of the population is located in the southwest part of the province.
– The area relies on ports and trading, thereby introducing more cultures
through the major port cities.
• The Territories
– The land of the territories accounts for 41 percent of the country’s land mass.
• However, they are sparsely populated (too sparse to be provinces).
– Major area – Nunavut
• It was carved out of the eastern territories in 1999 and is the home of the Canadian Inuit.
• The land is rugged but some of it is useful for economic purposes