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Founding of Quebec
Quebec was founded as a trading post for fur. When New France was first established, it was governed by the trading company, the 100 Associates. The One Hundred Associates had a monopoly over the fur-trading company. They had full control in New France but were in agreement with the King of France that in order to maintain monopoly over the fur trade they must help settle the colony. In the end they did not live up to their promises which lead to a change in government in 1663. -
Creation of the Company of One Hundred Associates
The Company of One Hundred Associates was founded in 1627. They were given monopoly over the fur trade by the King of France. With the gift of having monopoly, they had to fulfill some requirements such as populating the new settlement. They also were in charge of governing the colony. They did not live up to all their promises which led to the change in governments in 1663. -
Royal Government
This new political system was put in place because the fur trading Companies did not fulfill its promise to colonize New France. The king of France decided to take back control of his colony and assume all power to create an absolute monarchy. He controlled everything and had absolute power. The king reorganized the political structure and defines the roles of each person within this system. -
Mgr. de Laval, first bishop of Quebec
He is the highest dignitary in the colony. He has no real power per say but he has a lot of influence. His role was to ensure the spiritual well being of the citizens of New France. He took care of all religious aspects in the colony. In addition to naming the priests and missionaries and enforcing the tithe, he had a seat on the Sovereign Council and had influence over the State. -
Great Place of Montreal
The Great Peace of Montreal was a peace treaty between New France and the 40 First Nations of North America. It was signed on August 4, 1701. The Algonquians, proved 16 years of peaceful relations and trade before war started again. Various people were present for the diplomatic event: part of the Iroquois confederacy, the Huron peoples, and the Algonquian. -
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War of the Conquest
The Conquest of 1760 represents the final episode of a long series of conflicts between Britain and France over their North American colonies. The Royal Government would be disolve, the Catholic Church would have no direct political influence and new colonial administrators would be put into place by Great Britain. The 1763, Treaty of Paris ended the War of the Conquest and France gave up all Territories in North America except the island of St-Pierre and Miquelon. -
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1760-1763 British Military Regime
For the first 3 years, 1760-1763, the Province of Quebec was administered under martial law, a system of temporary by the army usually with special military courts instead of civil authorities. Because the 7 Years War wasn't over yet, British control of New France was not definite. Murray repeatedly legislated by proclamation; and in 1760 he made his first provision for the administration of justice by appointing one of his officers to be a judge in civil and criminal cases -
Royal Proclamation
The aim of the Royal Proclamation was to assimilate French speaking Canadians and make them British. It was the first Constitution of the Province of Quebec. This proclamation describes the operation of the new British colony. Its territory is much smaller than the former New France. The colony is limited to the Saint Lawrence River. -
Quebec Act
The expansion of the boundaries of Quebec to include Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes. British criminal laws was continued with its rights of habeas corpus and jury trial. French civil laws would be used for all contracts marriages, family concerns, and all other non-criminal legal matters. The financial security of the Church was guaranteed by giving it the right to collect the tithe. -
Constitutional Act
The Constitutional Act attempted to satisfy the requirements of both the loyalists and the french in Quebec. Quebec was divided into Lower Canada and Upper Canada. The term lower and upper were used to indicate each colony’s position on the Saint Lawrence River. This constitution also grants a legislative assembly to each colony. -
92 Resolutions
The 92 resolutions were proposed by the Parti Patriotes. They wanted Canada to have more independence from Great Britain as well as a democratic government system for the french. Some of their demands include the election of the Legislative Council members, the abolition of the governor's power of veto. Lord John Russell turned down the majority of their demands angering the members of the Parti Patriote. They responded with the 10 resolutions. -
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The Rebellions
The Patriotes spread their ideas to the population during a series of public assemblies that were held in the spring of 1837. The leader of the Patriotes, Papineau, delivered speeches demanding that the population boycott products imported from Great Britain to pressure the government. The rebellion in Lower Canada failed partly because there was little active support from the clergy and from the Patriotes outside the Montreal, Also fighting against well-armed professional soldiers. -
Act of Union
The British parliament passed the Act of Union in July of 1840. This changed the structure of Canada’s government once more. This act united Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada or The United States. It was to be a legislative union where one government controlled the whole colony. There was to be one united assembly. -
British North American Act
The BNAA of 1867 granted powers to the provinces in domains like education, health and social services, where the Church was very present. As a result, the Catholic clergy would use their influence mostly on the provincial government. The glergy intervened in the elections by giving their support to candidates that promoted the values of the Catholic Faith. -
Conscription Crisis
When WWI began, thousands of British-born Canadians entered in the army. The French Canadians were not interested in joining the army. When Great Britain needed more troops, the Federal Government imposed a conscription which forced men to join the army. This angered the French because they thought it was not their problem so they should not sacrifice their lives for something they did not believe in. -
Women's right to vote
Before 1918, women did not have the right to vote federally or provincially; they wanted the right to vote and they protested for this right for years. In 1918, after many years of fighting for suffrage, women gained the right to vote federally. -
Maurice Duplessis, Premier
Maurice Duplessis was elected as Premier of Quebec in 1936. Duplessis was a liberalist and a nationalist who supported Catholicism, agriculture and the independence of Quebec from Canada. During his years as premier, Quebec's economy didn't flourish. He was also anti-union and established the Padlock Law to counter union activities. -
Padlock Act
The Padlock Act was instated by Maurice Duplessis, Premier of Quebec. This act made any communist propaganda or activities illegal with the consequence of one-year imprisonment if you were caught. The act also allowed the Duplessis government to oppose union activities. In 1957 the act was removed as it was seen as an invasion of criminal law, and unions were reinstated. -
Women's right to vote
In 1949, Twenty-two years after Women gained the right to vote federally, women gained the right to vote provincially. Women fought hard for this right with years of protests and suffrage campaigns. This was a big deal because women were seen as inferior to the men but with the right to vote federally and provincially they now had equality within the voting system. -
Conscription Crisis
When Prime Minister William Mackenzie King was elected he promised that he would not impose conscription. This changed when Great Britain needed more men from Canada due to great unexpected loss of life. A vote was taking regarding conscription. The majority of the English-speaking population voted yes because they were imperialists and identified with Great Britain. Majority of the French Canadians said no. Conscription was imposed in 1942. -
Nationalization of electricity
Jean Lesage, the Premier of Quebec, along with his minister of natural resources pushed for the nationalization of electricity. In 1962, the Government of Quebec took over eleven private electricity companies and merged them together. They created Hydro-Quebec who still to this day distributes electricity to most of Quebec. This benefited Quebec's economy and is the most impressive financial operation in the history of Quebec. -
October Crisis
The Front de Libération du Québec (FLQ) was founded in 1963. They were a separatist group that performed violent acts such as bombs and kidnappings. They were the first terrorist group in Canada. Pierre Trudeau enacted the War Measures Act and arrested over 300 people related or in the FLQ. In October 1970, the FLQ kidnapped English diplomat James Cross and the Minister of Labour, Pierre Laporte, who was later killed. Unlike the Parti Québecois, they used violence to make a "change". -
Referendum on sovereignty-association
In 1976, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) was elected into office. They were a nationalist group who supported the independence of Quebec and its separation from Canada. In 1980, they imposed a referendum asking the population if they were for or against the separation of Quebec. The NO side won with 59.56% of the votes compared to the YES side who had 40.46% of the votes. This referendum divided Quebec. -
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a series of amendments proposed to the Constitution of Canada in 1987. It was negotiated by Brian Mulroney, the Prime Minister of Canada and 10 provincial premiers. In the end, only Newfoundland and Manitoba rejected the Accord. As a result of this refusal, Lucien Bouchard, the federal minister of the environment resigned from his post. He then formed a parliamentary group in support of Quebec's sovereignty called, the Québecois. -
Referendum on sovereignty
In 1995, the Parti Quebecois imposed a second referendum depicting whether or not you were against the separation of Quebec. This time the vote was much closer. The NO side still won with 50.6% of the vote compared to the YES side who had 49.4% of the votes. This clearly divided the sovereignists and the federalists. In 2006, Stephen Harper recognized Quebec as its own nation within United Canada much to the pleasure of the sovereignists. -
"Paix des Braves" agreement
The "Paix des Braves" Agreement was signed on February 7th, 2002 between the Cree Nation and the Government of Quebec. Within the agreement, the Cree Nation receives a share of the revenue that comes from mining, hydro and forestry that occurs on their lands. For the next 50 years, the Cree Nation is responsible for the community and economic development of their people and land. They will receive payments from the Government of Quebec to allow them to carry out their responsibilities.
