Well, the main difference was that, at the time of that unfortunate disagreement in 1776, Canada was majority French and Catholic, and the 13 American colonies were English and Protestant, and they really did not think the same. Also, Nova Scotia, the 14th colony was not really that disgruntled with England but severely P.O. with US raiders on its coastal villages, and Newfoundland, the 15th colony was too far away to care and more interested in fishing.
Thus the future Canada declined to participate in the rebellion process. The future United States sent that great American patriot, Benedict Arnold, to encourage them to join, but he somewhat failed in that process after his troops ran out of money and started stealing supplies.
After the American Revolution, there were huge numbers of American refugees who fled the US, called the “United Empire Loyalists” who settled the land in Canada and created two new provinces, but they supported the king and were totally offside with the American Dream, as were the French Canadians, who didn’t want to speak English or be Protestant.
For some reason Americans thought these people would side with them in 1812 when the US invaded Canada, but Canadians disagreed and shot the American invaders instead.
This seemed to come as a total surprise to the Americans.
Thus, Canada continued on its way in a totally non-revolutionary, can’t we all be friends way. When the country of Canada was created in 1867, after that even more unfortunate disagreement in the US called the Civil War, Canada’s motto was “Peace, Order, and Good Government” which is thoroughly different from the American ideals, such as everyone needs to carry a gun to protect themselves from the government, and everyone is equal except poor people and the descendants of slaves.
David Moe
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