Nationalism In Canada

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorHigh School, 10th grade September 2001

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        In 1867 Canada officially "broke away" from England and became their own country. No, Canada never had to fight a war for their independence, England simply let Canada become their own country. Ever since that day, Canada has not had a strong feeling of nationalism. I believe there are several reasons for this. Canada is a bilingual country, and I believe Canada has always let the Province of Quebec run their own Province any way they would like and there are too many different cultures living in Canada, which does not help in bring the country together. Canada never had a war in which the citizens had to fight for their freedom, and I believe this would have brought all the different cultures closer together.

        Since 1867 Canada has let Quebec do their "own thing." Quebec has been allowed to keep their own language, their own culture, their own religion, and their own flag.

Nationalism is "defined as a sentiment of attachment and devotion shared by people who feel common bonds of history, language, culture and destiny. They feel a strong bond to a specific piece of territory." (Trend two notes - Nationalism and the Nation-state, Mr. Weiss' social class 2001) But how, can Canada have a strong feeling of nationalism if Quebec is doing their "own thing?" If nationalism is about having a mutual culture, and a mutual language, then Canada must have virtually no nationalism in this country. According to the chart from the Calgary Herald, of May 4, 1998, Canada as an entire country does not have the same feelings of what is important from one part of this country to the other. The RCMP has been part of Canada since the country first formed. Canadians are known for their Mounted Police, with their uniforms and accessories,