United States and CanadaEconomic Characteristics

WG.4

Pollution

Boston

Washington, DC

Acid Rain in the northeastern US(especially aroundBOSWASH)

Exxon Valdez oil spill –1989,off the coast of Alaska

Pollution

NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement

NAFTA

Economic Alliance created in 1994. Reduces trade barriers between Canada,Mexico, and the United States.

Economy

• Diversified economy

•Abundant resources

•Specialized industries

Moderntransportationnetworks

The US is a very developed country with strong infrastructure, including moderntransportation networkssuch as UPS, FedEx, and US Post Office.

Infrastructure – the basicsupport system neededto keep an economy going.

UNITED NATIONS

• The US is a member of the United Nations an International Organization

• Headquarters is located on an International piece of land in New York City

The Red Cross is an internationalorganization that cares for the sick and wounded, and for disaster victims. The US branchis very active.

RED CROSS

Sites (Actuallocations of Cities)

New York, City

Richmond, Va.

•New York, City, NY – a harbor site

•Richmond, Virginia – a fall linecity; the fall line is the divisionbetween the Piedmont and the Atlantic coastal plains areasof Virginia that is known for itswaterfalls.

Pittsburgh, PA

GO STEELERS!

Quebec City

SITES,

CONT…

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – a confluence site; place where several rivers meet together to form one river.

Remember THREE RIVERS!

• Quebec City, Quebec – where the the St. Lawrence River narrows.

QUEBEC VIDEO

SITUATION –(Relative location of cities)

Omaha, Nebraska andSacramento, California – Cities that grew up along the TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD.

TRANSCONTINENTAL VIDEO!

Virginia Government

Richmond, Virginia – the seat of the Virginia State government

United States Government

Washington. DC – the seat of the US national government

‘Sprawl”

The growth of urban areas is called sprawl. Sprawl results in the conversion of farmland(agricultural land) to urban areas

Highly developed countries

Both the US and Canada are highly developed (industrialized) countries with an advanced (high) standard of living

•Highly developed infrastructure

•Sustained economic growth •Highly urbanized cities and culture

•Highly diversified economies

•High literacy rate

• High Life Expectancy

Natural Resources

There is a rich supply of mineral, energy, and forest resources in both countries

FinanceThis region is the center of world financial markets (Ex. New York City Stock Exchange)

Multinational Corporations

Many companies located in this regions are multinational. US culture is diffused throughout the world

•McDonald’s•Coca – Cola •Blue jeans•Music

Rich/PoorGap

Widening gap between the rich and the poor. “The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer”

Pass

Number your

1 - 4

1. The above picture is the symbol for which international organization?

2. Name the three countries that participate in the economic alliance know as NAFTA?

3. What Canadian city is located on the point at which the St. Lawrence River narrows?

4. The confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers forms the Ohio river at which US city?