NATIONALISTS AND THE STATE

NATIONALISTS AND THE STATE

Issues between Quebec and Canada... 1871 - Abolish right to separate schools in New Brunswick (hurts Catholics) 1885 - Hanging of Louis Riel (seen as anti-catholic and anti-french gesture) 1890 - Abolish right to separate schools in Manitoba (hurts Francophone Catholics)

Issues between Quebec and Canada... Creates a strong nationalist sentiment in Quebec francophones & other catholic francophones in the country

First examples of Nationalism... Boer War (1899) South Africa England fighting with Dutch south-africans Wanted possession of mines (natural resources) England wanted help from canada Created divisions in Canada between english and french

Boer War English canadians wanted to help England Wanted Wilfrid Laurier (Canadian Prime Minister) to adopt law to send troops to south africa

Boer War French canadians did not agree Boer war has no connection to Canada We re not sacrificing our lives for England!

Boer War Wilfrid laurier makes Compromise Volunteers can fight (7000 go) England is responsible $$$ French canadians still think it s too much

World War One 1914-1918 Canada participates as part of Dominion of England Volunteers: 40% English Canadiens 55% British immigrants 5% French canadians Major loss of life => lots of canadian soldiers die

World War One 1917 => Canada needs replacement soldiers but no volunteers Robert Borden (Canadian PM) creates conscription Canada is divided once again

Opinions on Conscription French: NO Why should Canada have to fight a European war? English: YES We need to help our brothers Riots in Montreal!

Henri Bourassa Against conscription Defends rights of french canadians in canada Tries to influence government through writings and political means

World War 2 1939 => no conscription promised by government 1940 => conscription for home defense only 1941 => volunteers diminishing 1942 => Mackenzie King (PM of canada) asks canadians to release him of his promise 1942 => plebiscite (vote) Majority of quebec says no, rest of canada says yes

Reactions to plebiscite & conscription Coalition organized => Ligue pour la défense du Canada (Henri Bourassa, Michel Chartrand, Jean Drapeau, Andre Laurendeau, Maxime Raymond) Campaigns /demonstrations against conscription Group fights for right of french canadians Many arguments between english and french canadians

Quebec Nationalism 1960 Post 1960s: Quebec starts to ask for change in political status Quebec wants to be considered distinct society Within Canada Quebec should have political autonomy from Canada (separate from Canada)

Quebec Nationalism 1960-1970 New political parties in quebec 1963 Rassemblement pour l Independence Nationale (RIN) 1967 Mouvement Souverainete - Association (MSA) 1968 Both joined together to form Parti Quebecois (PQ) => Rene Levesque became leader of PQ in 1976

Quebec Nationalism 1960-1970 Many debates between Rene Levesque (PQ leader) and Pierre Elliot Trudeau on Quebec and separation Trudeau and Levesque worked together as writers for cite libre magazine Trudeau was from Quebec and fought for united canada Levesque wanted Quebec to be politically independent from canada

Quebec Nationalism 1970-1990 PQ pushes for quebec sovereignty Rene Levesque calls 1st referendum for sovereignty-association in 1980 Non violent political measure Ask quebec population to vote No = 59.56% Yes = 40.46%

Quebec Nationalism 1970-1990 At the same time as separation movement, many conferences to discuss canada s constitution Where Quebec stands within canada Quebec wants more autonomy => distinct society in canada

Quebec Nationalism 1970-1990 Other provinces wanted more power to decide on laws in their own provinces Canada proposes change to constitution => rejected by quebec Other provinces didn t want quebec to be a distinct society

Quebec Nationalism 1970-1990 Other attempts to get quebec on board Meech lake accord 1987 Charlottetown accord 1992 Meetings fail 1987 - Other Provinces refuse to sign agreement 1992 - Canadian voters refuse to allow Quebec to be distinct

Quebec Nationalism 1970-1990 1995 => 2nd referendum for sovereignty-association Non violent political measure Ask quebec population to vote No = 50.6% Yes = 49.4%

1995 Referendum and Consequences Because 1995 was close => canadian government creates clarity act in 2000 Questioning certain rules if any province wants to separate from canada Is 51% yes enough for a province to separate? Can parts of quebec rejoin canada? This makes it more difficult for official separation

FLQ Crisis 1960- early 1970s Front de Libération du Québec Group that wanted Quebec independence 1963-1972 => violent measures to demand independence Bombings, molotov cocktails, kidnappings, murder October crisis begins Quebec minister Pierre Laporte was kidnapped and murdered on Oct 10 1970

Mailbox bombs

https://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=rxhbzcrl VVo 35 minutes

October Crisis After kidnap & murder, Premier of Quebec Robert Bourassa asked for help from PM Pierre Elliot Trudeau Trudeau enacted war measures act Army called into quebec Suspend rights of citizens Searches without warrants Stop people in the street to ask for ID Curfew

October Crisis Early 1970s

Just Watch Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7_a2wa2dd4 Pierre Elliott Trudeau 1970

October Crisis In 1971-72 FLQ members arrested War measures act not always well received Some people thought it was too much Major difference to understand FLQ used violence to get independence PQ was political party that used NON violent measures to get independence