Types of Government
This form of government is ruled by the people, often through elected representatives
Democracy
Borders created by physical features like rivers or mountains.
Natural Borders
A lake that causes a major dispute between Tanzania and Malawi.
Lake Malawi
The idea that tribes have the power to govern themselves.
Tribal Sovereignty
In this system, religious leaders hold political power, and laws are based on religion.
Theocracy
Borders drawn by humans—sometimes ignoring cultural or linguistic differences.
Artificial or geometric
The Himalayas create a natural border between these two populous Asian countries.
India and China
This U.S. document recognizes tribes as separate political nations with treaty-making authority.
U.S. Constitution
A ruler with absolute authority who may or may not use force to maintain power.
A dictator
The cause of "superimposed"/artificial borders in Africa
Colonialism through the "Scramble for Africa"
Chile and Argentina are divided by this mountain range.
The Andes
The forced relocation of tribes in the 1830s that violated tribal sovereignty.
Indian Removal Act (Trail of Tears)
Constitutional Monarchy
Example of a cultural border dispute
India-Pakistan border
These two rectangular U.S. states are defined almost entirely by geometric borders.
Colorado and Wyoming
These agreements between tribes and the U.S. government often went broken or ignored.
Treaties
Power is divided between central and regional governments (like the U.S.).
Federal (Federalism)
The U.S.–Canada border follows this line of latitude for hundreds of miles.
49th Parallel
The United States doubled in size with this 1803 purchase.
The Louisiana Purchase
An example of a present day fight for tribal sovereignty
Standing Rock vs the Dakota Access Pipeline