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Oct 25, 1500
First Occupants: Spirituality
Spirituality has always been omnipresent in the daily lives of the Amerindians. Dreams played a very important role, and could even influence very important decisions, such as whether to go into war or not. Shamans were responsible for interpreting dreams. They also healed the sick. Myths and legends were told often. Dreamcatchers were used to protect people from nightmares and evil spirits. -
Oct 26, 1500
First Occupants: Social Relationships
In the conception of the world shared by the Amerindians, all beings were equal and independent. Respecting the elders was very important. Many traditions were followed, such as smoking a calumet for peace at the end of a treaty between nations, the freedom for children to learn by living their own experiences. There was no sense of private property, and there were no written laws. -
Oct 27, 1500
First Occupants: Nature
Animism was an important concept: It was that everyone must respect nature and that all living things have souls. Amerindians would only take what they needed for nature. They believed that the role of the humans was to restore the balance in nature. An extremely concept was the circle of life. The circle of life consisted of four parts, each representing a cardinal direction (North, South, East, West), a season, a colour, and more. -
Oct 28, 1500
First Occupants: Communication and Exchanges
Writing did not exist yet, so information and teachings were delivered in oral traditions. Song and dance were also popular rituals, as well as ceremonies. Now, objects such as wampums and pottery that were discovered are extremely important as, with the absence of writing, they are the clues to the Amerindian cultural heritage. -
Period: Oct 28, 1500 to
Culture and Currents of Thought
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The King's Powers
Kings were backed by the notion of the Divine Right of Kings.They had a major influence on the ideas and culture under the French Regime. They had total, complete power, and could do whatever they wanted.
The king’s roles were to oversee cultural events, and to exercise control over the Church. King Louis XIV began his rule of France in 1643. He was in charge of New France, but didn’t do much. It was mainly the Minister of Marine, chosen by the king, who was in charge of the colony. -
King Louis XIV (Part 1)
King Louis XIV began his rule of France in 1643. King Louis XIV was gaining control in Europe, but his colony of New France was still suffering, as it wasn’t developing in economy or population, and it was dealing with constant Iroquois attacks.
The king had to act. -
King Louis XIV (Part 2)
King Louis XIV dispatched a well trained regiment of soldiers to fight. The king ended the monopoly of the companies as they were almost destroying New France. King Louis XIV placed New France under the Minister of Marine, Jean-Baptiste Colbert. He was the one in charge of the colony. Jean-Baptiste Colbert and King Louis XIV implemented the Royal Government in 1663. King Louis XIV and Jean Talon ended mercantilism. -
Catholicism
The influence of Catholicism on culture was very powerful. You must do what the church wanted or you would be excommunicated.
The Church played a key role in defining what behaviour was morally acceptable. The Church spread its ideas by controlling the education in the colony: they were the teachers and controlled the content. The first school was established by Marguerite Bourgeoys. Even artistic productions were often impressions of religion. -
Religion in New France
In New France, the Clergy was everywhere: There were missionaries, nuns working at schools and hospitals (they would be in control of what the children learned), there was a tax that had to be paid to the Church (tithe), and more. Most people were extremely religious. The Church was essentially in control. -
Life in New France
Settlers in New France had happy lives, but much work was required. Everyday work was to be done, such as caring for crops, making clothes, fixing tools, and preparing for winter. Since New France was not really developing, the settlers became more self-dependent.
In New France, the people were very autonomous. By 1760, they grew to become a distinct set of people called Canadien (13 colonies are becoming Americans). These Canadiens would remain here after the British Conquest. -
The Social System in New France
Life in New France was different from life in France. In France, there were the very rich people and the massive numbers of poor/starving people. These two groups would not interact. In New France, however, the rich and the poor would interact, as they all needed each other. The social statuses were determined by the social triangle. At the top, there were the Nobility/Elite (Governor), the Middle Class/Bourgeoisie (Seigneurs) in the middle, and the Peasants/Habitant (censitaires) at the bottom. -
Liberalism
Liberalism is a political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the individual (including equal civil rights), parliamentary systems of the government, nonviolent modification of political, social, or economic institutions.
There were several forms of expression or cultural activities related to liberalism, such as the diffusion of liberal ideas by newspapers, and the reflection of liberal ideas in architecture.
John Locke, a philosopher, is credited as the creator of liberalism. -
Ultramontanism
Ultramontanism is the policy of the party in the Roman Catholic church. It favors increasing and enhancing the power and authority of the pope. The church seeks to increase and extend its influence in all spheres of life: Social, economic, cultural, and more. There were several forms of expression or cultural activities related to ultramontanism, such as advocating of absolute obedience to the Catholic religion. -
Anticlericalism
Anticlericalism opposed to the influence and activities of the clergy or the church in secular or public affairs. Anticlericalism completely opposed ultramontanism, and advocated the separation of church and state (what we have today). It promoted a more democratic regime.
Wilfrid Laurier became the Party leader, and the Party dropped its anti-clerical stance. -
Imperialism (Part 1)
Imperialism is the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies. Imperialism influenced elements in architecture, and also influenced the parliamentary political organization. -
How the Government Functions (Part 1)
Constitutional Monarchy:
In a Constitutional Monarchy, the Queen and Governor General have only symbolic power.
Parliamentary Democracy:
In a Parliamentary Democracy, laws must be passed through the parliament. The members of the parliament are elected by the people (the population). -
How the Government Functions (Part 2)
Parliamentary Democracy:
There are three levels of government: Federal (country), Provincial (province) and Municipal (city). These levels each have three types of functions: Executive (making decisions about administration), legislative (making laws), and Judicial (making sure laws are applied). There are several positions in the Federal system, such as Head of State (Queen), Governor General, Parliament Senate, House of Commons, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the opposition, and the courts. -
Imperialism (Part 2)
Imperialism, as mentioned before, is the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies. Supporters of imperialism wanted Britain to keep maintaining control over the colony. The British ideas were spread through newspapers and stories. The newspaper Le Devoir was founded to protest against imperialism. -
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system in which the investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations. Capitalists built buildings, capitalist ideas were diffused through the mainstream press owned by businessmen, and literary works that depict economic disparities appeared. -
Socialism
Socialism is a theory or system of social organization that advocated the vesting of the ownership, and the control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, of land, and more, in the community as a whole. Due to socialism, the spread of capitalism was questioned through labour movements, student movements, and in independent magazines. -
Agriculturism
Agriculturism supports farmers and farming. Agriculturism caused valorization of rural, community, and parish life in novels. Many community magazine groups such as "Le Cercle des fermières" spread the agriculturist ideas. -
Nationalism (Part 1)
Nationalism is a devotion to one’s own nation and its interests over those of all other nations. Britain, which was in control of many colonies, expected its colonies, including Canada, to obey and follow its commands, but this wasn’t always the case. In Canada, some people wanted to follow Britain, some did not. There was French-Canadian Nationalism, that did not want to support Britain. It wanted to protect French interests. -
Nationalism (Part 2)
There was also English-Canadian Nationalism, which liked the English way and wanted to support Britain, but wanted Canada to operate independently. Neo-nationalism was a new wave of nationalism that started in the 1960s. It supported the independence of Québec. -
Laicism
Laicism supports the non-clerical control of political and social institutions in a society. The Church was in charge of many aspects of life, such as education, charities, and registering births, marriages, and deaths. Ministers were still influential, but not as influential as the Church. Laicism was spread through artists and intellectuals who denounced the grip of the Catholic Church in all spheres of society. A new art style different from the style imposed by the Church was developed. -
Cooperatism
Cooperatism, also known as “Co-ops”, is the birth of different groups who favoured equality and collaboration. Some examples are the Knights of Labor, the Caisses populaires, and the Catholic Union of Cultivators. -
Fascism
Fascism is the idea that a dictator should control the entire country. The dictator would normally rule through the use of propaganda or force. Fascism was adopted by Spain and Italy, and brought to an extreme in Germany buy the Nazi’s lead by Adolf Hitler. -
Feminism (Part 1)
Feminism is the belief that both men and women should be equal/have equal rights. In the early 19th century, women married young and had many children. They were forced to do as their husbands commanded and often did the worst jobs. They had few rights (they were not allowed to vote) and had little education. If a woman did not want to get married, their only escape was to become a nun. -
Feminism (Part 2)
World War I opened things up for women. All the men were at war, so they started to work and saw services as nurses. As a result to feminism, women obtained the right to vote in the Federal election (first only family to forces members 1917), then all in 1918. Feminism led to the denunciation of the role of the Church in the oppression of women and of inequality with men. Some plays, feminist magazines, and works of feminist artists helped bring to light the demand of gender equality. -
Americanism
Americanism is the American influence on Canada. In the early 20th century, several American cultural trends emerged, such as the dance (charleston) and the music (jazz). American culture was spread through films, radio, and television. To counter American influences, the Church spread ideas of traditional Catholic culture through music, media, and education. American culture was also influenced through the media. -
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism was a new wave of liberalism, where people were trying to limit the state’s power (limit the government’s power). Neoliberalism advocate the removal of the state in various spheres of society. It was an active opposition to socialist groups wanting to maintain intervention of the state. -
Aboriginalism
Aboriginalism began in the 20th century, when the Amerindians made claims for ancestral rights and recognition of aboriginal identity through tradition and culture, such as writings, language, music and education. -
The Oka Crisis
In the summer of 1990, Mohawk warriors established road blocks on the borders to their reserves in Oka because a golf course wanted to expand onto native land. The natives’ militarily organized themselves and the Canadian Forces were called in to handle the situation. The Oka Crisis lasted 78 days and came to an end without armed conflict. However the issues remained. The Charlottetown Accord was created to deal with these issues.
