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Nov 1, 1500
First Occupants
The culture of these different groups was closely related to the environment (nature) in which they live. The material production and cultural practices of the first occupants were also influenced by their conception of the world, their values, beliefs and their spirituality. Finally, it was impacted through their social relationships and exchanges with other nations. -
Period: Nov 3, 1500 to
Culture and Currents of Thought
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Nov 1, 1505
Environment and Nature
Aboriginal peoples had great respect for their environment because they recognized it was the reason that they were able to survive. They had great respect for nature. They only took what was needed. -
Nov 1, 1510
Cultural Consequences of Meeting with the Europeans
Objects gradually became integrated into Aboriginal material culture. Groups adopted the wearing of wool and cotton, which they integrated into their clothing. Sedentary Aboriginal peoples were introduced new vegetables, such as onions, cucumbers as well as bread. Europeans imported domestic animals.Rifles contributed to making Aboriginal wars more deadly. It was more specifically epidemics from the encounter that were at the basis of the decimation of the Aboriginal population. -
Nov 1, 1510
Social Relationships
There is respect for Elders. There were no written laws or private property. The Chiefs was someone who represents the tribe, usually the strongest hunter. The governing principle of these trades was reciprocity: a gift had to be given in return for every gift received, a practice who goal was to maintain harmonious relationships between groups. These trades were an occasion for festivities during which great feats were held were good opportunities for chiefs to exchange gifts. -
Nov 1, 1515
Aboriginal Sprituality
The spirits of the living as well as those inanimate objects were immortal. For all aboriginal peoples, dreaming was a way that spirits could show themselves. Dreams that could be prophetic, meaning that they could foretell events to come in the near or distant future.
The shaman was an intermediary between aboriginal peoples and the spirits whose goodwill they hoped to attract. Shaman were considered to be people who had special access to the world of spirits. -
Nov 1, 1520
Communication and Exchange
Traditions would be passed on to the new generation by Oral Traditions, Song and Dance and Ceremonies/Feasts. -
French Regime
The french imported many elements of their culture, including the Catholic religion. The state religion, which the French tried to impose on the Aboriginal peoples through missions, had a significant influence on the colony’s organization and culture. The colony was also under royal absolutism, which characterized the political organization of France. -
Everyday Practices
The colonists adapted the “Canadian-style”, including a winter coat fastened at the waist with a belt. Shoes were in favor of moccasins. Finally, most colonists wore a hat whose flaps could be folded down to cover the ears, or a woolen tuque. The colonists also adopted Aboriginal means of travel -snowshoes, sleds and canoes- they introduced native products such as squash, corn and maple syrup, into their diets. They also discovered pipe tobacco, which was in use among the Aboriginal peoples -
The Catholic Church and Aboriginal Missions
Representatives of the Catholic Church (missionaries or Jesuits) were present from the beginning of colonization. They came to convert Aboriginal peoples to the Catholic faith, to instruct the population and to make New France a Catholic society. -
First Hospital
Hospitals and schools were run by nuns. The Ursulines in 1639 founded the first hospital in the colony. -
Absolutism in the Colony
Before 1663 it was manifested mostly through the control the king exerted over the chartered companies which he had granted exploitation monopolies. These companies had to answer to the king, who had the power to dissolve them. Royal absolutism also left its mark on the visual landscape of the colony. The doors of the fortifications of Quebec City were decorated with the coat of arms of the French monarchy. -
British Regime
The Conquest entailed a change of empire and transformed the social makeup of the colony, to which a growing number of British people were immigrating. These changes went hand-in-hand with the spread of new intellectual movements such as liberalism and nationalism. The heightened presence and influence of the Church promoted expression of ultramontanism, which led to the transformation of nationalism and liberalism. -
Conciliation and Collaboration from 1760 to 1840
British authorities had to modify their policies to suit the colony’s reality. The objective of the Royal Proclamation and instructions sent by the King in 1763 to Governor Murray was to make the Canadiens British colonists and, therefore, Anglophones and Anglicans. British government had to make concessions in order to secure loyalty to the Crown. The new leaders decided to only partially implement the Royal Proclamation, and allowed for a bishop to be appointed in Quebec City in 1766. -
Liberalism in the Colony from 1760 to 1840
Thanks to the press, liberal ideas spread and soon turned into political demands. Meanwhile, during the 1830s, some Canadiens adopted position, which led to the rebellions of 1837-1838.
These merchant’s noticed that the French laws were still in effect in the colony, which did not allow for a political representation of the people. These colonist, like those in the Thirteen Colonies, demanded the opportunity to enjoy the same rights as British subjects in the mother country -
Demands of the Canadiens Professionals and Merchants
Liberal Canadiens made their ideas public through the press. One early paper defended the separation of Church and state and denounced the Canadien nobility and clergy, who were against the establishment of a legislative assembly. -
The Development of the Partisan Press After 1791
In 1791, the mother country also granted a legislative assembly to the colony. In 1792, the first elections were held. A Canadien majority was elected. The growing opposition lead to the formation of two parties. These parties attacked one another not only in the House. The Quebec Mercury, a conservative, English-language newspaper started in 1805, defended the interest of the British merchants. The paper encouraged the fusion of the two Canadas to put the Canadiens in minority. -
Nationalism and Republicanism in 1830s
The failure of liberal reform demands lead to a radicalization of ideas among Parti Patriote members, leading to republicanism, this lead the Partiotes revolt, in an effort to guarantee respect for people's fundamental rights. The Patriotes republicanism was connected to nationalism. Language, culture and French origin were considered the main characteristics of the Canadien. These cultural nationalists were joined by English-speaking colonists in their demands for political reforms. -
Ultramontanism from 1840 to 1867
The failure of the 1837-1838 rebellions and the adoption of the Act of Union in 1840 had an influence on ideas that circulated in the colony.
The creation of the United Canada made French Canadians a minority politically, and English became the colony’s only official language. After 1840, the Catholic Church relied on ultramontanism to increase its power and it became more and more influential. The Church also wanted to insert itself into all parts of life in the colony -
Anticlericalism after 1840
In 1844, young professionals and intellectuals in Montreal founded the Institut Canadien de Montreal , a place for intellectual discussion. It had a library where Francophones could read local and foreign newspapers and borrow books on various subjects. In 1858 the bishop requested members to conform to Church degreed, which caused some to leave the Institut. They were of the opinion that the clergy had no right to meddle in political life, known as anticlericalism. -
The Church, Education and Social Services
Denominational school system was established. The Catholic Church was involved in all levels of education, from elementary school to university. Education was not compulsory at the time
But the literacy rate among the French Canadian population increased. Higher education remained accessible to only a minority of people, and girls were not admitted. The few schools, run by nuns, that were open to girls concentrated on domestic life. The church imposed its values by way of these institutions -
The Church and the Development of Ultramontanism
In the 1840s, the bishop of Montreal obtained permission to summon new monks and nuns from France which increased the number of Church representatives in the colony. Ultramontanists believed that Catholics should leave not only religious and moral matters, but also those concerning culture and politics, up to the Church -
Contemporary Period
Between 1867 and 1950, industrialization and political changes changed the culture of Quebec. Ways of life changed as new forms of cultural expression emerged. These changes changed the nation, which had to adapt to a new economic and political context. -
Capitalism and its Cultural Consequences
Industrial development required the investment of large amounts of capital as well as an abundant labour force. British elite needed capital and the rich were getting richer. Capitalism and industrialization left their mark on the cities, which began to be divided into districts based on socioeconomics, language, identity and culture. -
Capitalism and Mass Culture
Business could resort to newspapers to publish advertising in order to encourage readers to consume their products. The early 20th century was marked by the inventions of motion pictures.
The first movie theatre in Montreal in 1906, by 1933 Quebec had 134 theatres, where films as well as news programs were shown
In 1919, Montreal was the first city in the world to inaugurate a radio station. -
Canadian Imperialism in the early 20th century
BNA ACT was meant to protect the Catholic faith and the French language within Canada. Convinced that the sense of belonging to Canada should manifest itself in both founding nations, Henri Bourassa thought that Canadians should unite to defend Canada’s autonomy with regard to Great Britain. Imperialists viewed Canada as part of the British Empire and believed that English should be the only official language, and Protestantism the only official religion in Canada. -
Church Conservatism
Catholic Church promoted a traditional way of life and values it judged essential for the survival of the identity and culture of French Canada. In the 1920s, the bishops published several letters in which the condemned dancing, movies and theatre. The Church tried to close theatre, keep Sunday as a holy day and managed to ban some films -
Socialism, Communism and Fascism from 1920 to 1940
Socialism was meant to be a critique of capitalist industrial development. Communism wanted the end of the capitalist system and social classes Fascism promoted the restoration of a traditional order by authoritarian means. Ethnicity: some nations were superior to others this required an all-powerful leader. During the 1930s, Canadian fascists took their inspiration from the regimes established in Italy and Germany following the stock market crash. -
French Canadian Nationalism between 1920 and 1950
French Canadian nationalism turned toward criticizing the social and cultural effects of capitalism and industrialism development. The nationalists thus brought back into force the themes of survival: family, religion and agriculture. They insisted on the necessity for French Canadians to control their economy. While they still considered the “return to the land” as an economic solution, caisses populaires Desjardins for example. -
Feminism and Reformism Before 1950
Women believed that as a part of their duty was to concern themselves with education and health. They added Feminist views to their demands. The demands of the feminist reformists clashed with numerous opponents who considered the education of women and the granting of political and legal rights as a threat to the social order. In 1922, a petition asking the government not to grant women the right to vote was published in the newspaper. -
Americanism and Secularism after the Second World War
After World War 1, Quebec was prosperous, the influence of the Catholic Church on Quebec society were increasingly called into question. While television spread American culture, it also encouraged the broadcasting of local cultural productions, such as soap operas. After 2 World War, criticism of traditionalism became varied. In 1948, a group of artists published Refu Global, a manifesto that denounced the Catholic Church and its traditional values. -
First Canadian Nationalism
In the second half of the 19th century, French Canadian nationalism remained survival nationalism.
Concerned about the exodus of French Canadians to the United States, the leaders of the province saw a return to the land as a solution. Agriculturalism surfaced through the adoption of various measures aimed at modernizing agriculture and encouraging the opening of new regions to colonization. -
Nationalism from 1950 to 1995
The rally for National Independence founded in 1960, promoted nationalism. In 1967, Rene Levesque founded the Sovereignty Association Movement. Unlike RIN supporters, they believed that the independence of Quebec would allow them to defend the economy and culture of the French Canadian Nation. In 1988, they united, forming the Partis Quebecois. They chose other means to make themselves heard besides forming a party. This was the case of the militants who joined Front de Libération du Québec. -
State Intervention after 1960
The death of Maurice Duplessis in 1959 allowed governments who advocated interventionism to obtain power. The state took control of education, health and social services, and also became active in the area of culture. Jean Lesage’s Liberal provincial government, elected in 1960, introduced a series of measures
In 1961, school attendance was made free. In 1964, the year the Ministry of Education was created. The education system remained confessional. -
Aboriginalism
Aboriginal peoples began to assert their concept of the nation.
Large hydroelectric projects of the 1960s and 1970s required the flooding of lands necessary for maintaining the traditional way of life for some Aboriginal peoples. The Aboriginal peoples hoped that Quebec and Canada would recognize their rights and consider their point of view. The provincial government signed the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and promised to consult the Inuit regarding everything that concerned them. -
The State and Culture
Production agencies began to emerge in the fields of television broadcasting and film. In 1961, the Government of Quebec set up a film board. The state encouraged the hosting of events that promoted Quebec’s cultural influence. Close to cooperation among the federal, provincial, and municipal governments led to Montreal's hosting of the 1967 World’s Fair and the 1976 Olympic Games.
These events brought Quebec to the attention of the rest of the world and also opened Quebecers to diversity. -
Feminism from the 1960s to the 1980s
Feminist groups demanded the improvement of the status of women and exerted pressure to have laws changed to ensure equality between men and women in the social, legal, economic and political spheres. The Front de liberation des femmes, founded in 1970, described their brand of feminism as radical. Radical feminists believed that women should fight for freedom from oppression. The FLF also campaigned for Quebec’s independence, which it believed was inseparable from women's liberation. -
Oka Crisis
Mohawk nation upset that a golf course wants to expand on ancestral land. Canadian Army called in to protect locals and fight against the warriors. The mohawks were fighting for their rights and wanted the Canadian/Provincial government to acknowledge them.
