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Oct 28, 1500
Spirituality of the First Occupants, Part 2
Dreamcatchers were a spiritual object that were believed to catch bad dreams in the object's webbing.
The Natives followed animalism. They had a deep respect for animal and plant life. They believed that all living things had souls. They would only kill animals for their own survival. After killing an animal, they would thank it for its sacrifice and they would use all parts of the animal. -
Oct 28, 1500
Spirituality of First Occupants, Part 1
The Natives had their own spirituality before the Europeans arrived and assimilated them to the European culture. They expressed their spirituality in many ways.
They would have a shaman, a priest who would heal people, interpret dreams, and give advice.
They passed down their religious beliefs and lessons about the world through mythology and legends. Since the Amerindians did not write, they would pass down stories orally from generation to generation.
(Continued in part 2) -
Period: Oct 28, 1500 to
Culture and Currents of Thought
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Oct 28, 1501
Native American Culture
Other elements of the First Occupants' culture:
They had a deep respect for their elders.
They followed traditions.
They were free. They did not have the notion of property and they had no laws.
They followed animism and they believed in the circle of life.
They passed on their traditions orally.
They had ceremonies to celebrate their victories and other important events. These ceremonies involved singing and dancing. -
The Divine Right of Kings
Based on the Divine Right of Kings, the King of France (Louis XIV at the time) had received his royal power from God and as a result, had absolute power. The king controlled the culture and the beliefs of his people. He could create any law that he wanted and anyone who opposed him could be killed on his decree. The Divine Right of Kings thus established a link between religion and government. -
Catholicism and Excommunication
The Catholic Church had a huge influence on the society at the time. The people had to do what the Church wanted or else they would be excommunicated. People got excommunicated for breaking the Church's rules. Excommunication meant almost certain death in New France. They'd lose their land and returned to France in some cases. If you're excommunicated, you can't do trade or business with any other members of the Church. -
European Intervention in New France
New France was suffering. The economy and the population were not developing and there were many Iroquois attacks. Louis XIV took these actions:
He sent 1200 trained soldiers to New France.
He ended the monopoly of the chartered companies on the fur trade in New France, which was hindering New France's development.
He established a royal government. New France was placed under the control of the Minister of Marine (Jean-Baptiste Colbert at this time). He appointed Jean Talon as the Intendant. -
Religion in New France
The French were Catholic. The Clergy was everywhere. Priests worked as missionaries and ran the parishes. Missionaries were sent to New France to evangelize the First Occupants.
Nuns worked in hospitals and in schools. By running the schools, the Church could instill their beliefs into children while they were impressionable. The smartest boys were asked to become priests. The Church's programs were funded by the church tax called tithe. The Church ran charities. Art was inspired by religion. -
Social Classes
The social classes in New France were (in order of wealth)
1. The Nobility/Elite. They come from royalty or money, they are born into their station.
2. Middle class/bourgeoisie. They are also wealthy, but they are self-made. They made their money from having their own business.
3. The Peasants/censitaires are the poor and the labourers. -
Independence of the Canadiens Part 1
The settlers in New France were very independent because they lived physically far away from the King and his control. Settlers were happy, but they worked very hard. They had to plant crops, make clothes, and prepare for the rough winters. New France was not developing very much, so the few people who were there had to be very independent. By 1760, the people of New France were distinct from the French, so they began referring to themselves as Canadiens. -
Independence of the Canadiens Part 2
The Canadiens were also more independent because of the contact that they had with the aboriginals. The natives didn't have laws and were taught to be free. The French were influenced by these ideals. Also, some of the French lived with the natives as coureurs de bois or as voyageurs.
There was no police, which allowed people to do whatever they wanted.
People were allowed to choose their way of life in New France. -
Religion After the Conquest
Since the French who moved to New France established a new identity as Canadiens, it makes sense that they would not leave Canada when the British seized it. They are no longer French. The Catholic Bishop was forced to leave New France because the British were Protestant. The Bishop could've convinced the Catholics to rebel against the British. The people were not forced to convert because the British knew it could have caused a rebellion, since religion was central to every day life. -
Liberalism
Liberalism is a political philosophy supporting the freedom of the individual. Individuals should be free to make their own decisions without government restrictions. Under the French regime, there was no liberalism, the Church and the Crown controlled the people.
Canada's current society is liberal.
The development of parliamentarism is a part of liberal ideas. The members of parliament are elected by the people. Liberal ideas are reflected in architecture. -
Imperialism
Imperialism is the idea of one country controlling colonies. It is the support of the mother country.
Imperialists want Britain to maintain control over Canada.
The Loyalists are an example of imperialists.
Canada fighting alongside Great Britain during World War I is another example.
Our parliament is based on the British system, with a few changes.
The nationalists oppose the imperialists.
Le Devoir was founded to oppose imperialism. -
Ultramontanism
Ultramontanism advocates for the absolute power of the Catholic religion over society and increasing the power of the pope. The people would have to obey everything the Church tells them to do. The Church wants to increase its influence in all the realms of society. Ultramontanism is opposed by anticlericalism. -
Anticlericalism
Anticlericalism is opposed to the ideas of ultramontanism. It is the belief that outside a church or other place of worship, religion should have no influence on society. It is the belief in the separation of Church and State, which is what we have in today's society. A democratic regime is encouraged. -
How the Government Functions, Part 1
Canada's government is a constitutional monarchy. The British Crown only holds symbolic power. We use the term "monarchy" because of tradition. Before 1982, Canada could not change its Constitution without the approval of England. Canada also has a Governor General. They represent the Queen while she is in England and they represent Canada on diplomatic missions, but they hold no real power. There are three levels of the government: federal, provincial, and municipal. -
How the Government Functions, Part 2
Canada has a parliamentary democracy. Laws must be passed through the parliament, whose members are elected by the people. Laws have to be presented and then voted upon.
There are three facets of power. They are:
Legislative: making laws and imposing taxes. This power is held by the House of Commons
Executive: making decisions about administration. This power is held by the Cabinet.
Judicial: ensuring laws are followed. Judges are appointed by the cabinet. -
Capitalism
Capitalism values the ownership of a business by an individual and control over it, separate from the government.
Architecture was affected because capitalists constructed and funded their own buildings. Capitalist ideas were diffused via newspapers owned by businessmen. Businessmen built schools to teach about capitalism, since the schools run by the Church did not teach it. These new schools helped eliminate religion from education. -
Socialism
Socialism is the idea that the community should control the production and distribution of the capital and the land. The members of a community should decide what's best for them. Labour movements question the spread of capitalism through student movements and independent magazines. -
Agriculturalism
Agriculturalism is the support for farmers and for farming. Maurice Duplessis was a very big supporter of farming. Duplessis did not want the cities expanding. He brought certain advantages to farms like electricity and paved roads to keep people in the country.
These ideas were spread in magazines and rural life was idealized in novels. -
Nationalism, Part 1
Nationalism is the devotion to one's nation and its interests over all other nations. It is the opposite of imperialism.
British colonies were expected to obey the laws of Britain. However, some Canadians believed that Canada is its own nation, separate from Great Britain.
French Canadian Nationalists did not support Britain, They were interested in protecting the French language. They spread their ideas in newspapers. They support Quebec as a nation, separate from Canada and Great Britain. -
Nationalism, Part 2
English Canadian Nationalists like the English way. They like the British system, nevertheless they believe Canada should be independent.
There was a new wave of Nationalism in the 1960s called Neo-nationalism. It was founded by artists like Félix Leclerc and Gilles Vigneault. -
Feminism
Women were forced to marry at a young age and have many children. They had little education, they usually did the worst jobs, and they were paid less than men.
Women demanded the right to vote, equal pay, and the right to the same education as men.
WWI opened things up for women. While the men were off at war, women worked in the factories and served as nurses in the army. When the war came to an end, women received the right to vote in the federal election. -
Laicism
Laicism is a more developed version of anticlericalism, which was introduced during the British rule. Laicism is the belief in the separation of Church and State, meaning that the Church should take no part in the government. Artists and intellectuals denounced the control that the Church exercised over society in the Refus Global in 1948.
For centuries, the Church played a major role in people's lived. The Church controlled education, charities, orphanages, hospitals, etc. -
Cooperatism
Cooperatism involves groups joining together to make a more powerful business where ownership is shared. It protects the owners and makes sure that a profit is made. Cooperatism is most used for agriculture. -
Fascism
Fascism is the idea that a dictator should have control over a nation. The dictator would rule through force. It was seen as a solution to capitalism. Canadian fascists were inspired by fascism in Italy and Germany. -
Americanism
Canadian culture was, and still is, largely influenced by the United States. American culture spread to Canada through television, movies, and the radio. Dances like the charleston and jazz music also originated from America. This displeased the Catholic Church, which tried to spread its own traditionalist ideas through songs and through the media. -
Aboriginalism
The Aboriginal people began demanding their rights as a nation and the recognition of aboriginal identity. Native people fight to maintain their original culture and identity
An example of this fight is the Oka Crisis, which occurred in 1990. A golf course wanted to expand on Native land. The Natives blocked roads and organized themselves for an armed conflict. The Canadian Army was called in to fight against the warriors. The conflict came to an end without violence, but the issues remained. -
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a new wave of liberalism that advocated for the government to be more hands off in various spheres of society. Neoliberalists opposed socialists who wanted to maintain the intervention of the State.
