Unit 2 Study Guide - Social Studies

What are the 4 main factors, discussed in class, that contributed to the U.S.
accumulating wealth

Abundance of natural resources, development of transportation and communication systems, hard work of the people, and political and economic systems.

Affluence

abundant wealth

Not laziness, one of the factors contributing to the U.S wealth

Work ethic

Abundance of natural resources

Rich Soil, Forests, Underground Wealth

Development of transportation

For the first half of the 19th century traveling by water on the Mississippi and its tributaries was efficient. After the Civil War railroads became prevalent. Eisenhower passes the interstate highway act in the 1950s causing the main form of transportation to shift to automobiles.

Development of Communication

Evolved from the telegraph to the telephone

Political and Economic systems

Capitalism - belief in individuality, equality, and freedom. Unique belief that individuals acting in their own interests may also serve the interests of others. Free enterprise - individuals own, operate, and profit from their own businesses in a competitive market not controlled by the government. You are going to end up with jobless/homeless people.

Main resources in the North East

(Water + People) Very few natural resources but they have an abundance of water. Lots of water means lots of fish and natural harbors. Reason the North East became the center of trade,
commerce, and industry.

Megalopolis

Megalopolis: region made up of several large cities and their surrounding areas that is considered to be a single urban area (Boston to D.C. - 1/6 of the country's population)

The South climate, first settlers, poorest area, and oil production.

Rich soil, mildly tropical climates. The very first European settlements in the U.S. were in the South (in flordia). Also the poorest area in the U.S., Appalachia - little industry and rocky soil. Oil producing region of the South includes Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana

Provide two reasons why businesses started developing quickly in the South

Industries in the South developed quickly because land was cheaper and there were less labor unions so labor was cheaper.

What region has the faster growing population?

The South has the fasted growing population because people are moving for job opportunities. In 1995 Texas became the 2nd most populous state. Florida then became 3rd in 2014.

Who live in the south?

More than 50% of the nations African American population along with a large hispanic population.

What are three traits of the Midwest support the theory, “The Midwest is meant for farming.”

The midwest is relatively flat, soil is especially fertile, and the climate favors farming (summers are long and hot, plenty of precipitation although winters are very cold)

How has farm size and output in the Midwest increased with a decrease in the amount of farmers?

Farming used to be small, family enterprises. Today - farming is big
business and a big part of the entire affluence of the U.S. There are now bigger farms that produce more but there are fewer farms and fewer farmers. (More production, Bigger farms, Fewer farms, Fewer farmers)

Explain the relationship between New Orleans and the businessman farmer in the Midwest.

The only output for goods grown by farmers is the Mississippi which travels through New Orleans. The economy relied on those goods traveling out of New Orleans.

Human characteristics of the Midwest

Mostly conservative and Christian

What two regions are most noted for their fertile soil?

The South and the Midwest

The West

Multiple different climate zones, and most of the mountains in the US are located in the west.

Natural Resources In the West

Abundance or scarcity of water affects natural vegetation, economic activity, and population patterns in the West. Gold, silver, uranium, etc. can be found deep underground in the West. Discovery of oil in Alaska led to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline being built in the 1970s. 1/2 the nation's lumber comes from this region and biggest seafood industry.

Death Valley

Stats of Death Valley: 134 ̊ temperature a U.S. record, 282 feet below sea level the lowest point in the hemisphere, received 2 inches of rain annually

First Nations

the first people who inhabited the land of Canada for thousands of years

Who were the first Europeans to land in North America?

The vikings landed in Newfoundland 500 years prior to Columbus's journey

Who were the winners of the French-Indian war?

British won the French-Indian war

What kind of democracy does Canada have?

More socialist and confederate than the US
Parliamentary Democracy: democratic government where the legislative and executive branches are combined

Canadian Economy

Traditionally Canada has exported fur and fish (it has coasts on 3 oceans!) Presently, over 70% of economy is based on service activities (finance, tourism, communications, real estate, etc.)

Inuit

the first settlers (eskimos), still prevalent in the Nunavut ("our land")

Canadian population

low population density, majority of population is of European descent Huge population of Asians, especially in Vancouver, 80% of all Canadians live on 10% of their land – within 100 miles of U.S. border

Which Canadian province has most seriously threatened to secede and become Independent?

The Providence of Quebec threatened to secede as recently as 1995.

Although the territory of Nunavut is by far the most spacious of Canadian territories, it has less than 1% the population of Ontario. Why is this?

The Inuit now live in Nunavut and not many other people live there because it has a subarctic climate.

Describe the physical and human characteristics of Vancouver.

The physical characteristics include mountains, valleys, thick deposits of sediments, major rivers, major lakes, marine west coast climate, and a big city. The human characteristics include a population of 675,218 people, 48% of people are european, 23% of people are east asian (very large asian population), english is most commonly spoken, and christian and irreligious are the most common religions. Highest population density in canada.

What is Canada’s sin city? What U.S. city is it closest to?

Canada’s sin city is Windsor, Ontario and it is closest to Detroit.

What is the largest oil-producing Canadian province?

Alberta

What city has the second largest china town?

Vancouver

What is Canada's largest city?

Toronto

What is the largest Canadian territory in area?

Nunavut

What Canadian province speaks french?

Quebec