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Act to Promote Rural Electrification
Cause - Farmers voted for Duplessis, so he had to fulfill his pledges to them.
Effect - Electricity was introduced to farms and rural areas by the Duplessis government, and cooperatives were used to develop them.
Impact - Duplessis pleases the farmers and succeeds as they want to vote for him again. It leads to electricity being now in rural areas so it is more efficient farming, which is modernized agriculture.
(Class Slides, p. 9) -
Period: to
Maurice Duplessis as Premier with Union Nationale
The Union Nationale's leader, Duplessis, became the Premier of Quebec. Because of its strong conservatism, resistance to modernization, and close ties between the government and Catholic Church, his era is known as La Grande Noirceur. He maintained the Church's hold on healthcare and education, which slowed social change while strengthening Quebec's autonomy. Despite delaying modernization, he sparked the Quiet Revolution, which resulted in the 1960s changes in Quebec. Class Slides p. 9,10,12 -
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Baby Boom
Birth rates in Québec skyrocketed following World War II, with more than two million babies born there between 1945 and 1960. In addition, the province's culture and demographics changed as a result of the large influx of immigrants from Europe, especially from Italy, Greece, Poland, and Germany. This fueled Québec's economic expansion and resulted in the development of new suburbs.
(Class Slides, p. 17) -
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The Cold War
The world was split during the Cold War between communist (USSR and allies) and capitalist (USA and allies). Canada was a member of NATO and was impacted by Cold War tensions even though it never participated in direct combat. During this time, Québec's economy expanded and nationalist sentiments grew.
(Class Slides, p. 3) -
Refus Global Manifesto Published
Cause - Secularism was strongly promoted by intellectuals and artists during the "Great Darkness"
Effect - Modernizing secularism was the goal of the artists and intellectuals. In an effort to curtail the church's influence over society, fifteen artists signed a manifesto known as "Refuse Global."
Impact - Cité libre, a magazine about individual liberties, was published by young intellectuals like Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Gerard Pelletier.
(Class Slides, p. 14) -
Adoption of Fleurdelisé (Québec's flag)
Cause - Duplessis was committed to defending Quebec's autonomy
Effect - Creation of Quebec's flag.
Impact - Begins to develop a more distinctive "Quebecois" culture, which prompts more premiers to support provincial autonomy.
(Class Slides, p p. 10) -
The Asbestos Strike
Cause - During the Duplessis era, miners had bad working conditions.
Effect - Close to 5000 workers went on strike in Thetford and Asbestos mines.
Impact - Duplessis declared the miners' strike illegal.
(Reflections - p. 216) -
Arrival of Televisons in Québec
Cause - There was mass consumption due to strong post war economy.
Effect - The population of Quebec became more exposed to American culture, which is Americanism.
Impact - People started buying lots of American products and lead to Quebec wanting to modernize like America.
(Class slides, p. 17) -
Richard Riot
Cause - A riot breaks out in Montreal when a hockey player by the name of Maurice Richard gets suspended from the NHL playoffs for fighting.
Effect - This act was seen as an injustice committed against francophone Canadiens superstar by the NHL president who is anglophone.
Impact - This event becomes associated with identity, and leads to some tension between the English and the French.
(Class slides, p. 11) -
Contraception Becomes More Accessible
Cause - A lot more women in the workforce which means not as many women want to have large families.
Effect - Birth rate decreased as contraception becomes more accessible.
Impact - Enabled women to pursue careers without having to worry about starting a family.
(Class Slides, p. 42) -
1960: Election of Jean Lesage’s Liberal Government – ‘Now or Never! Masters in Our Own House!’
Cause: Jean Lesage, a liberal, became the new premier of Quebec and wanted change, moving away from the policies of the previous Duplessis government.
Effect: Quebec became a welfare state, with the government taking a more active role in helping society by controlling the health care and education systems.
Impact: Lesage's actions modernized Quebec, which significantly impacted its political and economic landscape for the future.
(Class Slides, p. 28, 30, 31) -
Rise of Americanism (Influence from the USA in Media & Culture)
Cause - In the 1960s Quebec was exposed to televisions, radioes, and movies, which show American culture.
Effect - Quebec desires success, material comfort, and a free culture.
Impact - This leads to Quebec wanting to modernize like America, leading to lots more American products being purchased.
(Class Slides, p. 17) -
Nationalization of Electricity (Hydro-Québec Expands)
Cause - By suggesting that electricity be nationalized, the Lesage government called for elections.
Effect - He nationalized electricity as the Quebec State bought out all electricity companies and merged them with Hydro-Quebec into one crown corporation.
Impact - By taking over this economic sector, the state thought to maximize the profits from the production of electricity, and standardize electricity rates across the province.
(Class Slides, p. 31)
(Reflections, p. 228) -
Establishment of CEGEPs and Université du Québec Network
Cause: Daniel Johnson won the provincial election, as he led the Union Nationale.
Effect: There was the establishment of the first CEGEP's.
Impact: Université du Quebec network was made, and it forced teachers to go to university for training.
(Class Slides, p. 36) -
Bill 16 – Married Women Gain Legal Independence (Led by Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain)
Cause - The feminist movement, led by Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, demanded gender equality as women sought to no longer be treated as their husbands' property.
Effect - The passage of Bill 16 permits women to sign and approve legal documents and conduct financial transactions without their husbands' consent.
Impact - Feminist movements are pleased and there are more women's rights.
(Class Slides, p. 43) -
Creation of the Ministry of Education (Parent Report Recommendations)
Cause - A parent report recommended major reforms in education, which partially suggested co-education, to promote girls' education.
Effect - The numerous measures that were suggested have to be implemented gradually over a number of years.
Impact - Jean Lesage and his government created the Department of Education and they also created comprehensive high schools.
(Reflections, p. 225) -
Birth Rate Drops in Québec
Cause - Decrease in birth rate in Quebec as women were more involved in jobs. Since most of the women were working, they no longer had the time to look after their big families. On top of that, birth control became way more popular and more available.
Effect - There was less pressure and importance to have a big family.
Impact - The birth date in Quebec dropped.
(Reflections, p. 240) -
Expo 67 – Showcasing Québec’s Identity to the World
Cause - The Quiet Revolution ended up causing Quebecers to become more open world and travel it.
Effect - "World Fair" provided an opportunity for foreigners to learn about Quebec and Canada as well as the identity of Quebec.
Impact - With tourist attractions like Expo 67, Quebec was able to show off its modernization to the world.
(Reflections, p. 234) -
October Crisis – FLQ Kidnappings & War Measures Act
Cause - A group called FLQ targeted representations of Anglophone dominance and British colonialism, so British diplomats Pierre Laporte and James Cross are abducted by the FLQ.
Effect - Pierre Elliot Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act.
Impact - Some of the FLQ members were arrested while some were sent to Cuba with no penalty in exchange for the diplomats Pierre Laporte and James Cross.
(Class Slides, p. 46) -
Introduction of Québec’s Medicare System (Health Insurance Act)
Cause - In 1970, the Bourassa government introduced the Health Insurance Act, and prior to the adoption/introduction of the act, health care was only free under hospitalization.
Effect - Quebecers could now access free health care through medicare. As well, community clinics such as the CLSC were created.
Impact - The main community clinics in Quebec are CLSC's.
(Reflections, p. 254) -
First Oil Crisis Begins
Cause - Israel was at war with a coalition of Arab countries, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) raised the price of oil per barrel and dropped its production to support the Arab countries.
Effect - This weakened the countries that supported Israel.
Impact - During this time of economic instability, inflation decreased the purchasing power of Quebecers.
(Reflections, p. 259) -
Bill 22 – French as Québec’s Official Language
Cause - Learning the english language offered a greater opportunity compared to French, so most immigrants who settled in Quebec integrated into the Anglophone community.
Effect - The Bourassa government passed Official Language Act, known as "Bill 22".
Impact - Bill 22 made French the only official language in Quebec and only children that knew english well could attend anglophone schools.
(Reflections, p. 263) -
Superfrancofête – Cultural Affirmation in Québec
Cause - The trait of "Quebecitude" is used by Premier Henri Bourassa to promote Quebec's future, nationalism, and sovereignty.
Effect - Which is done through events like La Fête Nationale and Superfrancofête.
Impact - These cultural celebrations help to strengthen Quebec nationalism.
(Class Slides, p. 53) -
Bill 101 – The Charter of the French Language
Cause - Quebecers desired even greater language promotion and protection than Bill 22 was providing.
Effect - By mandating that immigrant children attend French schools through high school and enforcing French-only public signage and communication, Bill 101 aims to preserve and promote the french language even more.
Impact - Around 90 thousands Anglophones leave Quebec to Ontario.
(Class Slides, p. 56) -
Economic Downturn - Second Oil Crisis
Cause - A new wave of inflation was caused by the second oil crisis.
Effect - Industrial relocation involves purchasing from countries with lower wages, which leads to lots of job losses in Quebec.
Impact - Higher unemployment in Quebec led to a loss in tax revenue for the government, which, needing to sustain services from the 1960s, raised taxes and went into debt.
(Reflections, p. 271)