Article describing the historical and cultural conditions of the North American border between United States and Canada, particularly its shapes between the United States and the province of Québec. The author's argument that the Canada-US border persists precisely because of the distinctiveness of Québec culture and politics. Québec's relationship with the United States in terms of 18th and 19th century political disputes; migration; industrialization; trade; Québec's movement toward sovereignty; cultural affairs; and party politics dynamics in the 20th century. How popular attitudes toward the United States compare between Québecers and other Canadians; how international borders compare to interprovincial borders.