The United States and Canada: Opinions and FACTS

The United States and Canada are two of the biggest countries in the world on
one of the largest continents in the world. They have been influenced and have
influenced others for hundreds of years. Now, they are up on the list of the top
most powerful countries and continue to rise through the ranks. Though, what is
their history together? What does their past, present, and even future relationship
look like? Their current political and economic relations are so good, they are
unbelievable! So, what then are their forgotten and unforgotten issues between the
two of them? If we became enemies, what would it be like? But the most important
question that historians all over the world have asked: What would life be like if
the United States had lost the American Revolution and never broke away? In our
case though, what would Canada and the United States be like politically and
culturally if that would have occurred?
Right now, the United States and Canada hold the spot for the closest and most
extensive relationship in the world! They have so much going for them and a lot of
it no other country has. For one thing, the two nations share the worlds longest
border, which is very important with trade. More than two billion dollars in goods
and services happen daily. About three hundred thousand people cross the nations
by means of various modes of transportation and in fields ranging from security
and law enforcement to environmental protection to free trade, the two work
closely together.
The United States defense arrangements with Canada are more extensive than
with any other country. Both share North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO,
mutual security commitments, and their military forces cooperate on continental
defense within the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD.
They also work in a partnership to achieve highly qualified security and to speed
up the flow of people, goods, and services between them. Their efforts additionally
touch other concepts such as: counterterrorism, aviation and maritime security,
health security, visa screening, trusted traveler and trusted trader programs,
emergency management, critical infrastructure protection, and cybersecurity. Plus,
the United States has many successful joint law enforcement programs with
Canada. Some include the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBET), the
Border Enforcement Security Taskforces (BEST), and the ShipRider Integrated
Cross Border Maritime Law Enforcement program.

Like before, Canada and the United States have one of the worlds largest and
most comprehensive trading relationships, in which supports millions of jobs in
each country. Canada is the third largest holder of oil reserves and is the single
largest foreign supplier of energy to the U.S. Uranium mined in Canada helps fuel
nuclear power plants within the United States. Also, these two also have one of the
worlds largest investment relationships. The United States is Canadas biggest
foreign investor and in return Canada is the third vast investor to the U.S. The
United States investment includes Canadas mining, smelting industries,
petroleum, chemicals, the manufacturing of machinery, transportation equipment,
and finance. Canadian investment in the United States is solely concentrated in
finance, insurance, manufacturing, banking, information and retail trade, and other
services. They both belong to quite a few of the same international organizations:
the United Nations, NATO, WTO, G7, G20, Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,
Organization of American States, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
There is definitely no denying that Canada and the United States have acquired
a very productive and purpose filled relationship. There have been issues between
them in spite of the fact. Mainly energy policy, trade, border security, foreign
policy, and the economy is where its concerned at. In recent years, the two
countries have engaged in hard compromises over items in several trade sectors,
including natural resources, agricultural commodities, and property rights. There
has also been a clash about the Buy America provision of the 2009 economic
stimulus law, however this affected only a small percentage of the total goods and
services exchanged. In the end be that as it may, these nations always seem to
come to agreements and that is why they are in such good relation to one another.
Just imagine though for a second if you could. What would it be like if they
were rivals? By looking at the facts, it seems that firstly their economies wouldnt
be as strong as they are today. With as much trade that goes on between them, it
would likely be an incredible loss on their part. Then, there are the military
alliances. Indeed it is true that the United States has a substantial military that is
quite more impressive than Canadas, but Canada has closer ties to Britain being
that they kept the British monarch as their head of state. If a war was to become
between the two countries, Britain would unlikely side with the U.S. Although
Britain may even be mutual because of the alliance and history with the United
States. In the event of a war with Canada, however the outcome unforeseeable.

Now for the topic that Social Studies teachers love to discuss in the break room:
What would it have come to if the United States never broke away from Britain
because of their defeat in the American Revolution? Before the year Canada would
have gained their independence from Britain, Britain would have been the
greatest empire in the entire world! Firstly, there would have been plenty of land to
oversee and of course when Britain would have settled the land the Native
Americans wouldnt have retained any of it, as they do now. There would be a
lesser population because a mass emigration wouldnt have occurred. The
immigration policy would have been more like Australia, opportunities from
Britons who wanted to make a new life, but controlled.
Slavery would have been abolished sooner. Slavery in England became
unlawful in 1722; Britain had outlawed the slave trade in 1807 and in the Empire
by 1833. Also, the moral pressure for abolition, mostly religious based, was
becoming great in Britain. So, if slavery never happened in North America it would
be likely that racial equality would have been introduced long before it actually
did.
Then, theres all of the resources Britain would have gained from Canada and
the U.S. For example, the gold rush in California and the discovery of oil in Texas
would have been a boost to the British North America and the British Empire itself.
Such discoveries and others like them would have just added fuel and power. With
practically a whole continent obtained, Britain would be unstoppable! That is until
Canada would gain their freedom.
It is highly theorized that the U.S. would follow in suit of Canada, and their
government would probably be the same. As said before, Canada has retained
strong ties to the UK for many decades and has kept the British monarch as their
head of state to this day. Had the United States not broken away, the whole of
North America, including the present U.S. would have followed closely behind.
Both Canada and the United States would have a federal monarchy if this were to
happen.
In conclusion, because of these two nations closeness concerning politics and
economics it would be a great influence if anything were to happen. If we were to
become opponents, our country wouldnt run as it does now. Especially if the
United States never won in the American Revolution, we would probably not even
be alive today or maybe just be speaking a different language and living a

completely opposite life in another country. We depend on our friendship, if you

could put it that way, with Canada and Canada definitely depends on us.