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1500
Natives
For the Iroquois, their society was Matriarchy. This means that the women responsibility was for leadership and decision making. For the Algonkians, their society was Patriarchy. This means that the father played an important leadership role. -
Period: 1500 to
Official power and countervailing powers
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Fur Trade
The French, English and Natives all had big interests in the fur trade. The French formed an alliance with the Hurons. They fought against the Iroquois for the fur trade territory and lost. The English formed alliance with the Iroquois, fought against the French and Hurons and almost wiped out the Huron. Iroquois destroyed all the native alliances with the French, so they had to go deeper into the forest to get furs. Because of this, the coureurs de bois were formed. -
Life in New France
Settlers(habitants) had happy lives but lots of work ex: Caring for crops, making clothes, fixing tools, preparing for winter. New France and France were very different. There was a much smaller divide between the rich and the poor in New France The people became very self-dependant and largely influenced by Aboriginals since the King was so far away.
Nobility/Elite (Governor)
Middle Class/Bourgeoisie (Seignuers)
Peasants/Habitant (censitaries ) -
Royal Government
It was created when the king ended the monopoly and placed New France under the minister of the marine. The King and the Minister of Marine stay in France, the Sovereign Council ran New France. The council included a bishop, intendant, governor. The bishop was in charge of hospitals, schools, charities. The intendant was in charge of internal affairs (taxes). Governor was in charge of military and external affairs. Captain of Militia (Not on sovereign council) handled issues on seigneuries. -
Great Peace of Montreal
It declared peace between the French and the 40 First Nations of North America which agreed for them to stop fighting.The French, Hurons and Iroquois were able to trade and have peaceful relations for only 16 years until war started again. -
Articles of Capitulation
This document was created to announce the basic surrender of the French (Military Regime under James Murray as they waited for the war in Europe to end) and it stated:
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
This treaty officially ends the 7 year war taken place in Europe. All New France territory is given to the British. The French only get to keep two small islands (St. Pierre and Miquelon). -
Difficulties of the first governors
James Murray found the proclamation impossible to work with, since only 1% of the population was English so he changed some rules to please the French; He allowed a new Bishop, allowed French laws in the lower courts, he did not call an elected assembly.
The English did not appreciate Murray's work and demanded for a new governor. Guy Carleton was his replacement, but he kept the same laws as Murray because he wanted to have the French's loyalty as Americans started to demand for Independence. -
Royal Proclamation
This was designed to turn the French into English and this is what it does: New France is now called the Province of Quebec, decreases the borders until the St. Lawrence river valley, put in a civilian government to run the colony, English criminal and civil laws are applied, Unused land is divided by the township system, No new bishop is allowed and no Roman Catholics can have a public office. -
Act of Quebec
This was to keep the French loyal to the British.
-Guarantees French Canadian loyalty
-Enlarges the area of Quebec
-Denied an elected assembly
-Appointed council
-French civil laws were instated, tithe and seigniorial system are back
-Test Act Oath ---> Test Oath of Allegiance which means to swear to the king you’re loyal, and could hold office)
All these factors make the Americans very upset. -
Loyalists
Loyalists are loyal to their mother country, so after the 13 colonies got their independence, they moved to the only British colony left (Quebec). The English population of Quebec increased from 1% to 10%. They settled according to the Township system and gave their settlements English names. The Loyalists were used to English civil laws and having elected assemblies. They started writing petitions to London for change and after years of complaining, they finally got their problems solved. -
Representative Government
-King
-British Parliament
-In the Canadas, there was a governor who commanded forces, in charge of administration, called assemblies into session and had veto power
-Lieutenant Governor(deputy governor)
-Executive Council - advised Governor,
-Legislative Council - approve/reject laws form assembly
-Legislative Assembly, power to approve/disapprove taxes, had the right to create laws.
-Ordinary people, had a say of government for the first time (only land owning men over 21) -
The Constitutional Act
This Act would split Canada in two and was made to be fair for the French and English, but no one was really happy about it.
Lower Canada was almost entirely French (160 000ppl)
Upper Canada was English (20,000ppl)
The Ottawa River was the boundary between them.
Lower Canada: French keep their religion, civil laws, and people could work in the admin.
Upper Canada: Protestants, use the township system, English
Civil laws. -
92 Resolutions
Joseph Papineau(leader of the patriotes) wrote 92 resolutions(a list of the assemblies demands) that demanded for a responsible. So, everyone would be elected at every level, there would be no veto power and to be prime minister, you would have to win at every level. This was sent to British Government, where they would respond with 10 resolutions that did not solve any of their demands. This led to rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada in 1837 and 1838. -
The Rebellions
Lots of people were unhappy about the government system, as the 92 resolutions (a list of the assemblies demands) was completely rejected. This unhappiness caused rebellions in both Canadas. Upper Canada's rebellion was quickly put down. Lower Canada took arms and tried to fight the English, they won a small battle and lost all the others. The Patriots did not have enough support, so they failed. Lord Durham was sent to the Canadas hoping he would know what to do. -
Lord Durham's recommendations
Lord Durham was sent to the two Canada's to try and figure out what must be done. He recommended the following:
-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 they created the Act of Union in 1840. -
Act of Union
This constitution was created by the British Parliament under the influence of Durham's recommendations.
-Creates the Prov. of Canada consisting of Canada East and West(gets rid of 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). -
Charlottetown Conference
The leaders of Canada West and Canada East meet with the leaders of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI to discuss the merge of the provinces. In the end, these Maritime Provinces agreed to consider the merge. -
Quebec Conference
The Leaders of the two Canadas, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland have agreed on 72 resolutions that could make this merge possible:
-A federal system
-24 seats to each colony (total 72 seats)
-Assembly elected by “rep by pop”
-Build a railway between colonies
The Conferences went well, but there were some people that did not accept what the politicians were looking for. This led to PEI and Newfoundland backing out and Dorion’s Parti Rouge opposed the federation. -
The London Conference
The leaders of the 4 colonies meet to make arrangement to become an independent country. The capital city, Ottawa was created under the British North America Act. The Dominion of Canada came in 1867 with four provinces(ONT, QC, NB, NS). The other Prov’s would join between 1870 and 1949. There were Provincial and Federal responsibilities. Federal: Defense, banking and money, postal service and criminal law. Provincial: Education, municipal institutions, hospitals and property and civil rights. -
Feminism
Women gained more and more rights and equality as people realized they were just as capable as men.
-Foundation of the National Council of Women(1893)
-Electing the first woman to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec(1961)
-Ended the legal incapacity of married women(1964)
-Foundation of the Federation des femmes du Quebec -1996: Law on pay equity(1965) -
Maurice Duplessis
Duplessis was the premier of Quebec and did not want the state to intervene in social/economic sectors, he wanted the church to be more involved.
-Adopted the fleurdelisé as Quebec's flag
-Provincial income tax plan
-Duplessis' government refused to accept federal subsidies for education
-Opposed federal allowance payments to Quebec families on the same grounds. -
Quiet Revolution
This was a period of modernization when Jean Lesage's liberal party won the election. There was a huge increase in intervention by the government. As well as, 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. Examples of all the following: Hydro-Quebec became government owned Trans-Canada expanded, creation of Montreal Metro, parent Committee, free public school until 16, MEQ created. -
Separatism
Quebec wanted to separate from Canada because they believed their, culture and language was slowly disappearing. The following actions and events were done to try preserve their unique identity:
-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.
-The Meech Lake Accord(1987-1990)
-The Charlottetown Agreement(1992) -
October Crisis
The Front de Libération du Québec was a separatist group that did very violent things like bombs and kidnappings, and this is why they are considered a terrorist group. Pierre Trudeau arrested over 300 people related to the FLQ. In 1970, the FLQ kidnapped English diplomat James Cross and the Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte who was later killed. This group used violence to make their change, unlike the Parti Québecois. -
Environmentalist Groups
-Pressure from environmental groups, pushing for laws and measures to protect the environment(1970)
-Creation of the Ministry of Environment Quebec(1970)
-Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Canada(2002)
-Environmental movements in Quebec; Greenpeace, l’Action Boréale, the Green Party, etc.
