Resources

Topic 2: The United States and Canada

Essential Question: What should governments do?

Lesson 7: Challenges Facing the United States & Canada

Key Questions

• What economic challenges face the US and Canada?

• What social issues pose challenges for these countries?

• What environmental challenges do these countries face?

Economic challenges

• Education

  • Education is expensive

  • Taxpayers may not want to invest in education for different reasons

• Income Distribution

  • Income inequality (people with the same job may make different amounts of money)

• Role of Government

  • Is the government's role in the economy too big or too small? Many citizens disagree on this.

  • Trade

    • Globalization has helped the economy, but also hurt domestic jobs due to offshoring or outsourcing.
      
      

Social Challenges

• Immigration

  • In a multicultural society, culture clashes can happen

  • Illegal immigration is an issue, and there is disagreement on the best solution for it

• Race Relations

  • Racial prejudice remains an ongoing challenge

• Native Rights

  • American/Canadian Indians struggle to protect their native lands from logging, oil, and gas companies.
    
    

Environmental Challenges

• A Changing Climate

  • Temperatures rising due to greenhouse gases

  • Severe weather (droughts, intense storms, floods)

• Resource Use

  • Pollution from mining

  • Reduced water flow due to redirection for irrigation, recreation, and energy

• Caring for the Environment

  • Efforts are being made to protect the environment

  • Reduce carbon emissions, preserve nature