Canada V's USA

[lifegazer]

I'm an ignorant Englander who wants some swift answers to a couple of questions. I wasn't sure whether to post this in history or politics - due to my ignorance. But I guessed that politics was at the heart of the answers I shall be given, so I posted it here.

(1) Why do two countries exist instead of one? (Why isn't Canada part of the USA, or the USA part of Canada?)
... I'm guessing that it has something to do with the French. Could be wrong though!
(2) Why didn't the Canadians want to kick English butt as happened further south in 1776? Due to the French again?
(3) Why didn't Canada want to become a part of the USA when the North American populace proved that it had the heart/brain/stomach to exist without the English/European backbone?
(4) Would America be stronger or weaker if it accepted Canada into the constitution at this present date?
(5) Why do Americans mock Canadians and vice versa? Just banter, or does it stem from some deep psychological resentment?

Any information that anyone has regarding the division between Canada/USA will interest me.
Cheers.

 

[Luke T.]

(2) Why didn't the Canadians want to kick English butt as happened further south in 1776? Due to the French again?

I think Canadians liked paying taxes without representation. Taxes can't go too high for a Canadian. And they like the snazzy red uniforms of the British. Google "Mounties".

(3) Why didn't Canada want to become a part of the USA when the North American populace proved that it had the heart/brain/stomach to exist without the English/European backbone?

Canadians are more laid back. Or frozen in place due to the latitude. Whatever, they just didn't get around to it when we did.

(4) Would America be stronger or weaker if it accepted Canada into the constitution at this present date?

Bigger is always better, I say.

(5) Why do Americans mock Canadians and vice versa? Just banter, or does it stem from some deep psychological resentment?

Canadian bacon. It's all about Canadian bacon.

 

[WildCat]

I'm an ignorant Englander who wants some swift answers to a couple of questions. I wasn't sure whether to post this in history or politics - due to my ignorance. But I guessed that politics was at the heart of the answers I shall be given, so I posted it here.

(1) Why do two countries exist instead of one? (Why isn't Canada part of the USA, or the USA part of Canada?)
... I'm guessing that it has something to do with the French. Could be wrong though!

They insist that Quebec be included w/ the package. This is laughable on its face.

(2) Why didn't the Canadians want to kick English butt as happened further south in 1776? Due to the French again?

They were (and are) much too polite to ask them to leave. In fact, Britain had to practically kick them out of the Empire.

(3) Why didn't Canada want to become a part of the USA when the North American populace proved that it had the heart/brain/stomach to exist without the English/European backbone?

See the answer above, also note that it was difficult to heat a house back then and there was plenty of good fishing here.

(4) Would America be stronger or weaker if it accepted Canada into the constitution at this present date?

Stronger, but only if Quebec was left to fend for itself.

(5) Why do Americans mock Canadians and vice versa? Just banter, or does it stem from some deep psychological resentment?

Because it's just too easy. For Americans it's banter, Canadians have deep psychological problems brought on by cold and lack of sunlight. Many Canadians overcome this by wintering in Arizona and Florida.

Any information that anyone has regarding the division between Canada/USA will interest me.
Cheers.

I'm glad to be of service.

 

[lifegazer]

Hmm. Though I appreciate the humour, I'm really interested in the details of the history & politics here. I'm sincerely curious.
Is there any chance of some objective viewpoints here, or is this just going to be a thread where Americans mock Canadains... and vice versa?
... Hope not.

 

[Hutch]

I'm an ignorant Englander who wants some swift answers to a couple of questions. I wasn't sure whether to post this in history or politics - due to my ignorance. But I guessed that politics was at the heart of the answers I shall be given, so I posted it here.

Probably the best place to post it, LG--albeit that you're likely to get a number of answers at cross-purposes. Anyway, here is my take, albeit that I'm not as well read on this topic as others.


(

1) Why do two countries exist instead of one? (Why isn't Canada part of the USA, or the USA part of Canada?)
... I'm guessing that it has something to do with the French. Could be wrong though!

Well, probably you're right. Most of what is now Canada was French until the Wars of the mid-1700's (over here we called it the French and Indian War) between France and England led to England annexing the territory. The English choose to treat the areas as separate, although it could be argued that if we had remained a colony, they might have merged it one day.

(

2) Why didn't the Canadians want to kick English butt as happened further south in 1776? Due to the French again?

No, probably because the population of Canada was still sparse and a revolutionary spark never reached critical mass. The French settlers didn't do much either except grumble, which got them kicked out of Arcadia and sent to Louisiana (todays Cajuns)
This attitude puzzed the heck out of the American revolutionists, who sent several expeditions to Canada expecting the folks there to rebel and got nothing. After the Revolution many Tories (Americans who supported the King) fled to Canada and of course they had no particular love for the new country down South.

(3) Why didn't Canada want to become a part of the USA when the North American populace proved that it had the heart/brain/stomach to exist without the English/European backbone?

Maybe Canadians can answer this better than I. My take again is sparse population (it's hard to get a good revolution going when your minutemen are days apart. And after the revolution the English reinforced, moved out the French, and welcomed the Tories. America had another go at adding Canada to the US in 1812-1814 and got a bloody nose from the effort. I guess simply the Canadian population did not feel the economic (much smaller trade with England/Europe that the Colonies) or loss of liberty (lots of wilderness, few cities/towns, don't like the Government, move out).


(

4) Would America be stronger or weaker if it accepted Canada into the constitution at this present date?

Ain't going to happen in this particlar universe, but positing a parallel universe, the Combined States would be much stronger economically.

(5) Why do Americans mock Canadians and vice versa? Just banter, or does it stem from some deep psychological resentment?

Most Americans ignore Canada, to be honest. Down in Alabama they are almost a mythical race with a land covered by strange white material called "snow". Canadians feel (IMHO, not being Canadian) that they are dominated by their much more populous neighbor to the South (about 20M vs 300M) and are choking on American culture, TV, books, politics, etc., to the detriment of their own. Is it true? I'll leave that to the Canadian members to respond too. So humor is one of the few weapons available.

Any information that anyone has regarding the division between Canada/USA will interest me.
Cheers.

I'll see what my library provides.

 

[Ryokan]

OMG! Lifegazer in the politics forum, and not talking about Gazerism!

Do remember that 'back in the days', the Americans didn't have as much animosity towards the French as today. Google 'General Lafayette' to understand why.

ETA : I did it for you, I think it would be interesting for many Americans to read as well : http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95sep/lafayette.html

 

[Ed]

As I recall we did send soldiers up there on occasion, the latest in the early 1800's. I think that the affair was called off due to boredom. After all, we annexed/took-over/stole everything westward from -- this is important -- mexicans or indians. Up north we sorta had cousins (except Quebec, naturally).

It is useful as things are. This way if the kid of a politition wants to avoid the armed services they can just thumb a ride over the freedom bridge or whatever it is called. Also, government officials can import all of the pot they want while waging a war on drugs with the wily mexicans. Our gay population has fantasies over RCMP dudes singing "Naughty Marietta". We get to mock each other to our hearts content and there is no real danger of physical violence. It is sorta like you and the Welsh except our place names are mutually comprehensible (and pronounceable).

American kids basically do not know 15 place names in the US as it is. Adding a bunch more would only screw up testing norms and cause Jesse Jackson to babble incomprehenceibly about "racial bias" or some crap or other. Also, most Canadians don't want any part of our black folks (they say that they melt the snow when they lay down) and we sure don't want any more damn indians slapping leans on the financial district because of alleged treaty violations.

The Federal Reverve has expressed dismay over the reconciliation of the beaver pelt money standard with our system.

So, we have a workable system between our countries and avoid almost all of the pitfalls by maintaining the status quo. Plus if the Russkies act up, they get them first.

 

[AmateurScientist]

Re: Re: Canada V's USA

Most Americans ignore Canada, to be honest. Down in Alabama they are almost a mythical race with a land covered by strange white material called "snow".

I'll beg to differ just a little bit, if you don't mind, Hutch.

At least in my city, we're very grateful to Candians for providing us our best hockey players for our championship college and professional teams. No kidding; we have a great college hockey team and a decent minor league professional team.

The fans love them.

AS

 

[Jorghnassen]

I'm an ignorant Englander who wants some swift answers to a couple of questions. I wasn't sure whether to post this in history or politics - due to my ignorance. But I guessed that politics was at the heart of the answers I shall be given, so I posted it here.

(1) Why do two countries exist instead of one? (Why isn't Canada part of the USA, or the USA part of Canada?)
... I'm guessing that it has something to do with the French. Could be wrong though!
(2) Why didn't the Canadians want to kick English butt as happened further south in 1776? Due to the French again?
(3) Why didn't Canada want to become a part of the USA when the North American populace proved that it had the heart/brain/stomach to exist without the English/European backbone?
(4) Would America be stronger or weaker if it accepted Canada into the constitution at this present date?
(5) Why do Americans mock Canadians and vice versa? Just banter, or does it stem from some deep psychological resentment?

Any information that anyone has regarding the division between Canada/USA will interest me.
Cheers.

1) A few things: the colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI didn't rebel against England. The English made sure that the recently acquired Quebec colony didn't join the rebellion either with the Quebec Act in 1774 (which assured the existence of Catholic faith, i.e. they bought the influential clergy, and re-instated French civil law). Following the US revolution, those of the 13 colonies who were still loyal to the crown fled to Canada (we call them the Loyalists). Hence two seperate countries.

2) My guess is economic factors didn't look so unfavourable to the Northern colonies. Quebec didn't join for reasons mentioned above (though Ben Franklin did try to convince them to join).

3) Probably has to due with the fact that, despite the defeat against the American revolutionaries, the British empire was an established, strong and structured power, compared to a risky US of A experiment. It took a long time for the US to become a real, united power at the world stage.

4) In theory, stronger. In practice, it might just exasperate the blue state/red state division and in the end split into the United States of Canada vs Jesusland, who knows.

5) Human nature. Why do Brits mock the French (and vice-versa)? Why do the French mock the people from Belgium? Why do Swedes mock Finns?

 

[jordan_o]

Re: Re: Canada V's USA

(5) Why do Americans mock Canadians and vice versa? Just banter, or does it stem from some deep psychological resentment?

I think it's all in good fun.

Down in Alabama they are almost a mythical race with a land covered by strange white material called "snow".

Hey, up here we see Alabama as a barren wasteland full of Jesus freaks so we're even

Canadians feel (IMHO, not being Canadian) that they are dominated by their much more populous neighbor to the South (about 20M vs 300M) and are choking on American culture, TV, books, politics, etc., to the detriment of their own. Is it true?

This is funny. Most people think Canadians hate it but they're wrong. We have grown up with it so we automatically think it's ours too. I've never heard a complaint outside of Quebec ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ complaining that there isn't enough French Canadian culture broadcasted to the rest of the provinces. Those guys mistakenly think we give a **** about them, silly Quebecers

 

[Jorghnassen]

Re: Re: Canada V's USA

(about 20M vs 300M)

Actually, about 30M vs 300M (32.8 vs 295.7 according to CIA World Factbook)...

 

[gmanontario]

We are so polite that after kicking the americans butts in the war of 1812, we let them keep Buffalo and Cleveland! Are we generous or what?

Personally I enjoy mocking my american friends and getting mocked in return. I've spent many nights in the US sharing beer and a BBQ throwing hilarious insults around.

PS our side of Niagara Falls was worth fighing for..lol..the US side is a pale imitation of the Horseshoe falls. Plus they have the Love Canal there.

Anyways I feel making fun of americans and vice versa is a fun pastime.

 

[Rob Lister]

Anyways I feel making fun of americans and vice versa is a fun pastime.

And we love it when you do it. Sort of like holding a small child's head while he tries to swing at you. It's amusing.

 

[AmateurScientist]

And we love it when you do it. Sort of like holding a small child's head while he tries to swing at you. It's amusing.

LOL.

AS

 

[Art Vandelay]

Warning! Nitpicks Ahead!

We wouldn't be accepting Canada into the Constitution, we'd be accepting them into the Union. And it's Canada vs. USA, not Canada V's USA.

It is useful as things are. This way if the kid of a politition wants to avoid the armed services they can just thumb a ride over the freedom bridge or whatever it is called...

and we sure don't want any more damn indians slapping leans on the financial district because of alleged treaty violations.

"politition"? "leans"?

Jorghnassen

In practice, it might just exasperate the blue state/red state division and in the end split into the United States of Canada vs Jesusland,

"exasperate"? And shouldn't it be "United States of PC Freaks vs Jesusland"?

National Canadian motto: "Canada: because California is just too right-wing."

 

[Jorghnassen]

Jorghnassen
"exasperate"? And shouldn't it be "United States of PC Freaks vs Jesusland"?

Answer to your first question (emphasis mine):

2 entries found for exasperate.
ex·as·per·ate Audio pronunciation of "exasperate" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (g-zsp-rt)
tr.v. ex·as·per·at·ed, ex·as·per·at·ing, ex·as·per·ates

1. To make very angry or impatient; annoy greatly.
2. To increase the gravity or intensity of: “a scene... that exasperates his rose fever and makes him sneeze” (Samuel Beckett).

For your second question: I was just quoting a very famous silly photoshop from Nov. 3 2004 (I guess).

 

[Igopogo]

My take on it is that the United Empire Loyalists (anyone wanting to stay part of a British colony) crossed over the St Lawrence & Great Lakes in large numbers to Upper & Lower Canada to escape the revolution. This tipped the political balance in favour of staying with the British.

I've read that Ben Franklin was trying to get the British to throw in Canada as part of the treaty agreement after the revolution, but don't know how true this is.

Now Canada evolves, and America revolves. If you want to want change in Canada, you write a witty piece of legislation. In the US, you grab your gun start shooting eveything you don't like. Yet in the end we still end up in roughly the same place.

Weather does probably play a large part. It doesn't get hot enough here to even work up a good tax revolt - but wait til global warming kicks in...Yankees BEWARE!!!!

 

[Mid]

...snip...
(3) Why didn't Canada want to become a part of the USA when the North American populace proved that it had the heart/brain/stomach to exist without the English/European backbone?
...snip...

Wikipedia has some interesting speculation on that and says that it could be due to the war of 1812:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812

 

[SmooveK]

I think that as other nations gain prominence, the US would be more likely to look for alliances with its neighbors.

These people really hope for it, and some arguments make some sense:

United North America

 

[Mojo]

Re: Re: Canada V's USA

Canadians are more laid back. Or frozen in place due to the latitude.

Do you mean "chilled out?"