World Geography / Unit 5: North America
5.5 People and Culture of the United States and Canada
Notes
Both countries are shaped by Indigenous peoples and by immigration.
- Indigenous peoples lived across the continent for thousands of years before European settlement.
- Waves of immigrants came from Europe, Africa (many forcibly, through the slave trade), Asia and Latin America. The population is now very diverse.
- Language: English is dominant in both; Spanish is widely spoken in the US; French is official in Canada.
- More than 80 percent of people in both countries live in urban areas.
- Both are wealthy democracies with high literacy and life expectancy.
- Some describe the US as a "melting pot" and Canada's policy of multiculturalism as a "mosaic," where groups keep distinct traditions.
Practice
The idea that immigrant groups keep distinct cultures within a diverse society is often called a
Multicultural approaches encourage preserving heritage.
Which of these is a main reason the populations of both countries are diverse?
Immigration over centuries brought many cultures.
Which groups are officially recognized as Indigenous peoples of Canada?
Canada's Constitution recognizes these three groups.
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