-
Riel Trial
Louis Riel fought for Metis rights in Western Canada. He wanted the government to protect the Metis culture, guarantee French Language rights in schools and the metis land. He began the Red River Rebellion which was successful but did not win. He then fled to the US but came back for the Northwest Rebellion which resulted in the loss of a lot of Native land. The significance is the first major dispute between English and French Canada, regionalism and Riel was arrested, labeled insane and hung. -
Boer War
Great Britain began a war with the Boers because both groups found diamonds and claimed them theirs. Canada was expected to send men to South Africa to fight for Britain because they colonized Canada. This created tensions between the English who wanted to fight for Britain and the French who wanted to be free. Sir Wilfard Laurier said it was optional to fight to please both parties. This was the second major rift between the French and English that lead to the many years of hate and fighting. -
The Conscription Crisis
During WWI there were not many Canadian Soldiers so the British began pressuring the Canadian Government to send more men. Canada began forcing men to fight but many were exempt with reason. The Khaki elections came up and many were mad at PM Borden for the Conscrption Crisis. PM Borden wanted to win so he allowed women related to servicemen to vote. The significance is the problems it cause between the English Wikipedia wanted to fight for Britain and the French who wanted to be free. -
La Grande Noirceur, the Duplessis era
After the Great Depression, many were Nationalists and wanted to see change in Quebec. They were thrilled when Maurice Duplessis became the leader and promised to make Quebec powerful. He believed that the federal government were the source of its problems. He promised to make change but did more harm than good because he left the Quebecers in the dark, took bribes and advantage of them. The significance is what came after this era, the Quiet Revolution, which brought hope and change. -
Richard Riots
Maurice Richard was the star hockey player of the Montreal Canadians. He was suspended for the rest of the season, including playoffs for hitting linesman. The French got upset and rioted because the English NHL president attended the game after suspending Richard. The French believed it was discrimination because Richard was French. The significance is that the riots triggered a ferver of French Nationalism in Quebec, they were upset and the riots went far beyond the arena. -
The Quiet Revolution
After Duplessis died, Jean Lesage became the leader and decided it is "time for change". He began the Quiet Revolution where negotiations were secret with the Government. The results were creating Hydro Canada, Modernizing education, improving the status of women and taking over in the health industry and social services for the Catholic Church. The Governemnt took over what the Curch owned. The significance was good change for Quebec, but it also lead Quebec Nationalists to want separation. -
Front de Libération du Québec
The FLQ was a terrorist group that formed to free Quebec. They got the Government's attention by sending out threats and bombing Government properties such as mailboxes. They and their movement became more popular when the French President Gaulle said "long live the free Quebec". He also compared its situation to when France was liberated from the nazis. The significance is the outrage and fear the FLQ instilled in the Quebecers and that Canada and France were on bad terms until Gaulle died. -
The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism
The Bi and Bi Commission was established by PM Lester B Pearson. He wanted to end the separatist movement in Quebec. The results were making and promoting Canada as an English-French speaking country and the protection of language minority rights. People were allowed to attend schools in the language of their choice. The significance was clear changes in the French education across Canada and the creation of the Official Languages Act. -
Official Languages Act
The Official Languages Act was established by PM Pierre Trudeau. It officially made Canada Bilingual and its two languages being English and French. All Federal government agencies obliged to provide services in both English and FRench which meant that all Government employees must speak both languages. This also lead to the recruitment of more Francophones to higher Government jobs. The significance is that the French were finally recognized and treated fairly. -
October Crisis
The October Crisis began when the FLQ kidnapped two English Government working men in Montreal. They killed one, Pierre Laporte and freed James Cross after 59 days in return for freedom and transportation to Cuba.The Quebec Government tried to negotiate and allowed them to speak on the radio. However the help of the Federal Government was needed to control the FLQ. The significance was the question whether Quebec should separate and the use of the Wartime Measures Act during a time of peace. -
Bill 22
Bill 22 was a proposal for a law that would protect the French Language and culture. Many immigrants were coming to Quebec and wanted to study English over French. The French wanted French to be Quebec's official public language All kids who wanted to study in English schools had to pass a test, otherwise they had to study in French Schools. The significance is the major changes to Quebec and the realization that Quebec was becoming powerful. -
Le Parti Quebecois and Bil 101
Le Parti Quebecois were the first Quebec elected Government whose main aim was to separate from Canada. In doing so, they introduced Bill 101 which was more severe than Bill 22. It stated that French was to be used in Government, commercial signs and in the workplace. They wanted French to be Quebec's main and only language. The English were outraged and 50,000 people left Quebec and went to live in Toronto or Calgary. -
Referendum
Premier Rene Levesque called a referendum for Quebec Independence. Less than 20% of the Quebecers wanted independence but 84% wanted to see change. Levesque offered the Sovereignty Association where quebec would be politically independent but still share the same currency and free trade with Canada. They wanted to be free but also wanted Canada to fund them. The Significance is the increase of Quebecers that wanted to seperate, it became clear that change must be done or Quebec would separate. -
The Night of the Long Knives
PM Pierre Trudeau was against separation and wanted to please both the English and French by making Canada's Constitution Canada's. The 8 Premiers did not agree but later came to the agreement of the Constitutional reform in the Chateau Laurier. All the provinces signed it except for Quebec because Levesque slept in Quebec that night. Queen Elizabeth came to Ottawa and signed the Constitution. Today, Quebec is not apart of the constitution because levesque refused to sign it after that night. -
Referendum #2
Quebec still wanted to separate and did not give up after the first referendum was not in their favour. The Second referendum was not in their favour either because the vote for no separation was 50.8%, the winning vote. Jacques Parizeau the Parti Quebecois leader and the Premier of Quebec was not happy and said it was the immigrants fault because they voted no. This day would have changed everything forever. Every Canadian was glued to the television screen that night, anticipating the result. -
Clarity Act
After Quebec was so close to separation twice, Canada decided to make new rules. Quebec can only separate if the Federal Government, nine other provinces, Aboriginal people living in Quebec and other minorities all agreed. This makes it very hard for Quebec to separate because if one group does not agree, they would not be free. This is the only way for Quebec to gain independence. The significance is the realization that Quebec may never separate because there are many barriers preventing it.
