Power

First Occupants

Dec 20, 1500

No elected central governing body. However, the Iroquois follow matriarchy and the Algonquians follow patriarchy.

Official Power and Countervailing Powers

Period: Dec 20, 1500 to Dec 21, 2016

Power relations between the French and Amerindians (French Regime)

Dec 20, 1608

The French allied with the Huron and Montagnais. They looked for control over the fur trade.
“Petite Guerre” (Guerilla Warfare: Type of way to attack people by surprise)
Great Peace of Montreal (1701):
Signed between French colonial authorities 40 aboriginal nations to have peace between one another. 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 the state 1663

Dec 20, 1663

After chartered companies period (1608-1663), the French monarchy took back control of its American colonies. The young King Louis XIV set to making his kingdom absolutist. From 1663 to 1760, Canada lived under the Royal Administration. King and minister of Marine remained in France and put the following people in charge of the colony: Governor, intendant, sovereign council, bishop, and captain of the militia.

Collaboration between state and Catholic Church

Dec 20, 1664

Church was automatically involved in political decisions because of its role in the sovereign council. The Priests acted as missionaries and were in charge of the parishes. Nuns worked in the hospitals and some education. The church had a monopoly on religious matters, expected to be Catholic and practice was obligatory. Church would encourage the population to listen to the governor and intendant, as a result, the church was allowed the Tithe and was insured religion would be respected.

Articles of capitulation 1760

Dec 20, 1760

The 7 years war in Europe broke out in the colonies. France focuses its efforts in Europe so New France is left to defend itself. The French Militia were able to return home without the loss of property. The French military must surrender and leave. The people could still practice Roman Catholic religion but the Bishop would have to leave. People who stayed became British subjects. The French Elite left because they could afford to do so and had a chance to still live as elite in France.

Royal Proclamation 1763

Dec 20, 1763

After Quebec capitulates, the colony comes under British military rule until the end of the Seven Year War
Royal Proclamation was made to control the French population.
It renames the colony The Province of Quebec.
Decreases the borders to around the St. Lawrence Valley.
Civilian government: King appoints a Governor who appoints members to the Executive Council.
English Criminal and Civil laws were applied.
No new Bishop.
Roman Catholics couldn't hold office.
Goal was to assimilate the French.

Quebec Act 1774

Dec 20, 1774

American Revolution is happening during this time. Fear that the French will join the rebellion; Test Oath Act replaced with an Oath of Allegiance (Loyal to King=Hold Office).
French civil laws were reinstated​.
Did allow for an appointed council.
Still denied an elected assembly.
Enlarged the area of Quebec to include the Great Lakes once again.
Guaranteed French Canadian Loyalty.

American Revolution

Dec 21, 1783

After the American war of independence, many people remain loyal to the King of Britain and do not want to remain in America.
The only British Colony left in Canada. 36 000 loyalists that came to Canada. Settled in the Maritimes and Great Lakes. 6 000 loyalists come to Quebec. Settled in West of Montreal or in the Eastern Townships.

Effects of the loyalists

Dec 21, 1784

Effects of the Loyalists:
English population of Quebec goes from 1% to 10%.
Settled the land using townships instead of seigneuries.

The loyalists were used to English civil laws (not french civil laws used in Quebec). Elected assemblies (none in Quebec at the time)
Petitioned London to demand changes to the way Quebec was being run.

Change in Government

Dec 21, 1791

The constitutional act brings a change to the government.
Representative government
Governor General: Held veto power
Lieutenant Governor: Acted as deputy governor
Executive council: Appointed by the governor to advise him
Legislative council: Appointed, approve or reject laws from the assembly.
Legislative assembly: people elected every 4 years. Had the power to approve/disapprove taxes. Right to create laws.
Ordinary people: Right to vote for the first time. Only land-owning men over 21.

Constitutional Act 1791

Dec 21, 1791

Quebec is split into two. The Ottawa River was used as the boundary between the two Canadas. Upper Canada was roughly 20 000 people. They were entirely English, Protestant, and used the townships system and English civil laws. Lower Canada were roughly 160 000 people. Mostly french people (the 10% loyalists and merchants). Kept their catholic religion, civil laws and now francophones could work in the administration of Lower Canada.

Faults in the Representative Government

Dec 22, 1791

Legislative Assembly had the power to make laws but was often shut down by the Governor and council’s right to veto
Governor's interests: The wealthy wanted to invest into big business and tax property so they could build canals and railways.
Legislative Assembly's interests: Wanted to tax goods, not property. Didn’t want to invest into large projects that wouldn't benefit them.
Worse in Lower Canada because the Legislative Assembly was French and there were constant battles over language.

Concerns in Lower Canada

Dec 21, 1832

British merchants wanted to increase taxes for canals, harbors, and roads for merchant use. There were few roads built to help farmers.
An increase in immigration from Great Britain began to threaten French culture and language.
In 1832 immigrant ship brought disease cholera, killed 5500
Legislative assembly (French speaking) hard to make laws
1836 crops failed and Canadians faced starvation
1837 economic depression and the English merchants blamed

Concerns in Upper Canada

Dec 22, 1832

Responsible government was a major concern.
Continued immigration to increase the English presence in Canada
New immigrants from Great Britain bringing values of parliamentary democracy
Reduction in the role of the Church of England in taxes and affairs
Reducing the power of values of traditionalism and conservatism
Stronger voice for Elected assembly
Reduce voice for the Family Compact
No veto powers

92 Resolutions

Dec 21, 1834

Louis-Joseph Papineau (a lawyer and a seigneur) the leader of the Parti Patriote, wrote a letter containing the demands of the assembly in 1834. The main demand was for the Responsible Government was that members of the council should be chosen from the elected assembly, therefore the government would​ be made up by the people would be responsible for its decisions.
Papineau’s document was sent to London to be reviewed.

10 Russell Resolution

Dec 21, 1834

They reject the request for an elected council.
Instead of gaining power, the elected assembly actually lost some power. The governor, Lord Gosford, now had the power to take money from the provincial treasury to pay the officials in the colony.
This really upsets the Patriotes and thus begins the demonstrations that eventually lead to the rebellion.

The Rebellions of 1837-38

Dec 21, 1837

The population of loyalists continued to increase from American and Irish immigration.
Change in population
Lower Canada from 1791 to 1861: 150 000 to 1 152 000
Upper Canada from 1791 to 1861: 10 000 to 1 396 000
William Lyon Mackenzie led the rebellions in Upper Canada. Papineau led the rebellion in Lower Canada.
Several battles including:
St. Charles, St. Denis, St. Eustache
The British army overpowered the militia Patriot rebels.
They were poorly organized and not well equipped to fight.

The Church

Dec 21, 1838

After 1837, bishops became more powerful, the cures became the most important person in the parish. Church was still in charge of registering births, marriages, deaths. Controlling education (Laval University 1852). Orphanages, Shelters, Charities, Religious festivals Roman Catholic Church attendance was very high
Protestants were divided. Ministers still influential but not as powerful as R.C. McGill (1821) and Bishops(1843).
As we move into the 1900s: Church becomes more involved in politics.

Power of state in Confederation since 1867

Dec 21, 1867

Federal Government:
Defense
Banking and currency
Trade
Postal service
Criminal Law
Federal government could disallow any law it felt was not in Canada’s interest. Today done through the court system.
Federal taxes
Only intervened in the provinces in crisis situations Provincial Government:
Education
Municipal institutions
Hospitals and health care
Property and civil rights
Infrastructure
Natural resources
Immigration and Agriculture are shared.

The Great Depression and Duplessis (1930)

Dec 21, 1930

High volume of unemployment, meaning governments are looking to get into power. Direct payments and the welfare state arise to appease the citizens and get them to vote for that party
Unemployment insurance

Family allowances
Conscription crisis #2
Equalization payments introduced in 1957

The Great Depression and Duplessis (1930) part 2

Dec 21, 1930

The Union Nationale are in power in 1936 to 1939 when Godbout takes power for one term the following changes are made:
Voting rights for women, compulsory education until age 14, nationalization of electricity in Montreal.
But quickly the Union Nationale are voted back into power in 1944 for the next 15years until Duplessis’ death.

Groups that challenged Duplessis

Dec 21, 1937

1937: Padlock Law.
Duplessis Government made it illegal to strike and promote communist ideas
Intellectuals and Journalists
Intellectuals such as Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Rene Levesque opposed the Duplessis government and attacked the conservative nature of Quebec society in newspapers, magazine articles and television programs.

Groups that challenged Duplessis

Dec 21, 1949

Union Leaders accused Duplessis of opposing social progress and of serving American interests rather than the interests of Quebec workers. Numerous strikes were held during this time period including the Asbestos strike of 1949 in which even the Bishop and other church of officials supported the strikers.

Jean Lesage

Dec 21, 1960

Jean Lesage was a lawyer and a federal politician for 4 terms in the Federal Parliament with the Liberals and ran later for head of Quebec Liberal Party when the Conservatives ousted Mackenzie King’s federal Liberals in 1958.
1960: Campaigned with “C’est le temps que ca change”
1962: Election slogan used was “Maitres chez nous”
1962: Nationalize Hydro-Quebec

The Quiet Revolution

Dec 21, 1966

The Liberals under Jean Lesage take power from 1960 to 1966
Driven by cultural and political assertion of Quebecers and the desire for a government with a more interventionist role

Language within Quebec

Dec 21, 1967

Allophones who adopted English as their language when coming to Quebec fed the separatist and nationalist movements. In response governments:
1961, Office de la langue Francaise was created to promote the French Language.
1974, Official Language Act, Bill 22, making French the official language of Quebec
1977, the Charter of the French Language, Bill 101, making it compulsory for immigrant children to go to French school, large companies adopt french and imposed french on public signs.

Nationalism in Quebec from 1960 onwards

Dec 21, 1976

More and more people proposed political sovereignty as the only solution to the problems facing Quebec
1963 - RIN
1967 - MSA
Charles de Gaulle speaks
1968 - RIN + MSA = PQ
1976 - PQ comes to power
Uses voting/elections for Quebec’s separation
1963 - FLQ
FLQ an extremist group who would use violence in order to achieve Quebec’s separation from Canada

Nationalism in Quebec from 1960 onwards

Dec 21, 1976

More and more people proposed political sovereignty as the only solution to the problems facing Quebec
1963 - RIN
1967 - MSA
Charles de Gaulle speaks
1968 - RIN + MSA = PQ
1976 - PQ comes to power
Uses voting/elections for Quebec’s separation
1963 - FLQ
FLQ an extremist group who would use violence in order to achieve Quebec’s separation from Canada

Quebec and the Canadian constitution

Dec 21, 1980

In response to the referendum of 1980, Trudeau attempts to unify the country by participating (BNA Act was transferred from Britain to the Federal and Provincial legislatures) the constitution - meaningful independence from Great Britain.
All Provinces agreed, except Quebec, but the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedom were implemented in 1982.

Referendum on an independent Quebec

Dec 21, 1980

Vote on a serious question: “Should Quebec stay or leave Canada?”
Federalist: Quebec stays
Separatists: Quebec leaves
Cultural differences and oppressive struggle since conquest had many Quebecois seeing themselves independent from Canada and not Canadians.
1980: Referendum on sovereignty-association (Rene Levesque’s PQ). Quebec would keep the economic benefits of being a part of Canada but be a politically independent nation. No side won with about 60% of the vote

Quebec and the Canadian constitution part 2

Dec 21, 1984

In 1984, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney tried to organize a deal to amend the constitution that would satisfy Quebec and the other provinces. Meech Lake Accord 1987: written with various reforms but Manitoba and Newfoundland refused to ratify it. Charlottetown Agreement 1992: written with reforms and included recognizing aboriginal and Quebec rights. Premiers agreed but then a Canadian Referendum on the agreement has voted against by the people.

Referendum on an independent Quebec

Dec 21, 1995

The 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 power under Jacques Parizeau
1995: Referendum on sovereignty
This time the vote was for a completely independent Quebec.
No side won with 50.6% of the vote.
The excuse was because of immigrants and money.