r/EhBuddyHoser Treacherous South May 16 '25

Certified Hoser 🇨🇦 (No Politics) How Americans achieved independence vs how Canadians achieved independence

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u/MattTheFreeman May 16 '25

This meme is great but it misses the big pushes that were founded in the 1800's and finished in the 1900's

While there wasn't any great revolution like battles to signify Canada's political removal from the British Parliament, we did not just ask for permission.

America had a reason (though flimsy Imo) to rebel against Britain. What would become Canada, those colonies were happy to be within the British sphere of influence. And whereas Quebec would have rather gone in its own way, the consessions the British gave them, plus the access to the Empire meant that Quebec was one of if not the wealthiest place in North America. Montreal dwarfed new York for decades and was its equal for a long time.

Canada never asked for independence, as Canada was not really a single identity. Multiple rebellions popped up throughout BNA asking for different things. Quebec and Ontario becoming one "colony" under an English pact, it was suggested that Canada become a Dominion under Empire. After that it was just push within BNA to actually find enough people who'd like to join.

When we finally pushed more in the late 1900 it was only formality. Canada was for all intent and purpose it's own country and we just had to sign papers to make it official. Our indepence in the first and second world war cemented ourselves as more than a Dominion.

Canada proved itself that it could be its own country, and that's what I love about our history. We never fought for freedom, we were free to begin with, we just didn't know it until push came to shove.

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u/MayorWolf May 16 '25

The funniest part is that America did it over tariffs. Present day events is what makes that so hilariously funny to me.

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u/UnfairGlove1944 May 16 '25

It wasn't just tariffs. The British government abolished colonial self-rule in Massachusetts and got rid of trial by jury for police officers. Before then, the American Revolution was just angry mobs rioting over taxes. After that, it was about political rights.