[1945-1980] The Modernization of Québec & The Quiet Revolution

By xsenia
  • Act to Promote Rural Electrification

    Act to Promote Rural Electrification
    Cause: Large portion of Duplessis voters live in rural areas causing Duplessi to adopt policies to modernize rural areas and farms
    Effect: 1945 Rural Electrification Act passed causing farms to produce more
    Impact: This act stimulated economic development in rural areas and famrs
  • Period: to

    Baby Boom

    Prime minister Louis St. Laurent and premier Maurice Duplessis
    Major changes: 1952 Immigration Act created that favours people from western Europe and America. Americanism becomes popular in Quebec. Start of a mass consumer society
    Significance: This causes the population growth to increase due to natural increase and low infant mortality rate
    (Class notes, A Changing and Evolving Society)
  • Period: to

    Immigration from Western & Eastern Europe and China

    Prime minister was Louis St. Laurent and premier was Maurice Duplessis for the majority of this period.
    Major changes: 1968 Quebec Ministry of Immigration was created because Quebec was becoming more multi-cultural. There was a lot of xenophobia directed towards the immigrants from the Quebecers. French language was pushed towards the immigrants in order to make it the new language of business. This gave Quebec greater autonomy as a province
    (Reflections, p. 219 and 231)
  • Period: to

    The Cold War

    Prime Minister Trudeau and premier Maurice Duplessi in power. 1944-1959 Duplessi wins 4 elections with his party the Union Nationale. Major exports from Canada to the USA during the cold war which strengthens Canada's economy. The cold war shaped Quebec by strengthening the relationship between the USA and Canada.
    (Reflections, p. 206)
  • Adoption of the Fleurdelisé (Québec’s Flag)

    Adoption of the Fleurdelisé (Québec’s Flag)
    Cause: Duplessi government is eager to affirm Quebec's identity
    Effect: Duplessi government introduces the flag of Quebec in 1948 which provides greater autonomy
    Impact: Quebec continues to further affirm it's provincial autonomy
    (Reflections, p. 211)
  • Asbestos Strike

    Asbestos Strike
    Cause: Growing workers concern of workplace health and safety
    Effect: 5000 miners in Thetford Mines and Asbestos go on strike in 1949
    Impact: Duplessi supports employers and declares strike illegal
    (Reflections, p. 216)
  • Contraception Becomes More Accessible

    Contraception Becomes More Accessible
    Cause: Feminist demands for accessibility to contraception
    Effect: Birth control pill approved in 1957 and decriminalization of contraception in 1969
    Impact: Birth rate decreases
    (Reflections, p. 205) (Class Slides, p. 42)
  • Election of Jean Lesage’s Liberal Government – ‘Now or Never! Masters in Our Own House!’

    Election of Jean Lesage’s Liberal Government – ‘Now or Never! Masters in Our Own House!’
    Cause: Duplessi passes away which causes Jean Lesage to be elected as premier in 1960
    Effect: Quebecers become more supported by the government due to Lesage introducing the welfare state
    Impact: Jean Lesage greatly impacts Quebec because he popularizes hydroelectricity as the main source of power
    (Class notes, The Emergence of a Welfare State)
  • Rise of Americanism (Influence from the USA in Media & Culture)

    Rise of Americanism (Influence from the USA in Media & Culture)
    The start of a consumer society and advertisements on television prompted the rise of Americanism. This causes Quebecers to be exposed to American culture in mass since it was displayed in the media. This impacted Canadian values and socially changed what people wanted.
  • Period: to

    The Quiet Revolution

    Prime Minister Trudeau and premier Jean Lesage
    Major changes:
    Political- The Parti Québécois (PQ) created in 1968
    Social- 1961 Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec
    Economic- 1966 Quebec Pension Plan
    Significance- It shaped Quebec by helping it create it's own identity and become less tied to the church with secularism being popularized
    (Personal Notes, Affirmation Measures)
  • Nationalization of Electricity (Hydro-Québec Expands)

    Nationalization of Electricity (Hydro-Québec Expands)
    Cause: Government buys out all electric companies and merges them into Hydro-Quebec
    Effect: Dams built to ensure electricity everywhere even to remote regions
    Impact: New jobs and reliable electricity accessible to everyone
    (Class slides, p. 31)
  • Establishment of CEGEPs and Université du Québec Network

    Establishment of CEGEPs and Université du Québec Network
    Cause: The Parent Reports recommendations
    Effect: First CEGEP opened in 1967 and Université du Québec in 1968
    Impact: More higher education options for students and improves the quality of training and performance in jobs
    (Reflections, p. 231)
  • Creation of the Ministry of Education (Parent Report Recommendations)

    Creation of the Ministry of Education (Parent Report Recommendations)
    Cause: The Parent Commission pushes for education to be better
    Effect: Access to all levels of education is increased
    Impact: Quebec's education system is modernizing by becoming more accessible and democratic
    (Reflections, p. 226)
  • Bill 16 – Married Women Gain Legal Independence (Led by Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain)

    Bill 16 – Married Women Gain Legal Independence (Led by Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain)
    Cause: Feminists push for women to be allowed to carry out legal transactions without their husbands permission
    Effect: Women gained the same legal and property rights as men
    Impact: A step towards equality between men and women
    (Reflections, p.250)
  • Birth Rate Drops in Québec

    Birth Rate Drops in Québec
    Cause: Women are more present in labour market and the use of birth control becomes more popular
    Effect: Women did not have time to look over large families anymore and could choose if they wanted children or not
    Impact: With not as much importance placed on large families, the birth rate started to decline
    (Reflections, p. 240)
  • Expo 67 – Showcasing Québec’s Identity to the World

    Expo 67 – Showcasing Québec’s Identity to the World
    Cause: The Quiet Revolution causes Quebecers to become more open to the world
    Effect: The World's Fair Expo 67 takes place from April to October 1967 in Montreal
    Impact: Offers Quebecers to discover the culture and identity of the countries represented there
    (Reflections, p. 234)
  • Passage of Bill 63 – Language Rights Debate

    Passage of Bill 63 – Language Rights Debate
    Cause: Arrival of immigrants who pick up English instead of French
    Effect: Bill 63 introduces French as a second-language course in Anglophone schools and sought the integration of immigrants into Francophone schools
    Impact: Francophones found the bill lacking and were unhappy, the bill was later repealed and replace by Bill 22
    (Reflections, p. 232)
  • Introduction of Québec’s Medicare System (Health Insurance Act)

    Introduction of Québec’s Medicare System (Health Insurance Act)
    Cause: Recommended by the Commission of Inquiry on Health and Social Welfare
    Effect: Bourassa government adopted the Health Insurance Act which expanded free health care services
    Impact: Through medicare, all Quebecers could now access free medical services.
    (Reflections, p. 254)
  • October Crisis – FLQ Kidnappings & War Measures Act

    October Crisis – FLQ Kidnappings & War Measures Act
    Cause: Radicalized nationalists from the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ)
    Effect: FLQ kidnaps James Cross and Pierre Laporte in October 1970. Trudeau creates War Measures Act which allows government to take exceptional measures to bring the situation under control.
    Impact: Pierre Laporte found dead and his abductors are arrested and sent to Cuba. FLQ falls into obscurity over the years
    (Reflections, p. 258)
  • First Oil Crisis Begins

    First Oil Crisis Begins
    Cause: Arab-Israeli war breaks out
    Effect: To weaken non-Arab countries who support Israel, OPEC raises oil prices
    Impact: Western economic growth stagnates due to oil shortage. Quebec enters period of economic instability
    (Class slides, p. 51)
  • Period: to

    The Oil Crises & Economic Downturn

    Prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and then Joe Clark were in power. Premiers in power were Robert Bourassa and then René Lévesque. In 1973 Arab-Israeli war breaks out which causes OPEC to raise oil prices to weaken the countries that supported Israel. This causes western economic growth to stagnate. Caused Quebec to have a period of inflation, reduced purchasing power, and economic instability. (Class slides, Slide 51)
  • Bill 22 – French as Québec’s Official Language

    Bill 22 – French as Québec’s Official Language
    Cause: Many immigrants integrate into Anglophone communities because learning english offered greater opportunities. Quebecers become worried about presence of French language in Quebec
    Effect: Bill 22 passed which makes French the only official language of Quebec and limits access to english schooling
    Impact: Presence of French language brought back
    (Reflections, p. 263)
  • James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement (JBNQA)

    James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement (JBNQA)
    Cause: Indigenous peoples land flooded, communities displaced, and traditional hunting and fishing grounds impacted
    Effect: JBNQA protects Indigenous fishing and hunting rights and compensates Indigenous communities
    Impact: Turning point for economic modernization because of hydroelectricity
    (Class Notes, Hydroelectric Development)
  • Bill 101 – The Charter of the French Language

    Bill 101 – The Charter of the French Language
    Cause: The arrival of immigrants promoted anglicization which worried Quebecers
    Effect: This law preserved french language by making it the only officially recognized language in Quebec
    Impact: Many anglophones left Quebec
    (Reflections, p. 268)
  • Economic Downturn

    Economic Downturn
    Cause: Another oil crisis causes reduction of world supply of oil
    Effect: High rate of inflation causes businesses to look for cheaper countries to save labour costs
    Impact: High rate of unemployment causes economic growth to slow and tax lose for government. Government goes into debt.
    (Reflections, p. 271) (Class Slides, p. 60)