The origins of Canadian and American political differences / Jason Kaufman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kaufman, Jason Andrew, 1970- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--Relations--Canada.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (383 pages)

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts ; London, England : Harvard University Press, [2009]

Summary:

Why do the United States and Canada have such divergent political cultures when they share one of the closest economic and cultural relationships in the world? Canadians and Americans consistently disagree over issues such as the separation of church and state, the responsibility of government for the welfare of everyone, the relationship between federal and subnational government, and the right to marry a same-sex partner or to own an assault rifle. In this wide-ranging work, Jason Kaufman examines the North American political landscape to draw out the essential historical factors that underlie the countries’ differences. He discusses the earliest European colonies in North America and the Canadian reluctance to join the American Revolution. He compares land grants and colonial governance; territorial expansion and relations with native peoples; immigration and voting rights. But the key lies in the evolution and enforcement of jurisdictional law, which illuminates the way social relations and state power developed in the two countries. Written in an accessible and engaging style, this book will appeal to readers of sociology, politics, law, and history as well as to anyone interested in the relationship between the United States and Canada.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. Origins of the Colonial System

Chapter 2. Expansion and Contraction

Chapter 3. Two Turning Points

Chapter 4. The Birth Pangs of Nationalism

Chapter 5. Nationhood Begins, and Almost Ends

Chapter 6. Federalism Suborned

Chapter 7. Completing the Journey West

Chapter 8. Nations Reborn

Chapter 9. The Vagaries of National Political Development

Conclusion

Notes

Index.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780674274464

0674274466

9780674274457

0674274458

OCLC:

1282600300