American and European Culture

Part III

Northern America

Lecturer: Mr. Piseth Yin

CHAPTER I

A REGION BLESSED

CHAPTER OUTLINE
I.
II. III.

INTRODUCTION CULTURE REGION WHAT UNIFIES NORTHERN AMERICA?

I.

INTRODUCTION
The culture region of Northern America has been blessed in countless ways: 1. It is blessed by nature, 2. It has been blessed by history, and 3. It has been blessed culturally Northern America is unique among the worlds cultural realms in many other ways:

1.

It is composed of only two countries, Canada and the United States. Although both countries have substantial minority populations, throughout the region the fundamental culture (way of life) is quite similar. In Northern America, one can travel from the remote shores of the Arctic Ocean to Miami, Florida, or Honolulu, Hawaii, and feel at home in a cultural sense.
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2.

3.

II.

CULTURE REGION
Culture is a word with many different meanings. For purposes of this book, it can be defined as learned (rather than biologically acquired) human behavior.

Regions can best be as, by geographers, areas that are in some way unique, or set apart from others. In essence, the regional concept allows geographers to say, this area is like this and that area is like that. The Northern American culture region is an area in which most people share a somewhat similar way of life.
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The differences between the Western Hemispheres two culture regions: 1. Anglo (or Northern) America: people who live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Orlando, Florida and 2. Latin America: Residents of Mexico City or Lima, Peru.
Using the idea of regions allows the user to identify an area and speak of its primary characteristics in very general terms.
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Referring to Anglo America, for example, ignores the French-speaking Canadians and other non-English-speaking peoples.
In the past, it has been almost universally recognized as Anglo America, based on the dominance of the English language and other British culture traits within the region.

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This designation ignores the rich diversity of minority cultures that flourish within the region which include: Native American peoples of numerous cultures, French Canadians, The rapidly growing Hispanic, Asian communities, and others.

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Geographically, North America and South America are continents, whereas Anglo America and Latin America are culture regions.
To avoid confusion and the appearance of cultural bias, the authors have elected to create and use a neutral term: Northern America.

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Geographically, the Northern American culture region spans that part of the North American continent that lies north of the United StatesMexico border.
With an area of slightly more than 7.6 million square miles (19.6 million square kilometers), it is exceeded in area only by Russia and the former Soviet republics.

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It is also the most diverse in terms of physical characteristics: Its land and water features, Climates and ecosystems, and Natural resource wealth With a population of approximately 330 million, however, only the culture region that comprises Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific has fewer people, and only the former Soviet Union has a lower population density.
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III.

WHAT UNIFIES NORTHERN AMERICA?

By definition, all regions possess certain features or characteristics that set them apart from others. Many geographers, historians, and others have attempted to identify and explain the unique character or elements of unity that set Northern America apart from other culture regions.
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1.

The follows is a list of elements that the authors believe contribute to Northern Americas unique character: European Culture Was Transplanted to a New Land That Offered New Opportunities and Challenges the primary language is English; the dominant religion is Protestantism (although Catholicism is strong as well)

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2.

ideas of democracy, a free-market economy, and social equality Aboriginal (Native) Cultures Were Submerged by European Peoples and Their Way of Life Indigenous cultures have largely been replaced by the now-dominant Europeanintroduced and often imposed way of living.

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3.

An Abundance of Space and Natural Resources Lured Migrating Peoples High-quality and productive land stretched from sea to shining sea. Abundant and varied natural resources
Huge Areas Remain Open to Human Settlement and Economic Development

4.

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Northern America offers a vast area of land suitable for settlement and development. Perhaps 2 million square miles (5.9 million square kilometers)the central and western interior of the United States and much of Canadacan support millions of additional people. Economic incentives must exist before this will occur.
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5.

Cultural Assimilation Occurred on a Grand Scale The original national motto of the United States is E pluribus unum, a Latin phrase that means from many, one.

With few exceptions, people from hundreds of different cultures have come together to form one Northern American way of life.
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6.

Individuals Enjoy Great Personal Freedom and Protection Under the Law Northern Americans are free, within the limits of the law and customs, compared with people in the world. They can express their thoughts, beliefs, and individuality.
Canadians and Americans enjoy tremendous mobility.
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7.

Northern America Is a Global Power Economically, militarily, materialistically, and as a center of innovations and ideas, Northern America is unsurpassed as a global powerhouse.
Migration data suggest that Northern America remains the dream, envy, and desired destination of millions of people throughout the world.
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8.

The Regions Population Is Deeply Immersed in Popular Culture Folk culture, or very traditional, self-sufficient lifestyles is still practiced by two of every three people in the world.
In contrast, Northern America is the global leader in creating and living by the traits identified with popular (contemporary) culture.
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Progress, fad, change, growth, and specialization are buzzwords by which most Canadians and Americans live.
Northern American popular culture: dress, entertainment (music, movies, television programs, literature, and so on), scientific achievements,

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medicine, technology, ideology, and much morefloods the world

To understand Northern America, one also must study its institutions, social patterns, government, and economic systems and activities.

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THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

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