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La Grande Noirceur
Maurice Duplessis' time as premier of Quebec from 1944 to his death in 1959 is commonly know as the "Grande Noirceur". This was due to his conservative policies. He advocated Quebecs autonomy, economic liberalism and a traditional way of life while keeping close ties to the church. He did however push to modernize QC's agriculture.
(Class Slides, p. 12) -
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Baby Boom
Years btw 1945 and 1960 called the "Baby Boom" due to a increase in birthrate. This is due to a period of economic prosperity 30 years after the war, lower infant mortality, the influence of the church and a traditional way of life. The Baby Boom lasted during Maurice Duplessis era. With the Quiet Revolution, women gained access to birth control and contraception, the church lost its influence and birth rate decreased. They become hippies and challenge traditional values.
(Class Slides, p. 17) -
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The Cold War
The USSR and the USA fought together during the second world war but due to differing political ideologies (capitalism, democracy vs communism, totalitarian) engaged in a cold war characterized by propaganda and proxy wars. Among other things, this led to Canada's economic development due too the USA's need for Canada's exported raw materials.
(Reflections, p. 206) -
Adoption of the "Fleurdelisé"
- Although not separatist, Duplessis advocated Quebec autonomy and wanted it to be recognized as culturally distinct from the rest of Canada
- This need for a Quebec identity led to the creation a new flag in 1948
- It's almost the same as today's (Reflections, p. 211)
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Refus Global Manifesto
Maurice Duplessis was strongly opposed by both artists and intellectuals who mainly wanted secularization and opposed social conservatism. In 1948, a group of 15 artists published the Refus Global manifesto that pretty much blamed Duplessis' government for Quebecs "cultural lag".
(Slides p.14 and 15) -
Asbestos Strike
Duplessis was strongly opposed to labour unions. When 5000 asbestos miners went on strike for better working condition and better pay, he declared it illegal and they where consequently brutally suppressed by the police. Strikes like this one is what eventually led to the Quebec working condition we now have today.
(Slides p. 14 and 16) -
Inauguration of the Voie Maritime du St. Laurent
- The USA and the USSR fought together in the second world war
- Political ideologies (capitalist democratic vs. communist totalitarian) led to a cold war and consequently an arms race
- The USA turned to Canada to supply the necessary raw materials
- In 1954, as an effort to meet this demand, both Canadian and American governments financed the building of this seaway
- It facilitated access to the great lakes and thus the American market, facilitated trade (Reflections, p. 207)
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Urban Agglomerations
In the 1960s, the American way of life had a big influence on Quebec's society.
This along with easy road access (infrastructure) led to many wanting to live in the suburbs where they could have, among other things, a lot of space for less cost than in the city. This led to urban agglomerations and and thus urban sprawl. This in turn led to a decrease in land available for agriculture and more traffic
(Reflections, p. 246) -
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Great Increase in number of Civil Servants
In the 60s, many public services and crown corporations where put in place .
The result of this was an increase from 29 000 civil servants to 53 000 civil servants in the 1960s.
(Reflections, p. 230) -
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Jean Lesage's Government
Jean Lesage was the liberal premier of Quebec after Sauvé and after Duplessis. He introduced the welfare state where the state takes care of you from "cradle to grave". As part of this more interventionist approach, he secularised social services making them government run. Schooling became free and compulsory until the age of 15. He also created free health care and a workers pension plan.
(slides, p. 30) -
Inauguration of the maison du Quebec in Paris
- Jean Lesage wanted to promote Quebecois culture
- Set up a government office in Paris, France (among other francophone countries) inaugurated in 1961
- Meant to promote francophone immigration to Quebec, help preserve QC's language and thus culture (Reflections, p. 229)
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Period of economic growth
Particularly between the years 1962 and 1967, there was an economic growth in Quebec. This occured mainly during the time of the Lesage and also that of Johnson's gov. Both of these premiers greatly modernized QC by having the state invest in aspects like public infrastructure, civil servant housing, schools etc.
The effect of these investments was a stimulated and thus growing economy.
(Reflections, p. 243) -
Union National Wins Provincial Election (1966)
- Union National wins provincial election under Daniel Johnson
- Although still "Union National" no social conservatism
- Johnson continues the progressiveness of the Quiet Revolution
- Creates among other things, CEGEPs (Slides p. 36)
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Expo 67
- Quiet Revolution changed QC's relationship to the world (more open, more travelling)
- Expo 67 gave QC the opportunity to culturally discover other countries
- It also attracted many tourists (50 million came to visit the pavilions) allowing QC to represent itself as a modern society through its economy, arts and technologies (Reflections, p. 234)
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Official Languages Act
- Quiet Revolution disrupts QC--Ottawa relations (sovereignty)
- Prime minister Lester B. Pearson creates a commission to study the situation and to show Canada's openness to QC's demands
- Commission submitted its report to Trudeau (next Prime minister) who established the Official Languages Act in 1969
- This made English and french the two official languages of Canada (Reflections, p. 263)
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Health Insurance Act
in the 60s, Lesage introduced the idea of the Welfare state which takes care of you from "cradle to grave". In 1970, during Bourassa's government, the Health Insurance act was passed. This made health care free no only for hospitalizations.
(Reflections, p. 254) -
The October Crisis
The Quiet Revolution saw the emergence of Quebec Neo Nationalism, a nationalism centred around the land of Quebec. Some sovereigtist radicals formed the FLQ (front de liberation du quebec) who's activism resorted to terrorism. This caused Pierre Eliotte Trudeau (prime minister) to, in 1970, invoke the War Measures Act which called in the military to control the situation.
(Reflections, p. 258) -
Unveiling of the Baie-James Hydro-Electric plant
Bourassa's main goal in office was to stimulate economic growth. One of the things he did was create the James Bay hydro-electric plant that is.
It was huge and led to flooding that encroached on indigenous lands.
(Reflections, p. 255) -
QC Refusal to Patriate Canadian Constitution
- Pierre Eliotte Trudeau (Prime minister of Canada) wanted to gain full autonomy from Britain
- Proposed to patriate Canadian constitution
- Would result in no need of approval by Britain
- However QC refused due to fears of loosing autonomy (Reflections, p. 262)
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Creation of the Common Front
- Influenced by socialism, in the early 1970s, many unions took social and political action.
- Tensions arose between the Unions and the government
- In 1972 the three labour confederations formed a common front to put more pressure on the government
- The three leaders where consequently imprisoned for have encouraged the strike even after a governmental injunction (Reflections, p. 259)
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Oil Crisis
- 1973 War between certain Arab countries and Israel
- OPEC raises oil prices and lowers production to weaken Israel supporting western countries
- This oil crisis end the period of economic prosperity following the war
- Quebec experience a period of economic instability (Reflections, p. 259) (slides, p. 51)
- Diesel was an alternative to Oil in this period, thus naming of the jean company!! (Reflections, p. 259)
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Bill 22
- Francophone Quebecers worried about french language loosing ground
- Immigrants mostly choosing english education
- Bourassa government passed the Official Language Act (Bill 22) in 1974 that made french the only official language of Quebec and restricted english schooling (Reflections, p. 262)
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Immigration Act
Trudeau Government passed the Immigration Act in 1976 which alleviated immigration restrictions, diversifying Quebec newcomers.
However, QC signs agreement with Ottawa in 1978 that allows it to pick the number and choose the immigrants it will accept.
This is because Quebec wants to protect french language by mostly accepting french speaking immigrants
(Reflections, p. 267) -
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90 000 Anglo-Quebecers leave QC
With the election of the parti Quebecois and the constant affirmation of Quebec's francophone identity, many anglophones could not find their place in society. Approximately 90 000 anglophones left QC in the five years following the Parti Quebecois' 1976 election.
(Reflections, p. 266 and 268) -
Second Oil Crisis
- A second oil crisis in Iran in 1979 led to an economic downturn and rising levels of unemployment in Quebec.
- To maintain its public services, Quebec had to raise taxes and go into debt. (Reflections, p. 271)