Sunday, September 29, 2019

Why not Americanada? Why Canada didn't join America in the Revolution

Both America and Canada began virtually the same way with European colonization, yet today, they have evolved into vastly different nations, the primary reason being the American Revolution in the late 1700s. The Americans claimed independence from Britain in 1776, yet Canada declared independence from Britain over two centuries later. Why did Canada choose not to revolt against British rule like the Americans in the 18th century? The answer is dependent on what the living conditions of both groups were like, religious toleration, and several key events.
Canada did not experience a revolution as America did for numerous reasons. Primarily, French Canadians were not averse to the measures imposed upon them by the British. After Britain won the Seven Years’ War, French Canadians were maintained under British rule. Consequently, they worried that they would be amalgamated into British culture and could not continue their French traditions. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 officially declared that Britain ruled Quebec; however, the French were allowed to continue living on British land, and they could still keep their religion, law, and traditions. It is due to the fact that the Canadians were immensely grateful to the British that they did not revolt in any of the following events.
To compensate for their immense war debt, Britain passed The Stamp Act of 1765 following the Seven Years’ War, a tax on items such as legal documents, playing cards, and newspapers. Americans refused to pay the tax while Canadians were still grateful to be living their previous French lifestyle. The onset of following events, such as the Boston Tea Party and Intolerable Acts ensued for the Americans, further separating the two countries. 
The Quebec Act of 1774 further enraged Americans; it gave Canadians land that the Americans wanted, pushing them more into revolution. The Canadians still did not have reason to revolt because they received more land and some of their policies were improved. This act helped increase trust between the Canadians and British, preventing a possible revolution.
In 1775, America felt as if their revolution needed more support. During the American Invasion of Canada, 700 men invaded the fortress of Quebec to get them to support the revolutionary cause. The Canadians refused to participate in the American Revolution. They believed that even if they agreed to fight alongside the Americans, the British still had a more powerful army. Furthermore, the Canadians assumed that, if they did help, they would be punished by Britain and given a worse life.
Evidently, the American Revolution did succeed and their independence from Britain ensued. American independence did not affect the Canadians immensely. Due to the fact that they were still a British colony, Britain regulated most of their imports and trade systems. Moreover, the Canadians still had no reason to revolt because, by remaining loyal to Britain, they were treated fairly.  
Ultimately, two decades later, Canada gained their indolence from Britain peacefully. Britain feared that the Canadians would inevitably have a revolution against them, and Canada feared that America would attack them if they were under British rule. The better living and economic conditions, and religious toleration that the Canadians enjoyed that led them to peacefully gain their independence from Britain centuries later than America. To this day, Canada remains a constitutional monarchy, where the Queen of England is a symbolic figure in their democratic system of government. 

Sources:
https://www.historyextra.com/period/georgian/why-didnt-canada-not-join-states-colonies-american-revolutionary-war/
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/american-revolution
https://www.amrevmuseum.org/updates/reflections/canada-and-american-revolution

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