Canada and the United States have had an important political relationship for more than a century. These two nations went from fighting against each other in the War of 1812 to becoming great friends, allies, and trading partners. They haven’t always seen eye-to-eye on certain matters, including: free trade, softwood lumber, acid rain, relations with South Africa under apartheid, Vietnam, the Iraq War, and more. That’s not surprising: occasional disagreements between governments are unavoidable and inevitable. Canadian and American leaders, to their credit, have always been able to get past these short-lived disputes, identify an appropriate middle ground, and move forward in a strong, united front.