A merit-based system is one in which a person is valued for their achievements or merits. This means that the things taken into consideration to hire a person are their experience, knowledge, skill set, and any other abilities that prove relevant to the job. The ideal candidate will be the person who is best prepared and, therefore, deserves the job the most.
Other factors such as family connections, friends, or affiliation to a particular political party are not taken into consideration in a merit-based system.
The Mississippi river and the surrounding territory (Louisiana) were claimed by the french. New York was originally New Amsterdam and was colonized by i believe the Dutch. Hudson Bay was named after the famous English explorer, Henry Hudson.
