The text is an excerpt from the book Clash of the Two Americas, which examines the historical relationship between the United States and Canada. The author, Matthew Ehret, explores the reasons why Canada failed to achieve independence from Britain during the American Revolution and how this failure, in his view, shaped the development of both nations. He argues that Benjamin Franklin played a crucial role in promoting republican ideals and encouraging Canada to join the American colonies, but ultimately his efforts were thwarted by a combination of British manipulation, the influence of the Catholic Church, and the Quebec elite's preference for remaining under British rule. Ehret further asserts that this event had far-reaching consequences, including the suppression of democratic principles in Canada, the establishment of a powerful pro-British oligarchy, and the ongoing struggle to reconcile the ideals of the American Revolution with the realities of colonial power.

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