Defining moments and recurring myths: comparing Canadians and Americans after the American revolution

This paper examines S.M. Lipset's widely known thesis that the American Rev olution engendered lasting differences in Canadian and American values. We first reconsider the key claim of the thesis: that the Loyalist exodus to C anada permanently entrenched distinct value systems in the two societies. O ur analysis indicates that, within the general population, the Loyalists ha d a negligible effect in promoting core differences. We then compare the tw o societies historically on several indicators-class and economic structure , ethnic and religious composition, immigration and urbanization patterns, and political culture and organization-to identify significant divergences in the peoples' backgrounds and experiences that may have promoted major di fferences. We fmd that the two populations were strikingly alike, suggestin g that their everyday lives, outlooks, and values were probably quite simil ar during the Revolutionary era and for several decades afterward.