Statistics. Well if you look at population, the US is almost ten times as that of Canada, which makes sense due to weather, and the many, many mountains of snow and ice north of 60. The landmass of Canada is larger, although it would only take Quebec separation to make the United States a bigger country in terms of size. According to statistics, which I find are not always the best comparison, you could probably notice, better literacy, less crime and higher life expectancy than the United States does. However much of this could account to the population difference, which would slightly, change the gap.
Vitals. Its been made a big deal in the states of undeniable rights (god-given) which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are what you may expect on being American. Canadians however see things differently with their "Peace, Order and Good Government", which come to think of it is being abused all the time. Good government. Yeah right.
Politics. Well politically Canada and the States are as different as day and night. While Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy based on a British-Westminster style Parliament comprised of the Queen, the Lower House (the elected House of Commons) and the Upper House (the appointed Senate), the United States is a Democratic Republic whose head of state doubles as its head of Government and whose power lies in Congress which is split in the House of Representatives and the Senate. All officials including the judicial wing are elected (Canada's judicial wing is appointed).
History. While I've head it said that Canada has no history, I have always disagreed. Sure its not France whose history can be traced to 50 BC. I believe History may be one of the biggest differences between Canada and the United States. The French founded Canada in 1608 with the fortifications of L'Habitation near Stadacone (Québec) and the Acadia (now part of Canada) was founded in 1604 with the building of Port-Royal in present day Nova Scotia. The United States were first colonized by the British and the Dutch before it became 13 British colonies along the Atlantic. However present US territory was colonized also by the French (from present day Louisiana north along the Mississippi) and by the Spanish (Florida, the West Coast, and Southern States). Canada progressed into an independent country flirting with republican revolution only a few times (1889's Riel Metis Republic in the West and the two simultaneous rebellions in 1838 in both Upper and Lower Canada) whereas the US began their history with a revolution in 1775. Canada entered both wars when they started (or a week after in the case of WW2) and were a determining factor in the First World War. Canada distinguished itself at Ypres and mostly at Vimy Ridge as they succeeded where the British and French had failed. If Canada was shaped by the First World War, so was the United States in the shaping of its current identity. After the second world war, the United States replaced Britain as the world greatest power (which it shared with the Soviet Union).
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