HISTORY OF QUEBEC AND CANADA THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD Culture and Currents of Thought

Industrialization and Culture In Quebec only the very wealthy could afford to invest in industrial development and business These were most often the British elite These investments allowed the rich to get richer and the poor to remain poor  Workers earned very low wages and worked in difficult conditions  Workforce was mostly made up of French Canadiens  Many of these workers had left rural areas to live in Montreal in order to support their families  Other immigrants, mainly the Irish, Italians and Chinese who also made up a large part of the workforce

Industrialization and Culture Cities were divided by socioeconomic categories:  City center was occupied by Anglophone working class  Workers lived in the surrounding districts, close to the factories, construction sites and train stations. These divisions were usually based on other factors as well, including linguistic and cultural divisions  The Eastern districts were mostly francophone  The Western districts were Anglophone  Areas like Griffintown and Little-Burgandy were mostly Irish

Griffintown & the Pointe

The Lachine Canal

Feminism and Reformism The Socioeconomic inequalities caused by industrialization resulted in the creation of associations that tried to promote change Many of these associations were created and run by women, because they felt it was their duty to participate in matters of social concern  Montreal Council of Women in 1893  Federation Nationale Sainte-Jean Baptiste in 1907 But, their influence was limited since women did not have the right to vote or run for office  This resulted in these organizations becoming more feminist  More rights for women would allow their voices to be heard

Feminism and Reformism Feminism started to grow and soon women were demanding the right to attend Universities  McGill University’s Faculty of Arts opened its doors to women in 1884 The Catholic Church and politicians opposed this feminist movement  They felt that giving women the right to vote and attend University would be a threat to social order  In 1922, a petition asking the government not to grant women the right to vote was published in La Presse (45, 000 women signed it)  Despite opposition though, women got the right to vote in provincial elections in 1940

Capitalism and Culture Capitalism and Industrialization brought with them the emergence of new and better technologies:  Mass circulation newspapers were available at a very low cost  First Movie Theatre opens in 1906 (they were not only for entertainment but also where people would exchange and obtain information)  Radio was made accessible to all in the 1920s (Montreal was the first city in the world to inaugurate a radio station)  Variety Shows would be held at theatres where people could perform, sing, dance, or act. (remained popular until television came about in the 1950s)

Other forms of Entertainment Amusement Parks also became popular at this time In these establishments, people could attend theatrical or circus performan ces, concerts, exhibitions, or eat at one of the many restaurants  Jardin Botanique et Zoologique in 1852  Parc Sohmer in 1889  Parc Belmont in 1923

Other forms of Entertainment Sports also became an important form of entertainment at this time In the 19 th century, sports had been solely for the elite (the average worker had no free time or money to participate in sporting events) In 1909, a French Canadian hockey team was formed: The Canadiens

The Church and Conservatism The changes in the way of life of French Canadians worried the Catholic Church The Church decided to set up associations to strengthen its hold, especially on young people  Association Catholique de la jeunesse Canadien francais  The bishop condemned dancing, music and theatres  Attempted to have Parks and other establishments closed on Sundays  Created the Bureau de la Censure in 1913 to censor films and other forms of public entertainment (operated until 1967 and censored thousands of films and banned children younger than 16 from seeing any films)

Maurice Duplessis – the 1950s Duplessis (Union Nationale) and the “La Grande NOIRCEUR”:  After the War, the state continued to intervene in the provincial economy:  Duplessis refused Federal funding for major projects  He encouraged traditional society through the spread of Catholicism and agriculture  This caused Quebec society to remain backwards with respect to other provinces and support for him diminished:  Intellectuals, unions, feminists opposed Duplessis’ policies  Duplessis died in 1959, and soon after Jean Lesage and the Liberals took over

Jean Lesage – the 1960s Jean Lesage and the Quiet Revolution:  Transforms power relationships in the province  More government involvement and funding  Government becomes a major employer (public service sector)  New ministries and institutions (health care and insurance systems, Ministere de la Culture, Ministere de L’Education)  Catholic Church looses most of its power  Emergence of a powerful Francophone business class  Unions exercise more influence over the government

Nationalism and the October Crisis Quebec Nationalism and the Linguistic Crisis:  Many nationalists began to think that the only way to preserve the French culture was through sovereignty  Three separatist groups joined forces in 1968 to form the Parti Quebecois (came to power in 1976)  FLQ and the October Crisis (powerful demonstrations for sovereignty)  Trudeau’s invocation of the War Measures Act further infuriated Nationalist who felt it was unnecessary for the Federal Government to intervene in such a way

Growth of French Canadien Nationalism Quebec Nationalism and the Linguistic Crisis:  In the 1960s the average salary of a French Quebecer was 65% less than that of Anglophone Quebecers  Immigrants were adopting the English language rather than French, and sending their children to English Schools  Language legislation tried to prevent Quebec from becoming Anglicized  Bill 22 (Robert Bourassa): French official language of Quebec  Bill 101 (Rene Levesque): Immigrants had to attend French schools, companies had to adopt French, French on all signs Language laws were not met without controversy and caused many Anglophones to leave Quebec in fear of separation

Nationalism and Separation – 1980s Quebec Nationalism and the Linguistic Crisis:  A Referendum was called in 1980 splitting Quebec’s population  No side won with 59.56% of the vote  Yes side had 40.46% of the vote  The close call fuelled more Nationalist debates, but there would not be another referendum until 1995  No side won again with only 50.6% of the vote

The October Crisis AAECBB90EE4A1/0/EXRE_7HzLEQ AAECBB90EE4A1/0/EXRE_7HzLEQ