world geography section 2: united states and Canada

United States

covers almost 3.8 million square miles and consists of 50 states, 48 of which form most of the countries landmass

contiguous

places that make up the landmass of the country

North American cordillera

a group of mountain ranges that extends from northern Alaska and Canada down to mexico

cordillera

a group of mountains or mountain ranges often running parallel to each other

ring of fire

an area of high tectonic activity that encircles the Pacific Ocean along the cost of Asia and North and South America

Rocky Mountains

the largest mountain range in North American cordillera

Mount McKinely

North America’s highest mountain

Death Valley

lowest point on land in North America and is one of the hottest places on earth

Great Plains

a large plain that runs from the southern United States up through Canada to the Arctic Ocean

Appalachian Mountains

a mountain range in eastern United States, spans from the southeastern United States into eastern Canada

lake Ontario, lake Erie, lake Superior, lake Huron, and lake Michigan

The great lakes

Niagara Falls

a waterfall that sits directly on the U.S.-Canada border along the river and is one of North America’s spectacular natural formations

Watershed

area where precipitation collects and drains into a common body of water, also known as a drainage basin

Mississippi River

one of the longest river in North America

Missouri River

considered the longest river in North America, is a tributary of the Mississippi river

Great Salt Lake

one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world

coal, oil, and natural gas

some of the most important resources

Fracking

allows the rocks to be broken apart so the oil and and natural gas can be released

St. Augustine

the United States oldest city

Jamestown

the first permanent English colony

American War for Independence

the war that brought freedom to the United States of America in 1776

U.S. Constitution

the supreme law of the land and outlines the structure and procedures of the government

Bill of rights

added to the constitution a few years after it was ratified

Washington D.C.

the United States capitol

concurrent powers

powers shared by both national and state level

suburbs

urban areas that are usually cities

lower housing costs, warmer climates, political differences, and job opportunities

the push and pull factors of why people internally migrated south between 2010 and early 2020

Christianity, Protestants, and Catholics

the lead religions in the United States of America

Martin Luther

the monk who started the Protestant reformation

English and Spanish

the lead languages in the United States

Canadian Shield

one of the largest and most prominent Canadian land forms

Greenland

a dependency of Denmark and the world’s largest island

Canada

the world’s second largest country by landmass

sustainable energy source

can continue over a long period of time with minimal effects to the environment

geothermal energy

heat generated below the earth’s surface that is extracted for a source of energy

Bet’s law

no wind turbine, regardless of it’s design, can capture more than 59.3% of the world’s energy

energy production

are now being powered by nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels, coal, and oil

St. Louis

once served as a gateway to the west during the years of America’s westward expansion. also known for the gateway arc expansion

U.S. route 66

a nationwide funded highway system that started the connection to all of the United States

assimilation

process of adopting the elements of a culture

Labrador peninsula

a prominent feature on the eastern part of Canadian Shield

Canadian Rockies

the main segment of the Rocky Mountains in Canada

coast mountains

Canada’s mountain range on the Pacific coast

Mount Logan

Canada’s highest peak

Hudson Bay

the bay that lies between Greenland and Canada

Gulf of St. Lawrence

where the mouth of the St. Lawrence River meets the Atlantic Ocean

Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake

some of the largest lakes in the world

Mackenzie River

one of Canada’s longest rivers and the main river of it’s largest watershed

deforestation

permanent clearing of trees without allowing regrowth

degradation

overall reduction of a forest’s quality or health, leading to the forest’s ecosystem being unable to fully support the plant and animal like that it once supported

Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba

Canada’s prairie provinces

potash

potassium-rich mineral used in fertilizers

tar sands

sand or sandstone combined with a thick, sticky form of oil and other substances; also called oil sands

Henry Bird Steinhauer

one of the first missionaries to the indigenous people of northern Alberta

French and Indian War

when the French and British fought over their territory in the new world

British North America act

a plan to unite the British colonies that came together

commonwealth of nations

group of sovereign countries maintaining friendship and cooperation; most countries were formerly part of the British Empire

Ottawa

the capital city of Canada

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

the United States, Mexico, and Canada’s free trade agreement

corridor

heavily populated section of land between two places

cultural mosaic

a society in which people of diverse cultures come together while keeping distinct characteristics from their culture

Christianity

the leading religion in Canada

catholic

the leading christian denomination

apostolic succession

an uninterrupted line of papal authority that Catholics believe continues to present day

Vatican City

the smallest country in the world in both size and population

Sistine Chapel

holds a special significance as it has served as the uninterrupted location of every papal conclave

symbol

an item that represents or connects to a person, place, or thing

the maple leaf

Canada’s symbol

ice hockey

Canada’s most well known/ well loved sport

Group of Seven

a group of landscape painters who believe that a person could not experience Canadian landscape without being influenced by it

St. Lawrence Deep Waterway Treaty

the treaty that Canada and The United States signed to agree on borders

lobbyist

representatives who advocated for a specific cause

Wiley-Dondero Act

ensuring American participation in the seaway project