Countries of North America Quiz

Geography and History

• North America occupies approximately 21.5% of the world's landmass.

Mexican Independence

• Mexico declared its independence in 1821, directly emulating the United States.

Independence Wars

• Canada never fought an independence war.

Cultural Connections

• Canada, the USA, and Mexico share a significant cultural connection through their shared European heritage.

US-Mexican Relations

• The attempts to build an American-style republic in Mexico were foundational in US-Mexican relations.

War of 1812

• The War of 1812 broke out when the United States declared war on Great Britain in 1812.
• One direct objective of the War of 1812 was to assert American trade rights.

Trade Agreements

• The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) eliminated most import and export tariffs between Canada, the USA, and Mexico.

Border Militarization

• The major reason behind the US-Mexico border being heavily militarized was to control illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
• The increased visibility of the US-Mexico border in the 20th century was due to increased migration and concerns over national security.

Border Relations

• Before the Great Depression, the border between the US and Mexico was largely unregulated, with Mexicans freely crossing into the US for work.
• The militarization of the border had a devastating impact on Mexican laborers, who were subjected to harsh treatment and deportations.

Border Towns

• The establishment of towns that straddled the US-Mexico border was contributed to by the Mexican-American War and subsequent treaties.

Border Controversy

• The maintenance of the US-Mexico border is referred to as controversial due to ongoing issues with illegal immigration, human rights concerns, and the impact on local communities.