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Dec 22, 1500
Amerindians
In Amerindian culture, there wasn't any elected government. However, the Iroquois follow a matriarchy and the Algonquians follow a patriarchy. -
Power relations between the French and Amerindians
The french saught to make relations with the Amerindians to control the fur trade. However, due to the relations with certain groups and the french, conflict started between the nations. However, it came to a standstill in 1701 with the Great Peace of Montreal. 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 -
Power of the State
Before 1663, the charted compagnies were in charge of New France. But after 1663, the French Monarchy took back control of its American colonies and Canada lived under the Royal Administration. King and minister of Marine remained in France and put cetain people in charge of the colony (name of people in picture). -
Roles in the Power of the State
Governor: commander of the army, defense, dealt with external affairs
Intendant: chief administrator, controlled budget, collecting taxes, seigneurial system, built roads, set up industries.
Sovereign Council: Colony’s High court
Bishop: Administered over the Parish, Priests, hospitals, schools, charities.
Captain of the Militia: dealt with issues on the seigneuries but had no seat on the council. -
Collaboration between State and Catholic Church
The Church was involved in nearly every aspect of New France because of its role in the sovereign council: Priests acted as missionaries and were in charge of the parishes and Nuns worked in the hospitals and some education. Therefore, Catholic practice was obligatory. The state didn't mind too much since the Church would encourage population to listen to the governor and intendant. In exchange the church was allowed the tithe and had insurance that religious matter were respected. -
Life In New France before the Conquest
The settlers of New France like living there but it didn't come easy. There was work to be done everyday, example: caring for crops, making clothes, fixing tools, preparing for winter, etc. As well, settlers learned to take care of themselves since New France was not developing. Due to these differences, they named themselves canadiens. -
Articles of capitulation 1760
After Quebec fell to the British, the articles of capitulation was signed stating that the French surrender. The terms of the document were: French militia could return home and no one would lose their property, French MIlitary would lay down their arms and leave, the people could still practice their religion but the Bishop would have to leave and the people who stayed would become British subjects -
Life In New France after the Conquest
After the Conquest, many people (Mostly lower class) stayed in British North America (formerly New France). This created 3 levels of civilians. Nobility/Elite, Middle class/bourgeoisie and Peasants/habitants/artisans. These groups thrived because of the distance from France. However, contact with the Aboriginals also led some to develop an independent spirit and worked or lived with the natives: voyageurs or coureur de bois. -
Royal Proclamation
In 1763, the Royal Proclamation was signed. This gave the King’s new colony a name, Province of Quebec, decreased the borders to around the St Lawrence river valley and put in place a civilian Government to run the new colony. For the government, the King appointed a governor who then appointed members council. As well, English Criminal and Civil laws were applied, unused land would be divided by the Township System, no New bishop would be allowed and No roman Catholics could hold public office -
Difficulties of the First Governors
After the Royal Proclamation, there were noticeable flaws. James Murray stated that the proclamations wouldn't work since 99% of Quebec's population were of french descendant. Therefore, he was lenient with the laws (Allowed a new Bishop and did not call an elected assembly). This angered the english merchants who demanded for a new Governor. They achieved this and got Guy Carleton but he acted the same way as Murray since he didn't want the French to join the american rebellions -
Quebec Act
The Quebec Act of 1774 mainly was to appeal to the French since they didn't want them joining in the American rebellions. This enlarged area of Quebec, denied an elected assembly, appointed council, french civil laws were instated and tithe and seigniorial system are back. -
Post American Revolution
After the American revolution, many loyalists moved to Canada to be in a british colony. 36 000 loyalists came to Canada and settled in the maritimes or around the great lakes and 6000 loyalists came to Quebec in the west of Montreal. This increased the English population in Quebec from 1% to 10%. However, the loyalists were upset since they were used to English civil laws and Elected assemblies. Therefore, they petitioned London to demand changes to the way Quebec was being run. -
Constitutional Act: Land
As a solution to the english/french conflict, Quebec split up using the Ottawa River as the boundary between the two Canadas. Upper Canada had roughly 20 000 people, was entirely English Protestant and used the township system and English civil Laws. Lower Canada was Roughly 160 000 people, mostly french people who kept their Catholic religion, civil laws, and now non francophones could work in the administration of Lower Canada. -
Constitutional Act: government
Constitutional act also brings a representative government. In this government, the Governor general held veto power, Lieutenant governor acted as deputy governor, the executive council was appointed by the Governor as well as the Legislative Council who approved or rejected laws from the assembly. The Legislative assembly were people elected every 4 years and had the power to approve or disapprove taxes. They also had the right to create laws. As well, land-owning men over 21 could now vote. -
Faults in the Representative Government
One of the biggest problems was that the laws made by the legislative assembly could be shut down by the Governors and the council’s right to veto. As well, the wealthy wanted to invest into big business and tax property to build canals and railways while the legislative assembly wanted to tax only goods not property. As well they didn’t want to invest into large projects that would not benefit them. -
Political parties in Upper Canada
In Upper Canada, the governor was British appointed while the Legislative Council were English-speaking merchants & land owners. The friends of Governor were appointed not elected but had veto power. The Legislative Assembly was voted by citizens. Durring this time two political parties dominated:
Family Compact - Wealthy British Conservatives
Reformers - Intellectuals and professionals. -
Political Parties in Lower Canada
Two political parties dominated in Lower Canada:
British Party - Wealthy British and French who supported British rule; true power brokers
Parti Canadien - Wealthy and poor French, early separatists, intellectuals and professionals. They were unhappy with power. -
92 Resolutions
In 1834, Louis Joseph Papineau wrote a letter to Britain containing the demands of the assembly. The main demand was for Responsible Government meaning that the members on the council should be chosen from the elected assembly. Meaning that the government would be made up of the people who would be responsible for its decisions. In response, Britain sent back the 10 Russell Resolutions rejecting the request for an elected council and removing some of the elected assembly's power. -
Response to the 10 Russell Resolutions: Rebellions
The response of Upper and Lower Canada of the 10 Russell Resolutions was rebellions. There were rebellions in Upper Canada led by William Lyon Mackenzie but they were dealth with quickly. The main rebellions were in Lower Canada led by Papineau. There were Several battles but finally ended when the british army overpowered the militia Patriote rebels since they were poorly organized and not well equipped to fight. -
Power of the Church in 1837
After 1837, the bishops became more powerful and the cures became the most important person in the parish. The church was still in charge of registering births, marriages, and deaths as well as Controlling education, orphanages, Shelters, charities and religious festivals. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was characterized by a High volume of unemployment and poverty. This meant that governments are looking to get into power. To get citizens vote for a party, Direct payments and the welfare state aroze (Unemployment insurance and Family allowances). During this time, Godbout takes power and is focused on voting rights for women, compulsory education until age 14 and the nationalization of Electricity in Montreal. He served for one term then Duplessis was elected afterwards. -
Duplessis
IN1944, Duplessis and the Union Nationale are voted back into power for 15 years until Duplessis death. During that time, Duplessis defended Proinvial autonomy, Idealization of rural life and non-government intervention. He believed that The government should not intervene in social or economic sectors but instead they should offer subsidies to the church and give favourable conditions for investment. Duplessis also implemented certain aspects such as the Fleur de Lis Flag in 1948. -
Groups that challenged Duplessis
There were 2 main groups that challenged Duplessis
Union leaders
They accused Duplessis of opposing social progress and ofserving American interests rather than the interests of Quebec Workers. To combat Duplessis, many strikes were held during this time in which even the Bishop and other church officials supported the strikers
Intellectuals and Journalists
Intellectuals opposed Duplessis and attacked the conservative nature of Quebec in newspapers, magazine articles and television programs. -
The Quiet Revolution
The Quiet Revolution was caused by the desire for a government with a more interventionist role and Quebecers speaking out for what they wanted from their government. During this time, Jean Lesage ran for head of the Quebec Liberal Party when the Conservatives beat the federal Liberals in 1958. He campaigned with the slogan “c’est le temps que ca change” in 1960 and “Maitres chez nous” in 1962. -
The first refendum
Seperatist during the 1980s believed that they were independant from Canada due to cultural differences and oppressive struggle since conquest. As well, during this time more and more people proposed political sovereignty as the only solution to the problems facing QuebecThey wanted to seperate from Canada but still keep the economic benefits of being part of Canada. However, no side won with about 60% of the vote -
Quebec and the Canadian constitution
In response to the referendum of 1980, Trudeau attempts to unify the country by patriating the constitution, meaning full independence from GB. All provinces agreed, except Quebec but the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms were still implemented in 1982 and still to this day, Quebec has not signed the constitution. There was an attempt in 1984 to organize a deal to amend the constitution that would satisfy Quebec and the other provinces. However, this idea didn't work out.
