Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
same-sex marriages, and the federal government announced that it would draft legislation
to extend that legality nationwide.
Extending the charter's logic, the Canadian government also announced in July 2003
a plan to provide marijuana to those using it for medical purposes. Asked to comment on
such compelling departures from the social policy of the United States government, Cana-
dians respond with familiar and non-familiar replies: “We measure ourselves in our degree
of difference from the United States.” “We have always been closer to Europe than to the
United States in our social policies.” “Take universal health care, for example. We do not
regard government as the enemy, but as provider of social goods.” Much of U.S. social
policy is a response to the political power of religious fundamentalists, but Canada keeps
religion out of its politics.
HOW DID THE FRENCH DEFEAT AT QUEBEC GIVE THE UNITED STATES
ITS FREEDOM?
Tennyson said, “Let the Great World spin forever, / Down the ringing grooves of
the Atlantic and befriended the rebellious American colonies. Comte de Rochambeau aug-
mented Washington's army by 5,000 French soldiers. France also gave the rebellious colon-
ies loans and supplies. But after six years of fighting, the colonials were exhausted. Wash-
ington's forces were split north and south. A new British general, Lord Cornwallis, led
7,200 battle-hardened troops into Virginia to burn crops, conscript men, and crush Wash-
ington's army. As defeat loomed, word came from the French West Indies. Admiral de
Grasse would arrive with ships and men. He would blockade the British fleet in Ches-
apeake Bay, ferry Washington's northern soldiers down to Virginia, and contribute French
sailors and soldiers to Washington's command. Washington's newly consolidated army of
9,000 northern troops was augmented by 7,800 French foot soldiers, creating a land force
of almost 19,000 (plus 18,000 French sailors) against Cornwallis's 7,200. The Battle of
Yorktown in October 1781 was a stunning defeat for Britain. At the ceremony of surrender,
the British pipes played a mournful dirge, “The World Turned Upside Down.” The War for
Independence was effectively over.
In a small town in the south of France stands a statue to Admiral Comte de Grasse
with these telling words: “He Gave the United States its Freedom.”