Official Power and Countervailing Powers

Official Power and Countervailing Powers

Period: Nov 28, 1500 to Nov 28, 2014

First Occupants

Dec 11, 1500

The natives didn't have any government or anything like that, however they did have a certain structure. -Matriarchy; leadership and decision making the responsibility of women.
-Patriarchy; Father played vital leadership role.

Alliances

Dec 11, 1608

-French + Hurons.
-English + Iroquois.
-The English win in the battle for control of the fur trade territory, most of the Hurons were killed, therefor the French had to go deep into the forests and collect furs themselves. (Coureurs de bois).

Life In New France

Dec 11, 1608

Settles had good lives, but since it was a new country, there was a lot of work to be done and people were constanty busy. Due to the lack of help from others, the settlers of New France became very self-dependant and they took care of themselves. Also, life was very different in New France than in France because of the distance from the king, he had less control. There was a much smaller divide between the rich and the poor in New France. The aboriginals also influenced their style of life.

Church

Dec 11, 1608

-The clergy was everywhere:
-Priests in charge of parishes (cure)
-Priests working as missionaries
-Nuns working in hospitals

Royal Government

Dec 11, 1663

King Louis 14th wanted France to be the most powerful country in the world. He realized that developping New France would contribute to their growth and gain of power. He implemented the first ever government in New France to abolish and get rid of the company of 100 associates as they weren't populating and developping the country.
-King
-Minister of Marine
-Sovereign Council (Governor + Intendant)
-Bishop (No official power, but very influential)
-Captain of the Militia
-People

Royal Government Roles Europe

Dec 11, 1663

-King: Goes to the minister of the marine if he wants to administer his colony. Can control and reverse any decisions made by the other administrators.
-Minster of Marine: Informs the king on what is happening in New France.

Royal Government Roles New France

Dec 18, 1663

-Governor: In charge of the army, defense and external affairs. He has veto power.
-Intendant: In charge of the money and finances. He controlled the budget, collected taxes, built roads, and many more.
-Bishop: Appointed by the pope and administered over hospitals, schools, charities, parish priests and in general although he had no official power, he was very influential.
-Captain of Militia: Dealt with issues on the seigneuries, like the police. (Not on the council, but still had power)

Peace Treaty

Dec 11, 1701

Peace Treaty (Great Peace of Montreal) Natives agree to stop the battles.

Articles of Capitulation

Dec 11, 1760

Rules the population had to abide by after the British conquered New France, this is the transition period. (Military Regime under James Murray as they waited for the war in Europe to end.)
1. The French Militia could go back home and wouldn't lose their property.
2. The French pro soldiers and military would lay down their arms and leave.
3. The people could practice the R.C. religion, but the Bishop would have to leave.
4. Everyone can leave, but if they stay they are British subjects.

Treaty of Paris

Dec 11, 1763

This treaty ends the seven year war in Europe. This marks the changes and concessions of territory.

Royal Proclamation

Dec 11, 1763

Assimilation of the French, now that the English are in charge.
1. New name "The Province of Quebec"
2. Decreases the territory.
3. Civilian government
4. English criminal and civil laws.
5. Unused land would be divided by the Township system.
6. No new bishops allowed.
7. No roman catholics could hold public office (Test Act)

James Murray and Guy Carleton

Dec 11, 1763

James Murray found the Royal Proclamation was impossible since only 1% was Eng/Protestant, so he bent the rules.
-He allowed a new Bishop, French civil laws in the lower courts.
-He did not call an elected assembly because it would favor the Eng. Merchants (different opinions)
Part of the population (Eng. Merchants) got rid of James Murray, he was replaced by Guy Carleton who shared the same policies as Murray.

Quebec Act

Dec 11, 1774

To keep the French loyal to the British.
1. Increase in territory (makes the Americans mad)
2. Guarantees French Canadian loyalty.
3. Denied an elected assembly.
4. Appointed council.
5. French civil laws and seignorial system put back into place.
6. Test Act -> Test Oath of Allegiance that way French can hold office.

Loyalists

Dec 11, 1776

After the United States gained their independance, some of the Americans still wanted to be loyal and stay part of Britain.
-Quebec's Eng. population increases (1% to 10%)
-Settled according to the Township system.
-Gave their settlements English names.
The loyalists were used to English civil laws and having elected assemblies. The loyalists wrote petitions to London to change certain things, they finally got their wish through the Constitutional Act.

Constitutional Act

Dec 11, 1791

Assimilation of the French, however it doesn't take away from the Quebec Act. This way it's fair and in the middle for th French and English. No one is happy about it.
1. Splits the province into 2 pieces, Upper (English) and Lower Canada (French).
2. Lower Canada = French keep their religion, civil laws and people could work in administration. Upper Canada = Protestants, would use the township system, English civil laws.

Media

Dec 17, 1800

In the 19th century, political parties controlled newspapers (propaganda). In the early 20th century, certain newspapers were used to diffuse the political ideas. (eg, Le Devoir). Mass information was distributed through radio and television, this influenced public opinion. Politicians used media to promote their parties, political views and image.

Rebellions

Dec 17, 1837

(1837 - 1838) There was a lot of discontent about the government system, the Irish stealing the local's jobs and lastly, the 92 resolutions were completely rejected. This discontent caused rebellions in both Canadas. Lower Canada took arms and tried to fight the English, they won a small battle and lost all the others (St-Charles, St-Denis (French win), St-Eustache the rebellion was put down), this led to the exile and hanging of numerous patriots (70 deaths and exiles in total)

Church Influence

Dec 17, 1837

After 1837 bishops became more and more powerful and important.
-Church was still in charge of registering births, marriages, deaths, controlling education, orphanages, shelters, charities, religious festivals and much more.
-R.C. Church attendance was very high
-Protestants were divided.

Lord Durham's Recommendations

Dec 17, 1839

Lord Durham was sent to the Canada’s to give his opinion on what to do. -Britain should increase immigration in order to assimilate the French.
-The two Canada’s should be united (eng. now have majority)
-Responsible Government should be granted to eliminate veto power.
These ideas were first rejected by the British Parliament until the Act of Union.

Act of Union

Dec 17, 1840

1.Creates the Province of Canada consisting of Canada East and West.
2.Both Canada's each had 42 members to it's assembly.
3.Governor still had control and veto power.
4.Both Canada's would equally pay for Canada's debts even though West owed 10 times more.

Quebec Conference

Dec 17, 1864

The same people from the Charlottetown conference agreed on 72 resolutions that would make the merger possible:
-Federal system
-24 seats to each colony
-Assembly elected by “rep by pop”
-Railway between colonies There were a few groups that were opposed to the idea, but for the most part, most provinces decided to unite together as a country.

Charlottetown Conference

Dec 19, 1864

Leaders all across the Canadas and provincens met and agreed on possibly merging and forming one country together. They think it’s a good idea to unite as one country, no details.

London Conference and British North America Act

Dec 17, 1867

The efforts of the previous two conferences (Charlottetown and Quebec) were officialized in this conference, the creation of the new “self-governing” colony, under the name of “The Dominion of Canada” through the British North America Act on July 1st 1867. At the start it contained only 4 Provinces (ONT, QC, NB, NS) The other Provinces would join between 1870 and 1949.

Federal and Provincial Responsibilities

Dec 17, 1867

-Federal: Defense, Banking and money institutions, Postal service and criminal law.
-Provincial: Education, Municipal, Hospitals, Property and civil rights. -Shared: Immigration and Agriculture. -The federal government could disallow any provincial law if it felt it was not in Canada’s interest.

Unions

Dec 17, 1872

Unions were created to work towards better working conditions. They accuse Duplessis of opposing social progress and of serving American interests rather than the interests of Quebec workers. This caused numerous strikes in Quebec. During the Asbestos strike of 1949 even church officials such as Bishop Charbonneau supported the strikers.

Feminism

Dec 17, 1893

Women started to gain more and more rights as people realized they were just as capable as men.
-1893: Foundation of the National Council of Women
-1961: Electing the first woman to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (Marie-Claire Kirland-Casgrain).
-1964: Ended the legal incapacity of married women.
-1965: Foundation of the Federation des femmes du Quebec -1996: Law on pay equity

Maurice Duplessis

Dec 17, 1936

Previous premier of Quebec, he was in charge of a traditional/conservatist period (state should not intervene), he wanted the church to be more involved. To some, he was a great premier and to others he set Quebec back in time.
-Adopted the fleurdelisé as Quebec's flag (1948)
-Provincial income tax plan (1954)
-Duplessis' government refused to accept federal subsidies for education (1951)
-Opposed federal allowance payments to Quebec families on the same grounds.

Intellectuals and Journalists

Dec 17, 1949

Intellectuals such as Pierre Elliott Trudeau and René Lévesque were against the Duplessis government and went against him through newspapers, magazine articles and television programs.

Quiet Revolution

Dec 17, 1960

Period of modernization when Jean Lesage's liberal party won the elections against Maurice Duplessis' Union Nationale. We see a huge increase in intervention by the government. We also see a modernization in Quebec's educational system and a weakening of the church's influences as the government steps up and fills it's role and intervenes more.

Government Flaws

Dec 17, 1960

-With businessmen in politics, it makes it easy for them to access to grants, laws and regulations in favour of companies and banks. It can also cause scandals and a denunciation of patronage.

Language, Nationalism and Separatism

Dec 17, 1967

Quebec wanted to separate from Canada to preserve their own unique identity, culture and language which they felt was being assimilated and slowly dissapearing. Actions and events revolving around these movements:
-Creation of numerous laws to protect the French language (Ex. Bill 22 and 101)
-October Crisis
-Office de la langue Française
-Referendums
-Not signing Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Environmentalist Groups

Dec 17, 1970

-1970: Pressure from environmental groups, pushing for laws and measures to protect the environment.
-1970: Creation of the Ministry of Environment Quebec.
-2002: Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Canada.
-Environmental movements in Quebec: Greenpeace, the Green Party, l’Action Boréale, etc.

Native Issues and Agreements

Dec 17, 1975

-Oka Crisis: A golf course wanted to expand their course onto land (Oka reserve) which the native Oka owned. The situation got out of hand and the natives had to have a 78 day stand-off vs the Canadian Forces.
-The Charlottetown Accord was created to deal with these issues. (Never went through)
-Native peoples submitted to the Indian Act since 1876. In the 1960s, they made claims in court and won.
-James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement 1975.
-The Peace of the Brave 2005.