Culture and currents of thought

Amerindians developed of lifestyle

10,000 BCE

The Amerindians developed a lifestyle adapted to the conditions of the environment around them. Some are nomadic and others are sedentary they both have close ties and live in harmony with it. Aboriginal peoples had a great respect for their environment because they were able to survive because of it. Aboriginal people were animist. This belief, that everything that exists in the universe has a spirit, includes animal, objects, plants, stars and even thunder and the wind.

Divine right of kings

1608

Absolutism is a political ideology according to which the ruler was said to receive his or her power directly from God’s representative on earth. Since the king represents God on earth, nobody contest or challenge the will of God. By the end of the 17th century, a new current of thought will emerge: Gallicanism. This current of thought promotes the submission of the Church to the kings and not the pope in Rome. The Church must not follow what the pope says, but must follow what the king says.

Catholicism

1615

During the French regime, it is the Catholic Church who has the most influence on ideas and culture. The Church is responsible for education, hospital and health care, and convert the Amerindians. The clergy wanted to impose its authority and morality to the citizens of New France.

Founding of the College des Jesuites

1635

Education in New France was generally provided by religious communities. These communities ran the primary schools in Montreal and Quebec. During the French regime, two Quebec city institutions took charge of higher education in New France, the college des Jesuites being one of them.

Founding of Ville-Marie

1642

By the société de Notre-Dame de Montréal pour la conservation des Sauvages de la Nouvelle-France: The French Catholic Church is trying to convert the Amerindians to their religion.

the founding of the Grand Séminaire de Québec

1663

During the French regime, two Quebec city institutions took charge of higher education in New France. The college des jesuites, which was a school for elite boys. And the Grand seminaire which was an all boy school to train priests.

Publication of the Catéchisme du diocèse de Québec

1702

To ensure that the dogma of the catholic church is followed, the clergy printed the catechisme. This book explained the faith and practices of the catholic church.

British imperialism

1760

The British took control of the colony and imposed their laws, language, culture and political institutions on its people. Loyalist, merchants and British immigrants were loyal to the British crown.

Creation of La Gazette de Montréal / The Montreal Gazette newspaper

1778

The arrival of the printing press in the settlement allowed the publication of newspaper and brochures, thus promoting the dissemination of liberal ideas. William Brown and Thomas Gilmore, are the founders of the Quebec Gazette.

Rise of liberalism in Lower Canada

1780

Liberalism is a political ideology to which all individuals have equal and fundamental rights including protection from the abuse of the monarch's power. The liberal puts a great importance on fundamental rights and freedoms such as: religious, economic, cultural and political freedoms. Economic liberalism was the dominant school of thought under the British regime. This movement advocated individual and business freedoms and limitations of the government’s role.

French Canadian nationalism (Patriotes of Lower Canada)

1826

By the end of the French Regime, the citizens of New France consider themselves a nation. This notion focused on the cultural and religious independence of Quebec and on the protection of the French language. The Assembly of the Six Counties was an assembly of Patriote leaders and approximately 6,000 followers held in Saint-Charles, Lower Canada despite the June 15 Proclamation of the government forbidding public assemblies.

Ultramontanism

1840

The clergy rediscovered its vigor, thanks to ultramontanism, a school of thought developed in French in opposition to Gallicanism. Ultramontanism affirmed the primacy of the spiritual power of the Church over the State. Ultramontanists preached submission to the authority in Rome and promoted rigorous religious practice. Ultramontanist wanted the domains of education, health care and social work to remain exclusively under the Church.

Anticlericalism

1844

Anticlericalism is an attitude of a refusal of the Church’s influence over any sphere of life other than the religious sphere.

Rise of capitalism

1870

Capitalism is an economic system that encourages the concentration of wealth and the control of the means of production by a small number of people, as well as free competition. Capitalism is the major cause in social inequalities. Workers earned very low wages and worked in difficult conditions while most of the investors were British origin, the industrial labour force was supplied by French Canadians.

Agriculturalism

1888

At the end of the 19th century, the Quebec clergy tried to ward off the negative effects of industrialization by proposing a new way of thinking known as agriculturism. This movement promoted rural life and the traditional agricultural way of life. The church persuaded french Canadians to settle in the undeveloped regions of Quebec, such as the Laurentians, the Lanaudiere and Lac St.Jean regions.

Rise of feminism

1893

Woman obtain the right to vote in 1918 in federal elections. Quebec women will be able to vote in provincial elections as of 1940. Women claimed political rights and objected to the traditional vision of society in which men dominated. With the arrival of birth control pills, women will be more in control of their bodies.

Rise of the cooperative movement

1900

Thanks to new techniques and machinery productivity increased but they're expensive and farmers have difficulty borrowing money from banks. For easier access to money, several farmers decide to regroup their funds. In order to raise the capital necessary for rural development, these farmers counted on cooperatism which would allow for the pooling of the savings of small investors. This an economic system encourages the pooling of resources and a shared management style and shared profit.

Canadian and French Canadian nationalism

1907

Following the Great Depression, French Canadian nationalism turned against capitalism and industrial development. The nationalists brought back into force the themes of survival and traditional values such as family, respect for the hierarchy, religious education, agriculture, and rural way of life.

Birth of Fascism

1921

Fascism is an ideology that first appeared in Europe after the first World War. This ideology promotes tradition and totalitarianism, as well as extreme nationalism. They believe in the instauration of only one political party. This party is led by the leader and al must obey him. Fascism advocated the restoration of a traditional order by authoritarian means.

Rise of socialism

1930

Socialism is a political ideology that was born in Europe and criticized capitalism and the industrial development. Socialist denounced the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few and defended the interests of the majority, in particular by demanding a fairer distribution of wealth. They advocated state intervention in order to protect business from private ownership.

Growing American influence

1945

Higher salaries allowed for the purchasing of goods, which until then had been unaffordable. Working-class families could buy appliances that make housework easier. Quebec society will be greatly influenced by American culture (music, television, radio, cars)

Rise of secularism

1948

After World War 2, the power of the church was strongly contested. Many believed in the separation of Church and State. Rural life and respect for the church’s authority, a growing number of citizens, intellectuals in particular, felt let down by this dominant ideology. They believed that religion should be a private except in spiritual affairs. In their opinion, education and society services should be run by the state.

Rise of Quebec nationalism

1966

With the Quiet Revolution and the rise of new Quebec nationalism, the traditional and conservative values of French Canadian nationalism were abandoned. Quebec nationalism now focused on promoting the French language, guarding the provinces areas of jurisdiction and having its people recognized as a distinct society.

Aboriginalism, Aboriginal claims of self-determination

1979

Aboriginal people began to assert their conception of the nation. Large hydroelectric projects of the 1960’s and 1970 were to require the flooding of lands necessary for maintaining the traditional way of life that the aboriginal peoples saw as characteristic of their identity. The objectives are the preservation of aboriginal culture, maintaining the traditional way of life and the protection of aboriginal territories, resource, and language.

Neoliberalism

1980

Neoliberalism is an ideology that advocates a laissez-faire approach to the economy and calls state interventionism into question. They believe in the reduction in state intervention in areas of public life, free markets to encourage economic trade, and individual responsibility.