GEOGRAPHY UNIT 2 NOTES

KEY TERMS

The Appalachian Mountains stretch from Alabama to the southeast corner of Canada.

The crest of the Rocky Mountains is called the Continental Divide

The lower area of land, generally surrounded by mountains is called a basin.

KEY TERMS

The long narrow islands created by the depositing of sand in shallow water are called barrier islands.

The area at or near the foot of a mountain region is called the piedmont.

The boundary between the piedmont and the costal plain is called the fall line.

U.S.

Most of the people of the West region live in the Pacific states.

The South region stretches from Virginia to Texas

The Northeast region of the U.S. is the smallest in area and most densely populated.

U.S.

The West is the largest (in area) and most sparsely populated region in the U.S.

The Midwest region of the U.S. is mainly a farming region

Most early colonial settlements in the U.S. were located on natural harbors and navigable rivers.

CANADA

Canada’s monarch is also the monarch of Great Britain.

NAFTA is an agreement between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico which allows trade without tariffs.

Toronto is the largest city in Canada

The Atlantic Provinces of Canada are New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia

CANADA

The Province of Quebec tried to become its own country in the 1990’s.

Canada’s economy today is based mainly on manufacturing and service industries

Montreal is the industrial and financial center of Quebec.

The U.S. is the most important trade partner of Canada.

GOVERNMENT AND CITIES

A city that ranks first and dominates a country in terms of population and economy is called the Primate City

An economic system in which industries are owned and operated by the government is known as socialism

A situation in which alliances between nations exists preventing conflict between them because of their equal strengths is known as a balance of power.

EUROPE - GERMANY

The Protestant branch of the Christianity began in Germany and was called the Protestant Reformation

In 1933, the German people elected Adolph Hitler because he offered solutions to the financial crisis of the Great Depression.

Today, the government of Germany is a democracy.

Germany is a major producer of electronics, automobiles, and steel today.

EUROPE - FRANCE

Most people in France belong to the Catholic faith.

France has several major industries, including winemaking, perfume making, and clothes design.

The capital city of France is Paris.

The French Riviera is along the southern coast and is known for its vacation resorts.

EUROPE – GREAT BRITAIN

Great Britain uses a constitutional monarchy, meaning that the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

Great Britain was a powerhouse in the world for many years because they were surrounded by the ocean, which protected them from invaders and they had a powerful navy.

Great Britain is made up of England, Wales, and Scotland

The United Kingdom is separated from mainland Europe by the English Channel.

EUROPE - IRELAND

About 1 million people in Ireland died in the mid-1800’s due to a shortage of potatoes

Ireland did not win its independence from the British until after Canada had gained its independence.

The capital of Ireland is Dublin

The Celts are the ancestors of the Scots, Welsh, and Irish.

The vast majority of the people in Ireland belong to the Catholic religion

EUROPE – OTHER REGIONS

The Benelux Countries consist of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium.

The purpose of the Hague (one of the capitals of the Netherlands) is to try criminal cases involving international law.

The number one economic activity in Norway and Iceland is fishing.

The Scandinavian Peninsula is made up of Finland, Norway, and Sweden

EUROPE

The European Union is the economic and political cooperative organization that created unity among many European countries.

The European Union introduced a common currency called the Euro to help be more competitive with the U.S. dollar.