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1500
First Nations People
No elected central governing body, however, Iroquois follow a matriarchy and Algonquians follow a patriarchy. The chiefs are decided by whoever is the best spokesperson for the Algonquians and whoever is the best warrior for the Iroquoians. There is no countervailling power for the first nations people, they are all trying to survive and be one with nature. -
Collaboration between state and catholic church
The church was automatically involved in political decisions because of its role in the sovereign council. Priests were in charge of the parishes. Nuns worked in the hospitals and some education. Essentially, the church had a monopoly on religious matters, expected to be a Catholic and practice was obligatory Church would encourage the population to listen to the governor and intendant, in exchange the church was allowed the tithe and had insurance that religious matter was respected. -
Power and relations between the French and Amerindians
French allied with Hurons & Montagnais (Innu), They were looking for control over the fur trade. “Petite guerre” -- guerilla warfare. The Great peace of montreal 1701:
40 aboriginal nations agreed to consider the king of France their father and allowed the governor general to resolve their disputes and help France in wars. -
The power of state (Royal government)
After 1663- Absolutism:
After the chartered companies period (1608-1663), The French Monarchy took back control of its American colonies. The king ,Louis XIV set to making his kingdom absolutist. From 1663 to 1760, Canada lives under the royal administration -
Royal Government roles and functions
The King and minister of marine remained in France and in charge. On the other hand, the governor was had the highest rank in colony, was the commander of army, in charge of defense and deals with the external affairs (english and natives). Also in the colony, the Intendant was the most influential person, the chief administrator, deals with people, controls budget, collects taxes, built roads and set up industries. -
Royal Government roles and functions part 2
The sovereign Council was the colony’s highest court. It included the governor, bishop, intendant, several councilors. The bishop administered over Parish Priests, hospitals, schools, charities. The captain of Militia, like chief of police, dealt with issues on the seigneuries but had no seat on the council, actual soldiers are paid to fight, militia can be anybody (citizens) -
Treaty of Utrecht
In 1713 the treaty of Utrecht marks the end of the war of Spanish succession. As a result of the countries fighting in Europe, there is a war between colonies. GB gets control of the Hudson’s Bay area, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland from France. -
7 years war
The seven years war broke out in Europe (starts in Europe): GB vs. F (as well as in the colonies). They were fighting over territory and resources control of mainland Europe. France focuses its efforts in Europe so NF has to defend itself. Wolfe (british general) and Montcalm (french general) fight and the english win. Big battle for NF happened in the Place of Abraham. The British found a passage that would allow them to get their troops on mainland → French caught off guard and lose. -
Articles of capitulation
French Militia could return home, no one would lose their property.
The French military would lay down their arms and leave. People could still practice their Roman Catholic religion but Bishop would have to leave. People who stayed would become British subjects.
French elite left because they could afford to do so and still had chance to live the elite life in France (wanted nothing to do with the British). Between 1760-1763: NF now under British Military control -
Treaty of Paris and Royal Proclamation
7 years war ends
1763: Treaty of Paris= NF ceded to King of England except St. Pierre and Miquelon
Renames the colony The Province of QC → given to French to live, but they are still british subjects
Most of land become aboriginal land
Decreases the borders to around the St. L. Valley
Civilian Gov: King appointed a governor who appointed members to exec council
English civil and criminal Laws were applied
No new bishop would be allowed
No Roman Catholics could hold office (Test Act) -
Quebec Act
American Revolution is happening → Fear that french will join the 13 colonies rebellion:
- Guaranteed french Canadians loyalty
- Enlarged the area of Quebec to include the great lakes once again
- Still denied an elected assembly (why: 1% of pop in QC is english)
- Did allow for an appointed council
- French civil laws were reinstated
- Test oath act was replaced by an oath of allegiance. (Loyal to King=Hold office)
- Allow bishop -
Situation in North America
British:
Merchants were unhappy and wanted elected assembly
13 colonies:
Americans needed British Protection from the French, Upset didn't get control of the Ohio Valley after helping the British fight, Americans traded with French, King wanted to control trade and increase taxes
Canadiens:
Fear of changes in proclamation, eased slightly with Quebec act but still not satisfied
Governors James Murray,Guy Carleton bent rules to please French because they had majority needed their loyalty -
America comes to fruition
After the American war of Independence, many remain loyal to the king of Britain, do not want to remain in America.
Only British colony left is Canada
36 000 loyalists came to Canada
6000 come to QC
West of MTL or eastern Townships
Effects of Loyalists:
English population 1%-10%
Settled land using townships instead of seigneuries
They were used to:
English civil laws (French civil laws used in QC)
Elected assemblies (none in QC at the time)
Petitioned London demanded changes to QC -
Constitutional Act
QC splits up: Ottawa RIver was used as the boundary between the 2 canadas.Upper Can has 20 000 people, is entirely english and protestant, and used the township system along with english civil laws. Lower Can has roughly 160 000 people. They are mostly french people who lept their catholic religion, civil laws and now francophones could work in the administration of Lower Canada. -
Representative government
Governor general- held veto power
Lieutenant governor- acted as deputy governor
Executive council- appointed by governor to advise him
Legislative council- appointed, approve or reject laws from the assembly
Legislative assembly- elected by people every 4 years. Had the power to approve or disapprove taxes. They also had the right to create laws.
Ordinary people- right to vote for 1st time, men over 21 and own land -
The rebellions of 1837-1838 and the aftermath
Two armed uprisings that took place in Lower and Upper Canada in 1837 and 1838. Motivated by frustrations with political reform.
WLM led the rebellions in Upper Canada dealt with quickly
LJP lead in Lower Canada
Battles: St.Charles,St. Denis(french won), St-Eustache.
The British army overpowered the militia Patriote rebels because they were poorly organized and not well equipped
Aftermath: 99 captured militants were condemned to death
Only 12 went to the gallows -
Act of Union
Creates the prov. of Canada consisting of Canada East and West (former upper and lower Canada)
Canada east and west each had 42 members to its assembly
***Governor still had control and veto power
Canada east and west would equally pay for Canada’s debts (Canada West owed 10x) -
Responsible government
The people would now elect the LA (parliament)
The Prime minister (head of the party with most votes) would form the Cabinet (Executive Council) who would propose laws that had to be approved through assembly
The Governor and legislative council were still appointed but did not intervene even though pressured to do so (rich eng. merchants)
Governor at the time= Lord Elgin (1848) → first to not use his power of veto and let the PM have executive power. -
The three conferences
Charlottetown Conference:
1864: Province of Canada meets with NB, NS, PEI to discuss the terms of a merger. Agree to meet again.
QC Conference:
1864: same members of last time + NFLD agree on 72 resolutions that would make merger possible but Nfld, PEI withdrew, Dorion’s Parti Rouge opposed federation, the assembly of Can passed confederation.
London Conference: British North America Act
1867: new self governing entity created under the BNA Act -
WWI and Conscription
1914: War measure act passed (centralized federal gov. power)
QC & ON upset → taxes were imposed by Feds to finance the war (still today)
1917: Conscription crisis → French Nationalist criticized Canada’s involvement in UK wars and voted against conscription
40 000 french canadians refused to show up -
Language within Quebec
Allophones who adopted English when coming to Qc fed the separatist and nationalist movements. In response govs:
1961- Lesage (Liberal) created the Office de la langue Francaise was created to promote the French Language
1974- Bourassa-Liberaladopts the Official Language Act, Bill 22, making French the official language of Quebec
1977- Levesque (PQ) Charter of French Language, Bill 101, immigrant children must go to French school, forced companies to adopt french and put french on signs -
Nationalism within QC after 1960
More people proposed political sovereignty as the only solution to the problems facing Quebec 1963- Rasemblement pour Independance National
1967- Mouvement Souvranite Assosiation
Charles Gaulle speaks
1968- RIN + MSA= PQ
1976- Parti Quebecois comes to power
1963- Front de Liberation de Quebec -
FLQ and the October Crisis
Radicals (extremist) that think the only way to achieve QCs independence was through violence
FLQ kidnapped James Cross (British Diplomat) and Pierre Laporte (Journalist)
PM Trudeau used War Measure Act to call out the army + arrest hundreds of FLQ members
Laporte body is found in trunk of his car, Cross released
Consequences: leads to the rise of the PQ -
Referendum on independence Quebec (Round 1):
Federalists-- Quebec stays
Separatist-- Quebec leaves
Why? Cultural differences and oppressive struggle since the conquest had many Quebecois seeing themselves as completely independent from Canada and not Canadians
1980--Referendum on sovereignty (Rene Levesque’s PQ)
Quebec would still keep the economic benefits of being apart of Canada but be a politically independent nation
No side won with about 60% of the vote -
Quebec and the Canadian constitution
After referendum of 1980, Trudeau attempts to unify the country by patriating (BNA Act was transferred from Britain to the Federal and Provincial legislatures) the constitution-- meaning complete independence from Great Britain.
All Provinces agreed, except Quebec, but the Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms were implemented in 1982.
Still to this day, Quebec has not signed the constitution. -
Referendum on an independent Quebec (Round 2):
Constitutional agreement failed because English Canada refused to give QC special status
Quebec’s mixed feelings towards independence weakened their negotiations
Other groups saw QC making demands and wanted their interests heard as well
1994-- PQ return to power under Jacques Parizeau
1995-- Referendum on sovereignty
This time the vote was for a completely independent Quebec
No side won with 50% of the vote
