The Oldest and Most Resistant Section of the Border (1)‪.‬

Why is there a border between Canada and the United States? First and foremost because Canadian settlers refused to join the American Revolution. They thus allowed Great Britain to keep a piece of her North American Empire and give rise to a country that would be distinct from the United States. Quebecers may take pride that their province (or their nation (2)) stands at the origin of Canada. They may still boast of remaining the most striking element of Canadian distinctiveness on the American Continent. The Canadian-American border is indeed fortified in Quebec by a cultural and linguistic screen, which was the main reason why the Canadiens (3) resisted the American revolutionary appeal in 1776. Quebec's distinct society is therefore the most striking element that allows for a border between the countries. As a consequence, and somewhat ironically, this border is fortified by internal differences within Canada, by the presence of internal borders, as it were. Quebecers have remained quite ambivalent towards the United States, just like other Canadians. But their distinctive character has given rise to a sui generis ambivalence. Quite frequently they are attracted by their southern neighbor when their fellow Canadians are resistant and they may insist on their difference at the very moment English-speaking Canadians don't care. This article will endeavor to support this proposition from the history of the last two hundred years. It will also review the particular relations between Quebec and the United States on the political, economic, and cultural levels.