Quebec’s Quiet Revolution

The rise of Quebec Nationalism

Definition

• A Toronto journalist coined the term to describe wide-ranging political, social, economic, and cultural changes in Québec that lasted from 1960 to 1966.

Prior to the Revolution• Province was experiencing a

great deal of change with a move from rural to urban life.

• Duplessis’s government believed that protection and expansion of agrigulture was the way to protect Quebec society.

• Duplessis stood against the “evils” of communism, materialism, atheism and trade unionism.

Richard Riot• March 13, 1955 Rocket Richard

was suspended for the remainder of the season including the playoffs for hitting a linesman in the face.

• When the NHL president came to watch a Montreal game several days later the fans threw food and debris at him and then set off a tear gas bomb.

• After the game was called a riot ensued causing $500 000 damage and 27 injuries.

• The riot lasted seven hours and local coverage of it had to be forced off of the air.

Effects of the Riot

• The sight of French Quebeckers rioting in defense of a Quebecois cultural icon like Richard has led many commentators to believe that it was a significant factor in Quebec's Quiet Revolution of the 1960s.

Quiet Revolution• Lesage’s government made a

great many changes including:• Nationalizing hydroelectric

utilities and forming the Hydro-Quebec

• Creating a ministry of education and reforming/modernizing the education system

• Taking over from the Catholic Church in the areas of health care and social services

• Improving women’s rights – prior to this married women had the legal status of a minor

Effects of Quiet Revolution• Quebec nationalism grew

and started to turn into separatism

• Quebec demanded more control over programs running in Quebec

• Quebec even opened up several embassy type buildings in major world centers

• All of this would lead eventually to the violence of 1970

FLQ

• The Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) had been founded in the early 1960s and between 1963 and 1970 had set off a number of bombs killing 6 people and wounding many more

October Crisis• Oct. 5 1970 FLQ kidnaps James

Cross the British Trade Commissioner

• Oct. 8 FLQ Manifesto was read on the radio

• Oct. 10 Pierre Laporte the Quebec Minister of Labour is kidnapped

• Oct. 12 Army sent to guard Ottawa (video)

• Oct. 15 Army goes into Quebec• Oct. 16 War Measures Act is

proclaimed by PM Trudeau• Oct. 17 Laporte’s body is found in

the trunk of a car

October Crisis• Nov. 6 one of Laporte’s killers is

captured• Dec. 3 James Cross is released in

return for five FLQ members getting safe passage to Cuba

• Dec. 28 remainder of Laporte’s killers captured – received sentences of either 20 years or life in prison depending on role

• July 1980 last of Cross’s kidnappers is arrested he gets 12 months – other 5 have returned from Cuba and received similar sentences and been released by this time

War Measures Act

• Between Oct. 16 1970 and Feb. 3 1971 497 people were arrested under the War Measures Act. Only 62 were ever charged with anything