NATIONS: Borders & Power

1. NATIONS: Borders & Power • A govt. sets up clear boundaries where it has authority. • Political Region – area that a government controls. • Borders – boundaries between countries.

2. NATIONS: Borders & Power • Levels of Government – most countries have several levels (cities, counties, states). These create units with authority over an overlapping area; one place might belong to more than one physical, cultural, or political region.

3. NATIONS: Borders & Power • Example: Houston • Citizens of Houston belong to many political units: • City Government – Mayor-Council form of govt. serving 2-year terms; • County Government – Houstonians also belong to Harris County. • State of Texas – Residents are part of Texas. Texas has it’s own state laws, regulates schools, drivers, crimes & punishments, highways, etc.

4. NATIONS: Borders & Power • National (Federal) Government – Houstonians are also part of the United States! This is the supreme government (highest level); if there is a clash between any two, the national govt. is supreme. • Our national govt. is sovereign – not subject to any higher govt. authority.

5. NATIONS: Borders & Power • The world is divided into independent states, each with their own sovereign governments. • Each independent nation has fixed borders. How are those determined? • 1. Physical Features – Rivers, mountains, lakes, seas, oceans. • 2. Historical Circumstance / Political Agreements What makes up Texas’ boundaries?

6. NATIONS: Borders & Power • Examples of Boundaries: • 1. Expansion of the United States: • Eastern border was set by Atlantic; Western border shifted over time: • 1783 – Western Border was Mississippi River; As we expanded west, this changed. • Other borders were set by purchase & conquest (Mexican Cession, Mexican-American War).

7. Nations: Borders & Power • 2. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821; Texas broke off in 1836; border dispute led to war; Mexico surrendered half its land to the U.S. including California & New Mexico. Later, U.S. purchased parts of Arizona & New Mexico (Gadsden Purchase).

8. NATIONS: Borders & Power • 3. Israel and Palestine –1947 the United Nations voted to create a Jewish state; Arab leaders rejected this & declared war on Israel. Today borders shift as Israelis & Palestinians debate; major issue is whether a new Palestinian state should include a part of Jerusalem. • Conclusion– both physical and human factors shape countries’ borders.

9. NATIONS: Borders & Power • Political Maps – designed to show boundaries separating countries, or states / counties, etc. • Legend – explains what different lines indicate.

10. NATIONS: Borders & Power • Maps are called the “language of geography.” • They can also be used to show distribution of political power or voting patterns:

11. NATIONS: Borders & Power • International Relations & Balance of Power: • No govt. in the world has sovereign power over other nations. So nations compete and have conflicts to protect themselves & seek security. • Balance of Power – idea that if one country grows too strong, others must band together against it. • Purpose of Balance – prevent a single nation from getting so powerful it forces its will on other nations.

12. NATIONS: Borders & Power • Physical & Human factors influence power a nation has: • Size of country’s area; • Population; • Education level; • Armed forces & how equipped they are; • Physical features of country; • How productive a country’s economy is.

13. NATIONS: Borders & Power • Major Powers in the World Today: • 1. United States – benefits of a large land area, rich natural resources, high standards of living, high education level, experienced army, superior weapons. • After WWII, U.S. became a superpower with world’s 1st nuclear weapons. • After 9/11/2001 attacks, U.S. got involved in costly wars in Iraq, Afghanistan & rising economic competition from overseas.

14. NATIONS: Borders & Power • 2. China – Mao Zedong established Communist totalitarian dictatorship in China in 1949. They have world’s largest population & army, but low standards of living & inferior technology. • After Mao’s death, China has better economy – welcomed foreign investors in 1990s; has the world’s fastest growing economy; continues to have large military – 1.6 million troops, nuclear weapons. • Experts believe China will soon become world’s greatest power!

15. NATIONS: Borders & Power • 3. Russia – the leading part of the Soviet Union, one of the two superpowers after WWII; following defeat of Cold War with U.S., it had great economic challenges in transition from Communist to free-style economy. Continues to have a large, advanced military & possess world’s 2nd largest supply of nuclear weapons.

16. NATIONS: Borders & Power • 4. Japan – smaller population, but high education standards & inventiveness; renounced use of nuclear weapons after it was attacked in WWII. Still a major superpower based on economic strength.

17. NATIONS: Borders & Power • Associations of countries can also influence international relations: • 1. United Nations – all sovereign nations in the world belong; founded after WWII to promote peace, prevent war & help development around world.

19. NATIONS: Borders & Power • All member states of the United Nations belong to a general assembly; a group of powerful states belong to the UN Security Council – has power to send UN peace-keeping forces to areas of conflict in the world. (members include the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, & France).

20. NATIONS: Borders & Power • 2. European Union – economic & political union of member states; many European states are members; throughout, people & goods pass freely; EU cooperates on many issues; Euro is common currency; citizens elect representatives to a European Parliament in Strasburg, France.

21. NATIONS: Borders & Power • 3. NATO – (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – political & military alliance formed in 1949 (after WWII) between many European countries & North American countries – member countries defend any actions against each other militarily (creating a balance of power); 28 members exist today.