Mercantile Model & European Settlement in North America: Stages & Cultural Impact, Study notes of Geography of the U. S.

Download Mercantile Model & European Settlement in North America: Stages & Cultural Impact and more Study notes Geography of the U. S. in PDF only on Docsity! 6/8/2009 1 The Bases of Regions Foundations of Human Activity Foundations of Human Activity Today we talk specifically about the people who have shaped our continent As much as anywhere else around the world, North America is a coming- together of people from diverse backgrounds Foundations of Human Activity Q: How recently did your family come to North America? Do you know where your family lived before coming to this continent? European Settlement Q: what are some factors that influence the trends we see here? Immigration to US, 1820-2000 European Settlement Vance’s “Mercantile Model” summarizes the complex urban and economic developments that characterized recent settlement (last 500 years) of North America 6/8/2009 2 European Settlement Summary of the Mercantile Model’s five stages 1. Exploration: gathering of basic information on the resources and opportunities available in the Americas European Settlement Summary of the Mercantile Model’s five stages 1. Exploration: gathering of basic information on the resources and opportunities available in the Americas New World Old World Economic Exploration Economic Information Example: Spanish Exploration – 1400s European Settlement Summary of the Mercantile Model’s five stages 2. Harvesting of Natural Resources: increased traffic and limited, resource- based settlement (simply harvesting and transporting resources back to Europe) European Settlement Summary of the Mercantile Model’s five stages 2. Harvesting of Natural Resources: increased traffic and limited, resource- based settlement (simply harvesting and transporting resources back to Europe) Old World Outgoing traders Small, resource- based settlements Returning goodsNew World Example: Fort William, Canada 6/8/2009 5 European Settlement Summary of the Mercantile Model’s five stages 5. Economic Maturity, Central Place Infill: growth of an American market big enough to allow for a domestic industrial base; maturing of the American urban system Industrial goods Industrial goods Old World Industrial City Port & Industry New World Urban system Modern-Day Thunder Bay, Ontario Modern-Day Duluth, Minnesota Similar Concept: Stage Development Model of Taaffe, Morrill, and Gould 6/8/2009 6 European Settlement Q: do you think that the Mercantile Model is a complete representation of the development of North America? What does it capture well? Any elements of life that it doesn’t do well in explaining? European Settlement The mercantile model is a stage model Stage models are good at showing how we can progress through a series of t f t t f b i t theven s, rom one s a e o e ng o ano er Not necessarily so good at specifying what processes are generating the change, or at what might happen once the sequence is complete Settlement & Migration Today Migration: the permanent relocation of residential place and activity space Q: when does a change in location become a migration? How many of us have migrated? From where to where? How recently? How many times? Settlement & Migration Today International migrations are the most difficult to make: many barriers before it can occur Q: What would be a barrier to migration within the United States? What would be a barrier to migration internationally? 6/8/2009 7 Settlement & Migration Today Modern-day obstacles to international migration might be classified under two major headings 1. Immigration policies of host countries 2. Cultural problems associated with relocation Settlement & Migration Today Immigration policies vary widely between countries Some, like the US and Canada, have quotas limiting the number of immigrants ll d i ( i li ibl t t a owe n once n, are e g e o s ay permanently) Others, like many European countries, have no quotas but do not allow permanent stays Settlement & Migration Today Many European countries have a class of immigrant called a “guest worker” This kind of immigration is a possibility being debated in the US right now People allowed into the country to fill roles that few in the host country would want Q: what are positives and negatives of such a program? Settlement & Migration Today A Key Point: even countries with similar systems can differ in important ways Countries with similar economies and societies might still have different immigration systems and priorities Settlement & Migration Today Example: Canada vs. the US Both Canada and the US have quota systems In 2000, Canada allowed in 250,000 i i t t id tmm gran s as permanen res en s (0.8% of Canada’s total population) In the same year, the US had 1,064,000 immigrants in the same category (0.4% of total population) Settlement & Migration Today Example: Canada vs. the US Of Canada’s total, 60% fall in the category of economic immigrants People allowed into Canada because they have skills needed in Canada The US places a different emphasis on its immigration program 64% of its immigrants are allowed in for family reunification; only 17% are in the “economic” class 6/8/2009 10 Culture A Few Examples of Ethnic Homelands in North America French-Canadian — centered on the St. Lawrence and Saguenay River valleys in Quebec Acadiana — Louisiana French or “Cajun” people (descendants of Acadians deported from Nova Scotia) Inuit — Nunavut Navajo — New Mexico and Arizona Q: do the ethnic homeland regions shown here have anything in common? Culture Ethnic islands in North America Small dots in the countryside Much smaller than a homeland: serve as home to only several hundred or l th d lsevera ousan peop e More numerous than homelands Usually found in rural areas Ethnic Islands in North America Westby, WI is in the ethnically diverse US rural heartland Westby was a N i i orweg an p oneer, and the town’s population today is primarily Norwegian Ethnic Islands in North America Westby celebrates traditional events such as the fall lutefisk dinner and the May 17th Norwegian Independence Day Ethnic Islands in North America Westby celebrates traditional events such as the fall lutefisk dinner and the May 17th Norwegian Independence Day However, in many ways this group has assimilated with the host culture Q: how so? 6/8/2009 11 Ethnic Islands in North America Q: What ethnic islands do we have here in Texas?