Understanding Borders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMkYlIA7mgw

A border is a real or artificial line that separates geographic areas. 

Not all Borders are Equal Friendly NeighborsCanada and the United States share the world's longest undefended border, stretching 6,416 kilometers (3,987 miles).

Meandering RiverThe border between Mexico and the U.S. state of Texas follows the Rio Grande. During the mid-1800s, the river shifted its course southward, giving the U.S. an extra 600 acres of land. For many years, the two countries fought over this territory. The dispute wasn't officially settled until 1963

Not all Borders are Equal

Natural BorderAny border following features of the natural landscape. Convenient administratively.

Artificial BorderBorders designed for Convenience that do not Reflect the landscape

“49th parallel “

Types of Border

Subsequent: borders established as or after the settlement of the area took place.

Antecedent: borders designed before the human landscape took shape. 49th parallel between Canada and USA

Superimposed: forcibly drawn across a unified cultural landscape. Ex. North and South Korea, much of Africa

Relic: cease to function but are still evident on the cultural landscape. Ex. North and South Vietnam

Border Dispute

Allocational: conflicting claims to natural resources close to or along a border

Definitional: disagreement over the interpretation of an original boundary agreement

Locational: disagreement on the physical location of a border

Operational: disagreement on how the border should be controlled or function.

Border Misusehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mky11UJb9AY&index=4&list=PLgXTIrlvrdrplc8xcN0R5ldJyKY1mE5G7

Gerrymandering: the process of setting up electoral districts to establish a political advantage.

HIGHLY UN-DEMOCRATIC !!!!

Border MisuseElbridge Gerry became Madison's vice president, as the Democratic-Republican governor of Massachusetts, Gerry signed a redistricting plan that was thought to ensure his party's domination of the Massachusetts state senate. An editorial artist added wings, claws, and the head of a particularly fierce-looking salamander creature to the outline of one particularly notable district grouping towns in the northeast of the state; the beast was dubbed the "Gerry-mander" in the press, and the practice of changing the district lines to affect political power has kept the name ever since.

Google & Borders

http://qz.com/218675/here-are-the-32-countries-google-maps-wont-draw-borders-around/

ACTIVTY: Historic Border Changes/Disputes

Over the weekend research one of the following topics:• Cold War & fall of Berlin wall• Colonialism in Africa • Western Expansion in the United States • Western Expansion in Canada • WWII before and after Poland/Germany/Russia• Rio Grande shift USA Mexico • Territory of Gibraltar • Taiwan