THE CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE

UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Unit Overview

This unit will continue to provide information about the United States and Canada, concentrating on population and learning reasons why Canada is the second largest populated country in the world, while the United States is the third largest country in population.

Population of the United States

The population of the United States is among the worlds most diverse. This is because of immigration, or the movement of people into one country from another. As you read this unit we will explore the many reasons why people come to America.

The People

Today there are roughly 300 million people living in the United States and Canada. In terms of land mass, Canada is the second largest country in the world, while the United States is the third largest country in terms of population. Most of the people were immigrants of European descent with Great Britain supplying the greatest number. Other ethnic groups included the French, African-Americans, and Hispanics. Most immigrants came to America to share in the many political and religious freedoms we experience. The natural resources found in various parts of the United States have created many economic opportunities (much like you learned during the Industrial Revolution). Many people have come to America because their countries were destroyed by natural disasters or war. These wars and natural disasters have made them refugees or people who flee in times of war for safety, new political governments have forced them to leave. As stated in an earlier unit, many immigrants have come to America seeking jobs and education and relief from these often-difficult situations.

The population of the United States has many immigrant roots; these roots give us a reason to respect diversity. Being an immigrant is not easy, immigrants have faced discrimination, but because they offer hard work, talent and diverse cultural ideas immigrants have found a home in the United States. However, the freedom enjoyed by everyone also has allowed those immigrant groups to maintain their own individual qualities. Does everyone celebrate Christmas? Does everyone worship the same religion? Of course not, and that is why people come to America.

The Distribution of People

The population density, which is the average number of people living in a square mile, is close to 80 people per square mile. That number can be very misleading, because more people live in large urban areas. The areas near the Great Lake and the Northeast are heavily populated because they are sources of much business and industry. What is found where there are areas that have industry? Yes, jobs are found, and where do people move? Yes, areas where there are jobs. The map below will show you where people tend to live. This is why that number of 80 people per square mile is misleading.

Since the 1970s the Southwest of the United States (Arizona, California, and New Mexico) has been a very fast growing area. What do those areas have? Those areas have mild climates with warm temperatures year round. Many people retire to these areas. In addition, they also border Mexico, so there are many immigrants settling there as well. The distribution of population

The distribution of population in the United States also plays a major part in our government. It determines the number of people each state can send to Congress. In the House of Representatives, the number of Representatives is determined by the number of people living in each state. The more people, the more representatives a state gets. If an area loses people (say people move to warmer areas) the state will lose members in Congress. If for example, a region has more jobs, the more people will move there, the state will get more representatives.

Urban Areas
Over the years the United States has experienced a trend known as Urbanization, or the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas or in other words, people move from farms or small villages to cities. In addition, easy access to water affected the development of urban areas, which are located closely to major rivers or the Great Lakes. During the Industrial revolution when factories were developed people began to move because that was a source of jobs. Today many people live in what we call a Metropolitan Area, or an area with at least 50,000 people and many outlying areas known as suburbs. Think of New York City as a Metropolitan area.

To ease overcrowding, governments have created zoning laws or dividing an area for certain purposes. For example, one cannot just build a factory in the middle of a neighborhood, it would have to be zoned for industry.  Zoning laws have also been created to save the environment.

Recently we have gone away from urbanization because the urban areas have become too crowded. We are known for living in a phase, which we call urban sprawl, where people have moved away from the urban areas into the suburban areas.

History and Government

Scientists believe that the first humans to settle in the region crossed a bridge between Asia and North America. The United States has been shaped by Native Americans, the colonization by Europeans, the Revolutionary War, the creation of a new government, Manifest Destiny and the Industrial Revolution.

As we know, England use to control the original thirteen American Colonies. Since Britain angered the Americans by imposing harsh taxes and limiting their freedoms, the colonist eventually won their independence from England as a result of the Revolutionary War. As a result a new American Government was formed, and individuals have basic rights that cannot be taken away from them. These rights are the 1^st 10 Amendments in our Constitution- the Bill of Rights.

As you know, our government has checks and balances so no one person can behave like a dictator. Our government is divided into three branches

1. Executive Branch- that enforces the law

2. Legislative Branch- that makes the laws

3. Judicial Branch- that judges the law

Canada’s "checks and balances" are very different from those in the United States because it seems as though the Prime Minister, within Canada, has more power than the American President. Canada's legislative and executive branches draw from one another, the one who governs the country rarely exercises his or her powers without the guidance of the Prime Minister.

When we look at this comparison, with the three branches of the United States government, this is one reason why so many people came to America, since they knew they would be treated with fairness and equality.

Growth, Division and Unity

The map below will show you that over the years the United States as doubled in size. As many people came to America to enjoy our freedoms the country simply became too small. The country had to move west, this was known as Manifest Destiny, a period in American history which was marked by rapid expansion “from sea to shining sea” through annexation of the Western half of the continent.

The Industrial Revolution also forced us to move westward. In order to power factories when it needs water, we had to find areas near bodies of water. Some industries required coal, so we had to move west to find areas rich in coal. Much of the coal and waterways are found in the Midwest, as a result the Midwest became a leading center of industry. You will also note that the impact did the purchase of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 roughly doubled the size of the United States.

The Industrial Revolution also led to an increase in business. If you remember from your studies of imperalism countries gain territories to achieve business goals. This can be seen in the story of Hawaii when in 1893 American businessmen overthrew the monarchy in Hawaii. Why might you ask- for its sugar. The US annexed or added the territory of Hawaii in 1893, Hawaii became a state in 1959.

Modern Challenges

The rights we give to our people in recent years have made the United States a target of terrorists. Most notable are the attacks of September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked four planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. These attacks were because we give people freedoms they cannot find in other countries. In countries around the world, people have no rights and they are often jealous of the United States.

As a result of these attacks, the United States has declared war on Afghanistan, which allowed for the bases, which these terrorists could live, and train. Another target was Iraq, which the United States declared war on in March 2003. We accused Iraq of having weapons that could wind up in the hands of terrorists, which in turn could be used against the United States. Another reason was that Iraq was not a democracy; as a result of the war Iraq has begun a slow process of becoming a democracy, where the people of Iraq can enjoy the same freedoms as we do in America.

Education and Health Care

The long-term success of our country is dependent on our education system. A country that has a large and successful economy also must have a high literacy rate, the percentage of those who can read and write. Attending school is required in the United States.

According to the Population Health Metrics Journal, the Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health (JCUSH) 2002–03 conducted a comprehensive cross-sectional telephone survey on the health of community-dwelling residents in Canada and the US. The results were that in both countries income is associated with health. In the lowest income quintile, Canadians are healthier than Americans. At lower levels of education, again Canadians are healthier than Americans. Differences in health among subjects in the JCUSH are explained by age, gender, education, income, marital status, and country of residence.

On an average, population health in Canada and the US is similar. However, between Canadians and Americans health disparities exist at lower levels of education and income with Americans worse off.

As a result of our economic system this has allowed for many resources to be devoted to healthcare. If there are no jobs, people cannot afford healthcare. If we do not have people that are qualified to work, there can be no healthcare. Education and healthcare go hand in hand.

Today, there are many with no or inadequate healthcare. United States citizens visit Canada for healthcare reason, while Canadians visit the United States to receive healthcare. The governments in both countries are closely involved in healthcare. The role in what the government should do is being debated. It will be interesting to see how we get healthcare coverage for everyone.

Cultural Geography of Canada

Much as the case in the United States, people fled to Canada seeking political, educational and economic freedom. However, their reasons can be traced back to the American Revolution. Those differences still exist today between Canadians. Those colonists who wished to remain loyal to the British after the American Revolution were forced to flee to Canada for political reasons. These people are known as loyalists and settled in the provinces of New Foundland and Prince Edward Island. A Province is a political unit similar to a state.

After the French and Indian War, the immigrant groups fled to the French speaking portion of Canada, Quebec, and parts of eastern Canada, to maintain their way of life.

As reported from Statistics Canada,” recently, Canada's growth rate has been slightly higher than in the United States. In 2004/2005, the last year for which statistics were available, the United States increased at a rate of 9.3 per 1,000, compared to 9.6 in Canada.

Canada's rate of natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) estimated at 3.3 per 1,000 in 2005/2006, is similar to the previous year. Natural increase has been in a long-term decline since the beginning of the 1990s, although it has stabilized since 2000.

On the other hand, international migration has gained in importance and has accounted for more than 60% of Canada's population growth since 2001. Comparatively, it represented 46.2% of the country's demographic growth from 1990 to 1995.

Density and Distribution

Canada is an area where the land is rugged and the weather is very cold. As a result, close to 90% of the people live along the border of the United States, this indicates that the majority of the people live in the southern part of the country. Look at the population Density of Canada. You will see that the density within the country varies drastically. How does the density of Canada compare to that of the United States? You will see from both maps that Canada is less dense than the United States.

Summary

The population of the United States is among the worlds most diverse. This is because of immigration, or the movement of people into one country from another.

Canada is the second largest populated country in the world, while the United States is the third largest country in population.

The long-term success of our country is dependent on our education system.

One reason why so many people come to America is that they know they will be treated with fairness and equality.

The rights we give to our people in recent years have made the United States a target of terrorists.

Population health in Canada and the United States is similar.

People fled to Canada seeking political, educational and economic freedom.

Ninety percent of the Canadian people live along the border of the United States.

Below are additional educational resources and activities for this unit.

Unit 6 Main Points Worksheet

Unit 6 Vocabulary: Cultural Geography