North of America

In 1941, influential US publishing magnate Henry Luce declared the world was in the midst of the first great American century, believing his nation held the power and vision to lead and transform the world. What did a newly outward-looking and hegemonic United States mean for its northern neighbour? North of America is a sharp-eyed volume providing a unique look at postwar Canada, bringing to the fore the opinions and perceptions of a broad range of Canadians – from consumers to diplomats, jazz musicians to urban planners, and a diverse cross-section in between. As they grappled with issues including constitutional reform, transit policy, national security, the arrival of television, white supremacy, and postwar domesticity, Canadians were ever mindful of the unfolding American experience and its influence.

Asa McKercher is an assistant professor of history at the Royal Military College of Canada. His publications include Canada and the World Since 1867 and Canada and Camelot: Canadian-American Relations in the Kennedy Era. Michael D. Stevenson is a professor of history at Lakehead University. He is the author of Canada’s Greatest Wartime Muddle: National Selective Service and the Mobilization of Human Resources in Canada during World War II and editor of the 1957–58 volumes of Documents on Canadian External Relations.

Contributors: Stephen Azzi, P.E. Bryden, Susan Colbourn, François-Olivier Dorais, Jonathan English, Eric Fillion, Norman Hillmer, Emily LeDuc, Bettina Liverant, Daniel Poitras, Timothy Andrews Sayle, Jennifer Tunnicliffe, David Webster

"North of America reminds us that the development of Canadian nationhood was not confined to gradual emancipation from Britain."

"This collection of essays furthers Canadian-American scholarship, providing a welcome historical look at how each country stands in relation to the other."