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Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The British established a significant presence in New France by defeating and seizing the French stronghold at Quebec, foreshadowing the French defeat and the beginning of British control in North America. The French did not want to be under foreign hegemony and created a feeling of nationalism among them. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty, created in 1763, relinquished all french territory to Britain, and Britain had complete power over Canada. The treaty also led to the Royal Proclamation, which is still part of the Canadian constitution today, and the Quebec Act, in which the King basically acknowledged Quebec as a "distinct" society and granted French people rights, causing a conflict over Quebec's sovereignty. -
Lower Canada Rebellion
In two rebellions in 1837 and 1838, French Canadian militants in Lower Canada took up weapons against the British Crown. They occurred after years of tensions between the colony's anglophone minority and the francophone majority's increasing nationalistic aspirations. The rebellion in Lower Canada, also known as the Patriots' War, gave French Canadians Louis-Joseph Papineau, one of their first nationalist heroes. -
Union Nationale wins
In Quebec, Canada, the Union nationale was a conservative and nationalist provincial political party that encouraged Québécois autonomy. The party won six provincial elections between 1936 and 1966. -
The Quiet Revolution
During the 1960s, Quebec saw a period of social and economic growth known as La Revolution Tranquille (The Quiet Revolution). The Quiet Revolution's sociological and economic advances, which empowered Québec society, inspired certain nationalists to push for political independence. -
Creation of Parti Québécois
In Quebec, Canada, the Parti Québécois is a sovereignist and social democratic provincial political party. The PQ advocates Quebec's national sovereignty, which includes the province's separation from Canada and the establishment of a sovereign state. -
1980 Quebec referendum
The 1980 Quebec independence referendum was the first in Quebec to address the province's role within Canada and whether it should seek independence. Quebec's Parti Québécois government, which supports secession from Canada, called the referendum. It showed those who had not thought about seceding, reasons for why Quebec should seek independence. -
Second Quebec referendum
On October 30, 1995, a referendum was conducted in the Canadian province of Quebec, proposing sovereignty for the province as part of a new economic and political partnership between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The referendum was defeated by a margin of only 1 percent. Because the results were so close, it encouraged those in favour of secession that it was possible. -
The Clarity Act
The Clarity Act was enacted in reaction to the Quebec referendum of 1995 and the province's ongoing independence movement. It is legislation approved by the Canadian Parliament that defined the criteria under which the government would engage in negotiations that may lead to secession if one of the provinces voted to secede. The clarity act showed that it was legally possible for Quebec to secede. -
Quebecois recognized as a nation within Canada
The House of Commons passed a motion recognizing Quebecois as a country within Canada by a resounding majority. The motion states: "That this House recognize that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada." Being recognized as a nation was a big accomplishment for Quebec nationalists and showed them that they had an impact in the government.