Canadians and Americans - The Same, Only Different: Comparative History and Political Culture

• Pages: 11-66

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 

Canadians and Americans — The

Same, Only Different: Comparative

History and Political Culture

Introduction

Why do Canada and the United States have dierent governing sys-

tems? How did those systems originate? How do they function to

provide for “Peace, Order and Good Government” for Canadians and

“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” for Americans? What

factors in the two countries’ histor y and political cultures lead to the

conclusion that Canada and the United States are “the same, only

dierent”? is chapter addresses these factors. It sets out the pre-

dominant historical factors that have contributed to this paradox by

examining the development of e ach country’s political culture, valu es,

and democracy. is will set the table for a comparative examination

of the political institutions in both countries in Chapter .

A. Political Culture, Values, and Democracy

1) The Indigenous Antecedents in North America1

Canadian-American relations have antecedents that pre-date the

arrival of the Europeans in the sixteenth century. us, there are

two broad periods to consider in the history of North America that

THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENT

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gave rise to the nation-states of Canada and the United States. e

f‌irst period is the history of Indigenous peoples from their earliest

arrival up to the sixteenth century. e specif‌ic date marking the

arrival of Indigenous peoples in North America is a matter of some

contention and is dicult to def‌initively assign. e second period

is from the arrival of the Europeans to the present. While it is the

latter period we are mainly concerned with, this can only be under-

stood by reference to what preceded it.

It is generally thought that the Indigenous peoples of North

America began arriving about ,–, years ago by crossing

the ice bridge across the Bering Strait, the eighty-two kilometres

( miles) wide straight at its narrowest point joining the Arctic

and Pacif‌ic oceans between modern-day Russia and Alaska. e

Neolithic age beginning ,–, years ago saw the domesti-

cation of plants and growth in basic tools leading to higher popu-

lations, permanent settlements, and increasing complexity of life,

which in turn gave rise to specialization. Agricultural surpluses in

Mesoamerica (present-day southern North America and most of

Central America) led to developments in agriculture, architecture,

science, mathematics, art, cultural, political, economic development,

etc. is period lasted until about  AD and was followed by

the rise of the Toltecs and Aztecs. Cahokia was the site of a pre-

Columbian Native American city directly across the Mississippi

River from modern St. Louis, Missouri. e largest such settlement

north of Mexico City, it was a major trade hub for Indigenous

peoples , years before the Vikings landed in present-day New-

foundland around  AD.

Estimates of the populations of Indigenous peoples in North

America before the arrival of the Europeans vary. ere were thought

to be .– million Indigenous people in North America overall, of

which roughly .– million were in present-day United States,

and ,– million were in what is now Canada. By the time

of the achievement of independence by the irteen Colonies in

, there were ,–,. By Confederation in Canada

in , about ,.

Canadians and Americans — The Same, Only Different

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In Canada, relations between Indigenous peoples and the

French in New France (present-day Quebec) and later, the Brit-

ish in British North America were at f‌irst straightforward. e

Indigenous peoples and French regarded each other as vital trad-

ing partners who each brought valuable new goods to the other.

ey also evolved into military allies who assisted in consolidating

power and protecting against the British and hostile neighbouring

Indigenous peoples. e French regarded the Indigenous peoples

as vital economic partners who helped extend the fur trade to the

Pacif‌ic and as military allies in their contest with the British for

control of North America. In addition, Indigenous peoples help ed

establish the eventual boundary between Canada and the United

States. Later, dierent tribes served as allies to the Americans

against British designs on a newly independent United States,

while others assisted the British in protecting against American

incursions into British North America. A f‌luid and shifting ser-

ies of alliances, treaties, deceptions, and double-crossing by both

the Europeans and the Indigenous peoples characterized much of

the -year history of contact up until the nineteenth century.

By that point, the Indigenous peoples were largely marginalized,

isolated, alienated, and oppressed by both civil society and gov-

ernments, which saw little remaining utility in an economic or

military partnership with them.

In British North America, the relationship with the Indigen-

ous peoples was constitutionalized in the Royal Proclamation of

, which recognized Native land rights and described a rough

Proclamation Line that divided hunting grounds from land that

could be settled by Europeans. e Crown retained title to the land

mass of Canada, but recognized the rights of Indigenous peoples

to use and occupy the land, although the exact eastern and western

boundary of the reserved lands was not specif‌ied. e relevant part

of the Royal Proclamation reads as follows:

And whereas it is just and reasonable, and essential to our interest

and the security of our colonies, that the several nations or tribes