During my recent visits to Canada and the US I could find so much striking similarities between the 2 countries...for example the slogans of police depts in both the countries being - To server & protect, similar people (Canadians being more docile), similar accents (atleast in Ontaria, Canada), similar laws (atleast the day-to-day ones), similar infrastructures etc etc.
Why is it that both these countries are so similar?
2006-06-21 20:23:38 · 16 answers · asked by wannabe 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
They are neighbor and in same
continent.
2006-06-21 20:38:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Similarities in infrastructure and laws are because the US develops the best infrastructure and laws and Canada copies them (although they are careful not to copy the freedoms in the US Bill of Rights -- especially the right to keep and bear arms). Similarities in language must be because you visited geographically close parts of Canada and the US. There is a lot of variation in accents among various parts of the US and Canada, but areas that are geographically close have similar accents.
There is actually a world of difference between the two countries. As a lifelong US citizen, I am very uncomfortable visiting Canada or Mexico and could never live in such underdeveloped places.
2006-06-22 06:17:46 · answer #2 · answered by Sprinter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been living for 15 years in Montreal, and have visited several cities in the US, I may have good answers for you. 1. First about the AC, my answer is YES - in the malls and major stores. 2. There are few skyscrapers, maybe around 6 - 8, but they are far from being the skyscrapers in Chicago or NYC and even Toronto in Canada. 3. The downtown is not big and not small, there are few big street though. To give you an idea, the Toronto downtown is 10 times the one in Montreal .. though Manhattan is 20 times Toronto's downtown. 4 - 5. There are 4-5 malls connected together .. they are nice. If you're looking to "Macy's"-like store, there's "The Bay" in Canada. 6. There are many excellent restaurants in Montreal, just visit the old Montreal area and you will find a ton! 7. Canadians are very polite. I don't like to compare people, but unfortunately we always do. I found Americans more friendly in cities like Boston .. but here in Canada, you can be sure that people are very polite and can be helpful too. I hope you find my answers helpful. Bienvenu (e) à Montréal !
2016-05-20 10:42:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being a Canadian-I can tell you right now - the US and Canada are not as similar as you think. In appearance yes. We are innundated with US media - but we do have more access to European influence - news etc. We have a HUGE European population here, that keep their culture - and while we are all part of the same country we are not asked to assimilate like in the US.
Many people who travel from Europe say that Canadians are generally more educated about world affairs, are more polite, and find the country much more European in its culture - than in the US. I know US citizens - who have travelled the world and agree that Canada has a more European flavour. Plus don't forget our judicial and government systems are radically different in how they operate from yours. We do not have an Electoral College or a President and how people are represented is by proportional representation.
If we were so much like the US - we wouldn't be fifth in the world - for the best place to live. The US ranked far lower in terms of standard of living, poverty, access to health care, rights for women etc. And we wouldn't have the kinds of rights that more progressive European countries have i.e. gay and lesbian marriage rights, universal health care coverage, a decent minimum wage, equal rights for women, the right to choose (which is not being threatened every time a conservative gets into power) and a vast wilderness - with a tenth of the population you have. Plus our country is far more liberal than any of your barely left of centre Democrats are. Yes we speak the same language - but so does Britain - and they are different too. Come up here and live for a while and you'll see what I'm talking about. I wouldn't say we're more docile - I'd say we think more before we shoot. We prefer to be peace keepers and use diplomacy to heal conflict. Yes we're neighbours, but we don't agree on the softwood lumber issue (which has caused major friction between the US and Canada) and we have different ideas about war (we didn't go to the Gulf), and we believe all people regardless of race or sexuality should be equal. Blacks in this country do not live below the poverty line or have the same hurdles and ghettos - as they have in the US. While the US had slavery - we were a haven for those escaping on the underground railroad. Do your research, open your minds, read some history, get to know your neighbours. France and Spain are neighbours and they couldn't be more different. Why is it just because we're neighbours that means we should be the same?? Yes we both have the same roots - British and French - but we do not have the Hispanic influence you have from Mexico, we did not have slavery, and we stayed part of Britain until the 60's. That shapes a nation. We say we're different for a reason, not cause we're bitchy - but because we are different. Come up and read a cereal package sometime and you'll notice that all our products have French and English on them. We are proud to be Canadian for these reasons and many more - just as you are proud to be American for the things your country stands for. Neither one of us is better or worse, we are just different - you just have to look a little closer to see it.
2006-06-22 00:54:17 · answer #4 · answered by Lucy H 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
American culture (or what passes for it) has had a major influence all over the world, even in countries which don't share a common ancestry with us.
It's hardly surprising that Canada, with some 75% of it's population close to the US border, would be the most influenced, and very similar to us.
2006-06-21 20:29:07 · answer #5 · answered by Flyboy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because there isn't any other country to influence the two countries. America influences Canada through media and business therefore the similarities are endless, however both countries do have their own significant attributes.
2006-06-21 23:25:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The heritage of both countries are almost exactly the same, from Brittish roots. france is also connected to both countries, i.e. Quebec and Louisiana.
The responses about common borders is incorrect, since Mexico borders the US, but hardly any similarities.
2006-06-21 21:45:06 · answer #7 · answered by Padrefan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is due to canada although don't want to be associated with america (e.g. Canadians getting angry when being mistaken for an american) have inevitably picked up tarit from the USA because these traits seem to work well...i'm guessing
2006-06-21 20:39:49 · answer #8 · answered by Nathanael G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually our accents are not the same. The boarder actually does separate us at least linguistically, you will not find a Canadian with a Boston accent, just like if you asked me to say "out and about" you would know where I'm from. There are other differences you just don't notice them.
2006-06-23 12:45:04 · answer #9 · answered by hilarywow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They both in North America and they have open borders together so that there is much influence through the borders. However, there are many dissimilarities too, roads, SI measurments system, cleanness...etc
2006-06-22 23:07:40 · answer #10 · answered by Mostafa Al Banna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are both on the Continent of North America
2006-06-21 20:28:34 · answer #11 · answered by nannygoat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋