The Political Geography of North America

From the Arctic expanses of Canada to the tropical paradises of the Caribbean, north america is an amazing continent with many wonders. The world’s third-largest continent, it includes (23) countries and dozens of territories and possessions, as well as Greenland, the largest island.

The continent is home to a wealth of natural resources, including massive forests, immense amounts of fresh water and some of the most fertile soils in the world. This has allowed the people of north america to live longer and have a higher average income than the inhabitants of any other continent.

Prior to the arrival of European explorers and colonists, the native peoples of north america lived in many different polities that ranged from small bands of a few families to large empires. Indigenous groups were also divided into several culture areas, which were defined by geographical and biological zones that represented the typical cultures and lifestyles of those who lived there, from the bison hunters of the Great Plains to the corn farmers of Mesoamerica. In addition, they were separated by language families such as the Athapascan and Uto-Aztecan languages. Even though these groups shared similar material culture, they were not necessarily allies or enemies.

After the arrival of European explorers and colonists, a number of independence movements were launched that resulted in the creation of the 23 North American countries we know today. For example, the 13 original British colonies declared their independence in 1776 and eventually became the United States of America. Canada was formed from the unification of northern territories that were previously controlled by Britain and France. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France almost doubled the size of the United States, resulting in the creation of the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, as well as significant parts of Colorado, South Dakota and Iowa.

Throughout the 20th century, north america was affected by a series of civil wars that displaced millions of people. The most destructive conflict was probably the American Civil War, which caused the destruction of cities and towns and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. The drug trade also has become a serious problem in many countries of the region, particularly Central America and Mexico.

North America’s political geography is influenced by economic and demographic trends. Trade agreements such as NAFTA between the United States, Mexico and Canada and CAFTA between the Dominican Republic, Central America, and the United States have helped to shape the continent’s future by reducing or eliminating duties and tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods. A key challenge for North America will be to minimize the effects of climate change.