Chapter 2: United States and Canada. World Regional Geography, Tenth EditionCopyright © 2010...

Chapter 2:United States and Canada

World Regional Geography, Tenth Edition Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. 2

Landform Geography

• Both are on the North American continent.

• Crustal mass includes Mexico and Central America.

• Many generalizations can be made also to Mexico and Central America.


Land Surface Regions of US & Canada


The Canadian Shield

• Shields• Piece of Earth’s crust that is

very old and geographically very stable

• Probably cannot be further revised

• Cultural nuclei around which mountain formation tends to occur

• Canadian Shield• Extends outward from the

Hudson Bay• Includes much of Quebec &

Labrador• Most of Ontario & Manitoba• Substantial part of Canadian

Arctic


Appalachian Highlands and Lowlands

• Highlands• Low-lying mountains from Newfoundland down to Alabama• Six distinct landforms:

1. Piedmont—PA southward to GA2. Fall Line—Series of river and stream rapids that mark the edge of the

Piedmont where it descends on the coastal plain3. Blue Ridge Mountains—NC, TN, and GA (also called Great Smokies)4. Ridge and Valley province

• Folded landscape of long, parallel ridges and valleys from NY to northern AL

• Includes Hudson and Shenandoah Valleys5. Appalachian Plateau—Western portion of Appalachian Highlands6. New England

• White Mountains of NH and ME• Green Mountains of VT• Continues into Canada to form a Maritimes-Newfoundland extension


Okefenokee Swamp, GeorgiaPikes Peak, Colorado


Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain

• Gulf of Mexico to US Atlantic Coasts

• Expanse• Cape Cod to Florida

• FL

• Coastal TX

• Much of lower Mississippi Valley


Western Mountains and Plateaus

• Rocky Mountains—Northern NM northward to CO and WY

• Interior Plateau• West of the Rocky Mountains

• Transition between Rockies and Pacific Coastlands


Western Plateaus—Components• Colorado Plateau—More than a mile high in SW CO, eastern UT, northern

AZ, NM• Basin and Range

• West and south of the CO Plateau• Much of NV and western UT, parts of southern CA and AZ

• Columbia Plateau• North of Basin and Range• Eastern OR and WA• Snake River area of ID

• Pacific Coastlands• Sierra Nevada Mountains

• North to south in eastern CA• Eleven peaks in excess of 14,000 feet

• Cascade Mountains• North of Sierra Nevada• Central OR and WA

• Coast Ranges—Length of the Pacific Coast• Great Valley—Alluvial trough• Willamette Valley (OR)• Puget Sound Lowland (WA)


Interior Lowlands

• South and west of the Canadian Shield

• Between North America’s backbones of east and west

• Components• Great Plains—East of the Rocky Mountains

• Great Lakes—MI, NY, and Ontario

• Ozark Plateau—MI

• Ouachita Mountains—AK

• Black Hills• Western SD

• Peaks that exceed 7,000 feet


The Great PlainsMt. Rushmore, South Dakota


Climate• Several influencing factors:

• Clearly defined changes in seasonal temperatures• Prevailing wind direction is west to east.• North–south mountain ranges in the west modify air masses as they move east.• Continentality—Atmosphere takes on the more extreme heating and cooling

characteristics of land than water.• Winters—Cold• Summers—Hot

• Gulf of Mexico—Important source of moisture for the Gulf Coast and Interior Lowlands

• Characteristics:• Humid subtropics• Dry subtropics• Marine west coast • Western steppes and deserts• Humid continental • Subarctic and polar climates


Climate Regions in US & Canada


Humid Subtropics

• Hot and sticky

• Northward to southern Middle Atlantic and mid-western states


Dry Subtropics (Mediterranean)

• Pacific Coast

• San Diego to San Francisco• Summers relatively cool (time of drought)

• Winters relatively warm

• Precipitation low, but clearly defined wet and dry seasons

• Snow virtually unheard of


Marine West Coast

• Northern CA to Alaska

• Winter—Warmer due to moderating effects of ocean

• Summer—Cool

• Cascade mountains produce a moderating effect.


Western Steppes and Deserts

• Eastern OR and WA south to Colorado Plateau

• East of Rocky Mountains—Corresponds roughly to the Great Plains

• Semiarid climate

• Temperatures tend toward extremes

• True deserts of North America concentrated in the southwest:• Southern TX

• Southern AZ

• Southern CA


Humid Continental

• Northern part of US into southern Canada

• Humidity

• Winter—Cool to cold

• Summer—Can be very hot

• Home to America’s agricultural heartland• Corn Belt

• Dairy Belt


Subarctic and Polar

• Subarctic• Wide swath of central Canada

and Alaska

• Precipitation levels low—Mostly as summer rain

• Polar

• Northern edges of Canada and Alaska • Freezing conditions most of

the year

• Some days without sunlight


Culture Cores

• Geographers study settlement trends.

• Several dynamics studied by geographers:• Culture hearths

• Centers of cultural innovation

• Take innovations across landscape through diffusion

• Diffusion process—Settlers moving into new territories

• Settlement frontiers—Areas where settlers develop

• Spatial integration—Result of settlers transforming the settled landscape


US & Canada—European Core Influences

• New England—MA, RI, and CT• Originally a destination for religious freedom• Artisanal work• Shipbuilding

• Southern Atlantic—VA and southward• Cultivation of subtropical crops—notably tobacco• Plantation system a major aspect of work by smaller farms

• Middle Atlantic—NY, PA, and parts of NJ and MD• English, Dutch, Scots–Irish, and Swedish influences• Mixed agricultural system• Manufacture of tools, guns, and wagons• Iron ore work in PA• Influential impact of American middle west and parts of Appalachians

• French Canada—Quebec; St. Lawrence River area• Early settlers were French; British took over in 1763.• Some farming along St. Lawrence River• French Canadian population has remained contextual; little spatial diffusion.


Expansion—Manifest Destiny

• View of US that all land on the continent willed by God to the US to be civilized by Americans and their ennobling institutions

• Enabled by dominant international political culture

• Expansion of US• Louisiana Purchase—1803

• East Florida—1819

• West Florida—1810-1813

• Texas—Annexed in 1845

• Mexican Cession—1848

• Oregon County—1848

• Gadsden Purchase—1853


Trends in Canada

• Loyalists—Remnants of supporters of the British following the American Revolution

• Created a counterweight to French-speaking Quebec

• Anglicization process would eventually displace the French to minority.

• July 1, 1867—Canada officially becomes a country.• American-style federalism (confederation of provinces)

• British-style Parliament• House of Commons

• Senate


Other Factors Impacting Expansion

• Transformation in transportation technologies• Need to overcome friction of distance• Canal building• Railroads


Immigration

• Both US and Canada impacted historically.

• Zelinsky—Two categories of US immigration:• 1607 to 1775—European migrants and African as slaves

• 1820 to present—The “national” era

• 1820 to 1870—Heavily British, Irish, German, and Dutch; some Latin Americans and Asians

• 1870 to 1920—“Great Deluge”• 26 million people emigrate to US

• Traditional northwestern European sources

• Scandinavia

• Eastern and southern Europe, China, Japan, and Latin America

• 1920 to present—Miscellaneous:• Wide variety of origins

• Especially Asians and Latin Americans


Canadian Immigration

• Just as intense and nation-altering as US• Started later• Prior to confederation

• British• American Loyalists• French (Quebec)

• 1885—Railroads to Canadian Prairies finished• Many claims on land• Eastern Europeans• Scandinavian countries• Britain and US

• Population increased by one-third in the first half of the twentieth century.

• After World War II, primarily immigration to urban areas (increasing concentrations of Asians and Africans)


Demographics

• US population growth after 1800• High birthrates (fertility rates)• Low death rates (mortality rates)• Immigration

• Canadian population growth• Grew mainly by natural increase between 1867 and 1900• But limited by a low fertility rate

• Population distribution• Predominantly east of the Mississippi River• Greatest concentration in northeast quadrants

• US—North central, northeast• Canada:

• Within 200 miles of US border between Windsor, Ontario and Quebec City, Quebec

• Vancouver, Victoria, and British Columbia


Population Redistribution

• Changes in economies

• Agrarian to industrial economies (1800s)

• US• Development of manufacturing in cities

• Transformation from plantation system due to mechanization of farming

• Canada• Development of petroleum reserves (Alberta)

• International and interprovincial migration (British Columbia)


Factors Influencing Success of Agriculture

• Abundance of good land• 1.5 of all land in US is classified as cropland.

• Canada’s small population relative to the US means the ration of farmland to people is about the same.

• High level of mechanization• Tractors replace mules.

• Hybrid seeds, pesticides, herbicides, biotechnology, and scientific farming techniques

• Regional specialization• A variety of environmental conditions

• Need for developing comparative advantage


Historical Agricultural Productivity in US


Agricultural Regions

• Corn Belt

• Dairy Belt

• Specialty Crop and Livestock Region

• Great Wheat Belts

• Western farming


Corn Belt

• Location—Central OH to eastern NB; MN to SD; southern into KS

• Corn useful for multiple purposes

• Food for people

• Feed for animals

• Area began as a mixed farming area, with equal emphasis on crop cultivation and livestock production.


Dairy Belt

• Location—North of the Corn Belt, stretching westward from Nova Scotia and New England to WI and MN

• Conditions less favorable for agriculture

• Soils thinner/less fertile

• Growing seasons shorter

• Two types of production


Specialty Crop & Livestock Production

• Location—Southern New England to eastern TX

• Wide array of activities

• City dwellers demanded fruits and vegetables.

• Truck farming• High value

• Land intensive

• Market-oriented

• South• Livestock region

• Poultry farms


Great Wheat Belts

• Winter Wheat Belt• KS, OK, CO, and north TX

• What planted in fall, lies dormant in winter, and is harvested in spring.

• Used for spaghetti, crackers, and pastries

• Spring Wheat Belt• ND, SD, MT, and Saskatchewan

• What planted in spring and is harvested in late summer

• Used for bread


Western Farming

• Water is the big issue.• Dry soils can be tilled with

water from underground aquifers.

• Irrigation, however, is not necessary in the Pacific Northwest.

• Ranches are very large.

• Many cases exceeding 100,000 acres

• Typically used for livestock


Continuing Adjustments in Agriculture

• Fewer farmers

• Growth of agribusiness/vertical integration• Death of family farming

• Rise of corporate farming

• Fewer, larger farms• Rural geography changing

• Now a coarse series of large corporate holdings

• Greater increase in supply than in demand• Farm output has increased.

• Demand has not kept pace.


Resources for Growth & Development: Energy & Power

• Coal• Major energy source for industrial expansion in US, WY, KY, WV, and

PA• Nova Scotia, New Brunswick in Canada• Easier to import from US Appalachian states• More emphasis on petroleum

• Oil and gas• Both US and Canada are major producers and consumers.• US—Production centered in TX, LA, KS, CA, and AL• Canada—Alberta and Saskatchewan

• Water• 60% energy via hydroelectricity in Canada• 8.5% in the US

• Nuclear• 20% source of power in US• 12% source of power in Canada


Resources for Growth & Development: Metals

• Iron ore• US and Canada are major producers and consumers.

• Canada—Exporter

• US—Importer

• Aluminum• Used extensively in transportation and construction

• Bauxite required

• Not readily available here.

• Import from Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana, and Australia

• Canada produces some other metals:• Nickel

• Copper


Power Consumption in US by Source


Coal and Iron Ore in US & CanadaPetroleum & Natural Gas in US & Canada


Manufacturing in the US

• New England• Waterways• Railroads

• South• Remote from transportation• Produced for exporting

• Coreland• Southern New England

• Textile• Leather-working• Machine tools

• Metro New York• Diversified manufacturing• Garment industry


Three Prominent Steel Industries

• First• Baltimore, MD• Bethlehem, PA• Philadelphia, PA• Harrisburg, PA

• Second• Erie, PA• Pittsburgh, PA• Toledo, OH

• Third• Gary, IN• Chicago, IL• Milwaukee, WI


Automobile Manufacturing

• Southern MI

• Parts of IN, OH, and Ontario

• Automobile production

• Parts and assembly


Manufacturing Regions & Urban-Industrial Districts of US


Problems Facing Coreland Manufacturing

• Intensive foreign competition• Labor costs cheaper

• More modern equipment

• Difficult economic conditions• Recessions

• Fluctuations

• Social problems• Social conflict

• Air and water pollution

• Residential quality

• Urban water supply


Southern Economic Revolution

• Textiles are the first major industry.• Grew to have a comparative advantage

• Cheaper labor costs than in the north• Better locations• Lower power costs• Lower taxes

• Other industries• Material-oriented pulp and paper• Furniture• Food processing• Forest industries• Petroleum (Gulf Coast)• Steel (Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA)

• Grew into a significant regional market


Manufacturing Employment Shifts in US: 1970–2000


% US Workers in Manufacturing


Canadian Manufacturing

• Location—St. Lawrence Seaway and Ontario• Industrial heartland

• Montreal the center of industry—Akin to NYC

• Specialization elsewhere• Hydroelectric potential—Quebec

• Golden Horseshoe• Most of Canada’s steel

• Great variety of other goods

• Protected by tariff

• Drift westward• Alberta and western provinces gain

• Similar trends to US


Manufacturing Employment Shifts in Canada between 1969 & 2005


Post-Industrialism in North America

• Emphasis on production of goods and services• Synonyms

• Knowledge economy• Service economy• Post-industrial economy

• Industries• Banking• Retailing• Finance• Information services• Business services

• Attracted to suburban locations—Impacts on urban manufacturing centers


Urbanization in North America

• Cities’ natural attraction for industrialism

• Agglomeration economies• Multiplier effect

• Highly urbanized by beginning of 21st century

• Globalization transforming cities• Transportation

• Expressways• Automobiles

• Spatial expansion• Megalopolis

• Result of congestion and sprawl• “a very large city”• More government—More

demands


Canadian Cities

• Somewhat different from US• More acceptance of government planning

• More compact; higher densities

• More emphasis on public transportation

• After 1970s, converging trends began to emerge.


Challenges in a Developed Realm

• Poverty—Material deprivation affecting biologic and social well-being

• Income disparities—Differences in the amount of money people earn

• Key measures for evaluating the strength of a society

• Defined differently between countries—Therefore, no consensus


Poverty in US

• 78% of all poor live in metropolitan areas.

• Effect of biases against specific ethic groupings

• African-Americans• Hispanic-Americans• Native Americans• Appalachian whites

• Concentrated in central cities• Appalachia• Other areas

• Mississippi Delta• Along the Mexico border• Native American reservations in

north central


Poverty in US by Region and Group, 2007


Poverty & Unemployment in US


Canadian Poverty


Appalachia

• Predominantly white• Location

• Midwestern Pennsylvania• West Virginia• Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee• Parts of Georgia, Mississippi, and eastern Alabama

• Restricted access/inability to harness land• Less access to transportation• Coal-mining prosperity short-lived• Deleterious effects of flooding, soil erosion, and strip mining

• Appalachian Regional Development Act (1965; amended 2004)—Core mission to eradicate poverty


Poverty and Unemployment in US

• Result of economic and technological change• Infrastructural changes• Social capital needs change

• Closely associated with high poverty levels• High unemployment levels

• Southwest along Mexico border• Mississippi Delta• South Carolina—Textile areas• Western states

• California• Oregon• Washington


Income Disparities in Canada

• Regional differences also exist.• 9.5% “low income after tax” in 2002• Somewhat lower than US poverty rate

• Poverty concentrations• High

• Quebec• Newfoundland

• Moderate• Manitoba• British Columbia

• High Income Levels• Ontario• Alberta (oil-rich)

• Causes• Downturn in fishing industry• Regional/local causes


African Americans

• Initial patterns an outgrowth of the plantation system• Small proportion freedmen outside South or in southern urban areas• Remainder formed the backbone for plantation system

• Southern Plantations• Land-based social and economic system• Commercial production• Slave labor on relatively large holdings• Became basic system for agricultural production

• Dense concentration• Coastal zones of South Carolina and Georgia• Inner Coastal Plain• Mississippi Valley• Tennessee River Valley of Alabama• Portions of Texas


African-American Poverty as % of County Population in US, 2000


African-American Migration

• Mechanization of agriculture displaces sharecropping.• Movement from South to North

• Jobs in the industrial rust belt

• Migration slowed somewhat during Great Depression.

• Otherwise continued through to the 1970s

• Current demographics• Urban areas of North

• Urban and rural areas of South

• Some movement back to the South

• Social and racial biases• Redlining

• Disparities in resources for education and housing

• City residents trapped in older residential areas

• Less social infrastructure


Hispanic Americans

• Hispanic—Not a racial group• South American culture• Demographics

• Population large and growing• Concentrated along Hispanic-American borderland• Some major urban agglomerations• Higher than average fertility rate

• Large proportion comprised of illegal immigrants.• Illegal immigrants sparking intense debate in US.

• Negative—Shouldn’t receive social welfare benefits• Positive—Reserve army of cheap labor


Hispanic Population as a % of County Population in US, 2000


Other Demographic Groupings

• Asians• Immigration since 1970s

• Predominantly concentrated in urban centers of the West

• Native Americans

• Concentrated in north central


Native-American Population


Asian-American Population as a % of County Population in US, 2000


Native-American Population as a % of County Population in US, 2000


Canadian Population Demographics

• Tension between English-speaking and French-speaking• Anglophones—Native English speakers• Francophones—Native French speakers

• Population Demographics• French-speaking

• Quebec• New Brunswick• Predominantly Roman Catholic

• English-speaking• Western provinces• Maritimes• Predominantly Protestant

• Multilingualism (other than French and English)• Toronto• Montreal• Produced by immigration and ethnic clustering


The Several Canadas


Canadian Economic Demographics

• Quebec• Industrial heartland• 80% urban

• Maritimes• Fishing• Farming• Mining

• Alberta—Oil• Ontario

• Strong commercial and industrial base• Seat of federal government (Ottawa)

• Prairies• Wheat• Cattle

• British Columbia—lumbering


The Question of “Distinctiveness”

• Quebec has sought designation to protect its French heritage and identity.

• Federal political party (Parti Quebecois) mainly seeks to represent Quebec secessionist views.

• Several secession movements:• 1979

• 1995

• Both failed.

• Meech Lake Accord (1987):• Recognition of Quebec as “Distinct society”

• Rejected by Newfoundland and Manitoba

• Unfair recognition to Quebec vice other provinces

• No recognition to aboriginals


Melting Pots or Stew Pots?

• Canada• Multilingualism codified

• Students must learn French and English.

• Official business in French and English

• Additional pressures from Asian immigration

• Tension between Anglophones and Francophones

• US• Debate over English as “national language”

• National Anthem in language other than English? (Canada has English and French lyrics.)

Chapter 2: United States and Canada. World Regional Geography, Tenth EditionCopyright © 2010...

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