United States and Canada

Setting – United States and Canada

Day 1

Setting – United States

Identify the following on your map:

• Capital: Washington, D.C�
• Cities:
• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Houston�
• Physical features:
• Appalachian Mts
• Mississippi River
• Atlantic Ocean

Day 1

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Great Lakes

MEXICO

CANADA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

New York City

Houston

Los Angeles

Appalachian Mts

Rocky Mts

Rio Grande

Mississippi River

• What physical feature creates a natural boundary between the U.S. and Mexico?�
• What are some important cities in the U.S.?

Day 1

Turn and Talk

Setting – Canada

Identify the following on your map:

• Capital: Ottawa�
• Cities:
• Quebec
• Vancouver�
• Physical features:
• Hudson Bay
• Great Lakes
• Rocky Mts

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Day 1

Vancouver

Quebec

Ottawa

Hudson

Bay

CANADA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ALASKA

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Rocky Mts

Great

Lakes

• Describe where Canada is located in relationship to the U.S.�
• What physical feature is west of Canada?

Day 1

Turn and Talk

Culture – United States

• The United States has a high standard of living�
• The average life expectancy is 79 years old�
• The average GDP per capita is about $63,000�
• The literacy rate is about 99%�
• All students are guaranteed a free public education through 12^th grade�

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Day 2

• The U.S. GDP per capita is about $63,000. What does that mean?�
• Why do many countries around the world offer students a free, public education?

Day 2

Turn and Talk

Culture – United States

• There is no official language, however, the most commonly spoken language is English, followed by Spanish, then Chinese�
• Although there is no official religion in the U.S., Christianity remains the largest practiced religion, due to heavy influence from colonial times�
• Native Americans first claimed land in the United States, however, many other groups migrated either by choice, or force which has created a very diverse culture

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Day 2

• What are common languages spoken in the U.S.?�
• Why is Christianity the largest practiced religion in the U.S.?

Day 2

Turn and Talk

Culture – United States (Sports)

• Lacrosse was the first sport played by Native Americans on U.S. soil�
• Baseball is loved by many Americans, and grew from English games

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• Football is the most popular sport in the United States, especially in the southern area of the country

Day 2

• Which sport is most popular in the U.S., especially in the south?�
• What sport did Native Americans play?

Day 2

Turn and Talk

About the History – United States

• European explorers were sent out by their mother country on a mission to find riches (gold), new lands to expand their empire (glory), and to spread Christianity (God)�
• Spain explored and claimed much of the land across southern modern-day America

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• France (rivals with Spain) claimed land in modern-day America to profit from fur trading��

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Day 3

F

S

S

F

• Why were explorers sent out by their mother country?�
• Did France or Spain leave more of an impact on America?

Day 3

Turn and Talk

About the History – United States

• British settlers moved to America, and settled along the Atlantic Ocean�
• Colonists felt they were treated unfairly when Britain passed taxes without being allowed to vote on the issue (consent of the governed)

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• Colonists fought and defeated the British, which gave birth to the United States of America where they believed in the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness�

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Day 3

S

F

B

B

• How did American colonists feel they were being treated unfairly?�
• Are there times when a person’s right to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness should be taken away?

Day 3

Turn and Talk

About the History – United States

• The Industrial Revolution was a time period in which products were manufactured quickly in factories�
• Urbanization is when people move from rural areas to cities to find jobs in factories

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• Millions of people from across the world immigrated to America to find jobs

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Day 3

• Why did millions of people migrate to the U.S. during the Industrial Revolution?�
• In today’s world, what are 3 important factors when deciding where to live?

Day 3

Turn and Talk

About the History – United States

• Americans believed we should own land from coast to coast, which was called Manifest Destiny�
• The U.S bought the Louisiana Purchase from France to acquire more land

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• The U.S. fought Mexico in the U.S.-Mexican War, and gained a large piece of land (which included California) called the Mexican Cession

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Day 4

• What is the belief of Americans to control all land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans called?�
• How is Manifest Destiny positive and negative?

Day 4

Turn and Talk

About the History – United States

• During the 1600s, slaves were brought to America on the Transatlantic Slave Trade to work on plantations (large farms) �
• For hundreds of years Americans disagreed about allowing slavery, and from 1861-1865 finally fought a Civil War over the issue�
• During Reconstruction, slavery was abolished with the 13^th Amendment, and our country was brought back together

Day 4

• Why were African slaves brought to America?�
• What other issues, besides slavery, have Americans disagreed over?

Day 4

Turn and Talk

About the History – United States

• The U.S. fought in World War II to stop Hitler and his allies from controlling the world

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• The Cold War was a decades long stand off between Soviet Russia and the United States over the issues of world power and communism�
• Terrorists attacked the U.S. on September 11, 2001, and in response, the U.S. launched a global war on terror to stop terrorism

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Day 4

• Which war did the U.S. fight in order to stop Hitler?�
• What do you know about 9/11?

Day 4

Turn and Talk

About the History – Canada

• Inuit and other Native Americans lived for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans�
• The first Europeans in Canada were Viking explorers, however, they stayed a while and left�
• About 500 years later, Great Britain and France claimed areas of Canada and set up colonies, but eventually all of Canada was controlled by Great Britain

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Day 5

• Who first lived in Canada?�
• Why do you think the Vikings left Canada?

Day 5

Turn and Talk

About the History – Canada

• While Great Britain controlled Canada, English and French colonies were kept separate�
• French and English-speaking colonies joined together and were called The Dominion of Canada, allowing Canada to control its own local governments, however, Great Britain controlled Canada’s dealings with other countries�
• Canada eventually got their independence from Great Britain after helping them fight during World War I and II

Day 5

• Who controlled Canada?�
• How did Canada gain its independence?

Day 5

Turn and Talk

Politics – United States

• Representative government has long been practiced in our country, because the King of Britain was too far away to govern us

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• The U.S. has a limited government with a written constitution that makes sure our country is ruled by many�
• The U.S. government is a republic led by a president�

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Day 6

• Why was representative government first practiced in the U.S.?�
• Why is it important for voters to be informed about candidates running for office?

Day 6

Turn and Talk

Politics – United States

• To make sure our government does not become too powerful, power is divided between three branches

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• Legislative – makes laws
• Executive – enforces laws
• Judicial – interprets laws

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• Judicial Review is the ability of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional

Day 6

That’s unconstitutional

That’s unconstitutional

• How many branches of government does the U.S. have?�
• Why is judicial review important?

Day 6

Turn and Talk

Politics – United States

• Back in the 1790, two opposing groups worked together to create our government:

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1. Federalist – wanted a more powerful government to make sure our country had safety and security

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• Antifederalist – wanted a less powerful government to make sure our citizens had lots of freedom

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Day 7

Government Power

More

Less

• What two groups disagreed over the amount of government power?�
• What about Americans’ past made them scared of a powerful government?

Day 7

Turn and Talk

Politics – United States

• To create a strong government that still protected the freedom of citizens, our leaders passed the Bill of Rights which included:

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• 1^st Amendment – Freedom of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech

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• 8^th Amendment – Freedom from cruel, or unusual punishment

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• 10^th Amendment – limits the power of the federal government, and gives some power to the states

Day 7

• What freedoms are protected under the 1^st Amendment?�
• Why do you think Americans wrote out their freedoms?

Day 7

Turn and Talk

Politics – United States

• Some responsibilities of American citizens include:
• paying taxes
• obeying laws
• being an informed voter
• military service
• respecting opinions of others
• jury duty

Day 7

• What are some responsibilities of American citizens?�
• Why are these responsibilities important?

Day 7

Turn and Talk

Politics – Canada

• Like the U.S., Canada has a limited government with a written constitution that explains how government operates�
• Canada is ruled by many, and has three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial) at a national and provincial level�
• Canada is a parliamentary democracy, voters elect representatives to a lawmaking body called Parliament, and they choose an official called the prime minister to head the government

Day 8

• What type of government do both the U.S. and Canada have?�
• How can you prove that Canada and the U.S. are examples of “rule by many?”

Day 8

Turn and Talk

Politics – Canada

• The British king or queen still reigns as king or queen of Canada, however, he/she has no real power, and is represented by the Governor General�
• Some rights Canadian citizens have that are protected in the Charter of Rights and Freedom include: freedom of religion, voting rights, mobility rights, and language rights�
• Some responsibilities of Canadian citizens include: obeying laws, taking responsibility for oneself and family, jury duty, voting in elections, and helping others in the community

Day 8

• What are some Canadian citizens responsibilities?�
• Why keep the British king or queen when they have no real power?

Day 8

Turn and Talk

Economy – United States and Canada

• The United States and Canada both have free enterprise economies with limited government involvement�
• The Inuit of northern Canada have a traditional economy�
• The United States and Canada are also called a capitalist society, because they use their capital (money) to make even more money�

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Day 9

• What type of economy do the Inuit of Canada have? �
• What American businesses do you like to buy from?

Day 9

Turn and Talk

Economy – United States and Canada

• The largest part of the U.S. and Canadian economies are service industries. This includes banking, finance, real estate, and health, because service industries grow when goods are produced mainly by machines�
• The U.S. and Canadian level of economic development is considered level one�
• Over the years, the U.S. and Canada have taken part in many trade agreements including the U.S. and Canada Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, and most recently USMCA

Day 9

North American Free Trade Agreement

The goal of NAFTA was to eliminate barriers to trade and investment between the United States, Canada and Mexico. The implementation of NAFTA on January 1, 1994, brought the immediate elimination of tariffs on more than one-half of Mexico's exports to the U.S. and more than one-third of U.S. exports to Mexico.

United States,Mexico, Canada

The USMCA, which substituted the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a mutually beneficial win for North American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. The Agreement creates more balanced, reciprocal trade supporting high-paying jobs for Americans and growing the North American economy.

• What are some important service industries in the U.S. and Canada?�
• Go back to slide 7, how can you prove that the U.S. and Canada have a developed economic level?

Day 9

Turn and Talk