[1945-1980] The Modernization of Québec & The Quiet Revolution

Act to Promote Rural Electrification

1945

CAUSE:
- Maurice Duplessis believes that the province should be able to depend on a prosperous agricultural sector for it's development
- The electoral districts situated in rural areas represented a large portion of his voters
EFFECT:
- Farmers were able to produce more with electricity
- Maurice Duplessis was in charge and gained more voters in his favour
IMPACT:
- Farms that had electricity produced more thus stimulating economic development in those regions
(Reflections, p. 213)

Refus Global Manifesto Published

1948

CAUSE:
- Intellectuals and artists wanted modernization as well as secularism
- 15 artists including Riopelle and Borduas signed a manifesto
- Manifesto named: Refus Global
EFFECT:
- Limited power of church over society
- Wanted state to take charge of education and health
IMPACT:
- Young intellectuals like Pierre-Elliot Trudeau and Gerard Pelletier published a magazine: Cité Libre about individual freedom
- Church limited only to religious sphere
(Class Slides, p. 14)

Adoption of the Fleurdelisé (Québec’s Flag)

1948

CAUSE:
- Committed to keep federal gov't out of Que jurisdictions
- Duplessis wanted provincial autonomy
- Duplessis refused to give up powers from BNA Act in exchange for subsidies or participation in federal programs
- Did not want to get involved with anything revolved with federal government
EFFECT:
- Created new provincial Quebec flag
IMPACT:
- Differentiated Quebec from other provinces, and made it more autonomous
(Class Slides, p. 10)

Asbestos Strike

1949

CAUSE:
- Miners wanted safer working conditions
- More money $
EFFECT:
- Over 5000 workers went on strike
- Duplessis supported the employers and declared that the strike is illegal
IMPACT:
- Miners had to return back to work
(Class Slides, p. 14)

Arrival of Television in Québec

1952

CAUSE:
- Mass consumption thanks to post-war economy (strong)
- Allowed people to buy TV's!
EFFECT:
- Quebec population exposed to american culture
- Known as "Americanism"
IMPACT:
- Quebec wanted to modernize like America
- People began to purchase American made products
(Class Slides, p. 17)

Québec Introduces Provincial Income Tax (Fiscal Autonomy)

1954

CAUSE:
- Committed to keep federal gov't out of Que jurisdictions
- Duplessis wanted provincial autonomy
- Duplessis refused to give up powers from BNA Act in exchange for subsidies or participation in federal programs
EFFECT:
- Introduced Quebec provincial taxes
IMPACT:
- Criticized the equalization system
- Helped Quebec not rely on federal government for money $

Contraception Becomes More Accessible

1957

CAUSE:
- More women working
- Women not wanting to have large families
EFFECT:
- Falling birth rate due to birth control
- Contraception
IMPACT:
- Helped women pursue careers without the worry of having children

Rise of Americanism (Influence from the USA in Media & Culture)

1960

CAUSE:
- Quebec exposed to TV, radio and movies
- TV, radio and movies show American culture
EFFECT:
- Americanism
- Quebec wants culture of freedom, material comfort and success
IMPACT:
- Quebec wants to modernize like America
- More American products are purchased
(Class Slides, p. 17)

Election of Jean Lesage’s Liberal Government – ‘Now or Never! Masters in Our Own House!’

1960

CAUSE:
- Quebec Liberal party elected
- Jean Lesage came to power
EFFECT:
- Quebec went through a large-scale modernization process
IMPACT:
- Jean Lesage shaped the way for the Union Nationale who continued his reforms
(Reflections, p. 224)

Rise of Consumer Society in Québec

1960

CAUSE:
- Consumer society expands
- Wages increase
- Leisure society
EFFECT:
- More goods wanted due to advertisement
IMPACT:
- More goods produced for consumers
(Class Slides, p. 42)

Creation of the Department of Cultural Affairs

1961

CAUSE:
- Jean Lesage wanted to promote Quebec identity and culture
EFFECT:
- Created the Department of Cultural Affairs
IMPACT:
- Mandated, in particular to help Quebec develop in the arts
- Created Office du film du Quebec
- Created Office de la langue française
(Reflections, p. 229)

Nationalization of Electricity (Hydro-Québec Expands)

1962

CAUSE:
- The Lesage government triggered elections by proposing the nationalization of electricity
EFFECT:
- The Quebec state bought almost private electricity companies and merged them with Hydro-Quebec
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
(Reflections, p. 228)

Establishment of CEGEPs and Université du Québec Network

1963

CAUSE:
- Union Nationale led by Daniel Johnson won provincial election
EFFECT:
- The first CEGEP's opened their doors
- They offered the possibility of continuing general education leading to university
IMPACT:
- CEGEP's came into place in Quebec
- Université du Quebec network was created
- Required teachers to go to university for training
(Reflections, p. 231)

Creation of the Ministry of Education (Parent Report Recommendations)

1964

CAUSE:
- "Parent Report" recommended major reforms in education
- Wanted a high quality public system that could be accessible to all people across Quebec no matter their social class
- Recommended co-education to promote girls' education
EFFECT:
- Since so many measures were proposed, they had to be implemented gradually over several years
IMPACT:
- Lesage government created the Department of Education
- Comprehensive high schools were created in 1965
(Reflections, p. 225)

Bill 16 – Married Women Gain Legal Independence (Led by Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain)

1964

CAUSE:
- Women's equality continued to be major social issues in the 1960's
- Abortion as well as legal rights topped the demands
EFFECT:
- Adoption of the Act Respecting the Legal Capacity of Married Women
IMPACT:
- Allowed women to carry out financial transactions and sign legal documents without requiring their husbands consent
- Abortion was allowed under certain circumstances
(Reflections, p. 250)

Birth Rate Drops in Québec

1965

CAUSE:
- Drop in birth rate
- Women were more involved in jobs therefore they could not look after large families
- Birth control pills were more popular and available
EFFECT:
- With all of this in mind, not as much importance was placed on large families
IMPACT:
- Birth rate dropped!
(Reflections, p. 240)

Charles de Gaulle’s “Vive le Québec libre” Speech

1967

CAUSE:
- Expo 67
- Stated "Long live a free Quebec"
EFFECT:
- Quebecers liked this
- Perceived as support for Quebec's independence movement
IMPACT:
- Supported Quebec's independence movement
- Helped shape the PQ (Parti Quebecois)
(Reflections, p. 235)

Expo 67 – Showcasing Québec’s Identity to the World

1967

CAUSE:
- Quiet Revolution caused Quebecers to reconsider their relationship with the world
- Quebecers became more open to the world and travelled more abroad
EFFECT:
- "World Fair" gave foreigners a chance to discover Quebec's identity as well as Quebec and Canada
IMPACT:
- Quebec was able to showcase to the world their modernization
- Tourist attractions
(Reflections, p. 234)

Passage of Bill 63 – Language Rights Debate

1969

CAUSE:
- Union nationale in charge
- Wanted to promote French language
EFFECT:
- Passed Act to Promote the French Language in Quebec
IMPACT:
- Allowed parents to choose the language of instruction for their children
- Introduced French as second language in schools
- Integration of immigrants into French schools
(Reflections, p. 232)

October Crisis – FLQ Kidnappings & War Measures Act

1970

CAUSE:
- FLQ targeted symbols of British colonialism and Anglophone power
- FLQ kidnaps British diplomat James Cross and Pierre Laporte
EFFECT:
- War Measures Act invoked by Pierre Elliot Trudeau
IMPACT:
- Military involved
- Some FLQ arrested and others offered safe conduct to Cuba without penalty in exchange for James Cross and Pierre Laporte
(Class Slides, p. 46)

Introduction of Québec’s Medicare System (Health Insurance Act)

1970

CAUSE:
- The Bourassa government adopted the Health Insurance Act
- Before this was adopted, health care was only free under hospitalization
EFFECT:
- Through medicare, all Quebecers could access free healthcare
- Community clinics (CLSC's) created
IMPACT:
- Quebec now has free healthcare for it's citizens
- CLSC's are main community clinics in Quebec
(Reflections, p. 254)

James Bay Hydroelectric Project Announced

1971

CAUSE:
- James Bay hydroelectric project announced
- Would transform the territory of the Indigenous
This project threatened certain aspects of their traditional way of life
EFFECT:
- Indigenous were upset as they were not warned or consulted about the projects
IMPACT:
- Signed James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
(Reflections, p. 257)

First Oil Crisis Begins

1973

CAUSE:
- Arab countries and Israel war
- In support of Arab countries at war, OPEC raised oil prices and dropped production
EFFECT:
- Weakened countries in support of Israel (non-arab countries)
IMPACT:
- Quebecers experienced a period of economic instability in which inflation reduced their purchasing power
(Reflections, p. 259)

Bill 22 – French as Québec’s Official Language

1974

CAUSE:
- Most immigrants who settled in Quebec integrated into anglophone communities
- Learning English offered greater opportunity
EFFECT:
- Bourassa government passed Official Language Act
IMPACT:
- Made French the only official language in Quebec
- Only children with good knowledge of English could attend anglophone schools
(Reflections, p. 263)

Economic Downturn

1979

CAUSE:
- Second oil crisis led to a new wave of inflation
EFFECT:
- Industrial relocation = buy from countries with lower wages
- Led to job losses in Quebec
IMPACT:
- Higher unemployment in Quebec
- Caused government to lose income from taxes
- Since the government had to maintain the services they've had since the 1960's, they raised taxes and went into debt
(Reflections, p. 271)