The Cultural Geography of the U.S.
and Canada
Population Patterns
Both the U.S. and Canada have been shaped by
immigration
Immigration The movement of people from one country to
another
About 5% of the worlds population live in either the
U.S. or Canada
The U.S. has about 312 million people Canada has about 33 million
North Americas first immigrants probably came from
Asia thousands of years ago.
Today, their descendents are known as Native
Americans.
Immigrants came from Europe, Asia and Africa to find
religious freedom and better economic opportunities.
Canada has an average population density of only 8
people per square mile.
About 90% of all Canadians live within 100 miles of
the U.S. border.
The U.S. has about 77 people per square mile California is the most populous state.
Urbanization The concentration of people in cities. Today, most people in the U.S. and Canada live in a
metropolitan area.
Metropolitan City with a population of at least 50,000
people
They also have settled largely in suburbs.
Suburbs Outlying communities of Metropolitan areas.
Many populations have grown near coastal cities due to
great economic opportunities.
Megalopolis Closely linked metropolitan areas.
Bowash The area of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington D.C.
Other important coastal cities include Miami, New
Orleans and Houston.
On the Pacific Coast, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle and
Vancouver are major cities.
Rivers, lakes and inland waterways promoted the
growth of the regions inland cities
The St. Lawrence River provides water ways for
Quebec, Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa.
The Great Lakes links Detroit and Chicago to the rest
of the world trade routes.
The U.S. and Canada have low birthrates, this
increases the population 0.5 percent annually.
In 1998, more than 9% of all Americans were born in
another country.
Mobility The freedom to move from place to place.
History and Government of the United States and Canada
Two theories exist of how North America became
populated:
Nomads crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Russia
into the present day Alaska.
Nomads from South and Central America populated
North America.
Whichever is true, scientists know that people lived in
every part of North America about 10,000 years ago.
Early Native Americans in Canada and Alaska hunted
Caribou.
Pacific Indian Tribes used fiber nets to catch salmon
and other fish.
Groups in the Great Plains hunted buffalo and
eventually learned how to farm as well.
By the late 1500s, European migration to the New
World had begun.
The first to settle North America were England, France
and Spain.
Spain controlled Florida and everything west of the
Mississippi.
France controlled the fur trading industry.
After harsh taxes, the 13 colonies revolted against
England and won their independence. The United States of America was born.
Canada was created as a dominion state of Englands,
they eventually gain independence.
Republic A government system in which people
elect their own officials.
In 1803, the U.S. bought the Louisiana Purchase, this
added land from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.
Texas was annexed in 1845 and produce large amounts
of cotton and cattle.
Either by treaty or trade, the U.S. eventually controlled
everything from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
In the 1800s industrialization transformed America
and Canada.
This created jobs in the textile industry in the
Northeast and mining in the Appalachian Mt. area.
As the Eastern United States become crowded, more
people started settling the Great Plains.
Dry Farming Cultivating the land so that it caught
and held rainwater.
In the late 1800s, the U.S. completed the first
transcontinental railroad.
The U.S. is a democracy with a federal system. Constitution A plan of government
Amendment A change to the U.S. constitution
Bill of Rights Guarantee basic rights to citizens. Cabinet A group of special advisors
Dominion A partially self-governing country with
ties to Great Britain.
Canada finally gained its independence in 1982. Parliament The national legislature of Canada, it is
made up of the Senate and the House of Commons.
Cultures and Lifestyles
The U.S. and Canada are made up of many different
cultures.
Because of the blending of different cultures
throughout history, new cultures have been created.
This idea has always been valued in the U.S. and
Canada.
The Bill of Rights gives the U.S. freedom of religion. Canada also has religious freedom.
English is the main language in the U.S. and Canada. French is also considered an official language in
Canada.
Because of immigration, several other languages are
spoken such as, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Portuguese and Hindi.
Separatism The breaking away of one part of a
country to create a separate, independent country.
Bilingual Speaking two languages.
Native Americans created early music, this mixed with
folk music from Europe and Africa.
Jazz Style of music developed in African American
communities in the 1900s.
Was first written to portray historical and religious
themes.
Famous American authors Mark Twain, Edgar Allen
Poe, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway and Richard Wright.
The U.S. still leads the world in entertainment. Hollywood was created and to this day is the leading
producer of movies.
Socioeconomic Status Level of income and
education .
Literacy Rate Percentage of people that can read in
a given country.
Patriotism Loyalty to ones country.