Quebec Independence Movement, Summaries of Electronics

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Standards

SS6H5 The student will analyze important contemporary issues in Canada. a. Describe Quebec’s independence movement.

• Canada was originally colonized by the French (fur trade).
• Great Britain wanted part of the fur trade, so they fought & won the French and Indian War.
  • They divided Canada into Upper Canada (British) and Lower Canada (French).
  • “Lower Canada” is now called Quebec.
• Canada was united in 1867 with the British North America Act. - Quebec is still predominately French.

• The idea of a separate French Canada spread slowly.
• At first, most French Canadians did not think that Quebec needed independence just to be French.
  • By the 1960s, however, thinking had changed…
• Many French Canadians had become Quebec nationalists & thought of themselves as Quebecois, not Canadians.

• Many French Canadians felt that their language and culture might disappear.
  • French culture was overwhelmed by English.
  • They were tired of feeling like second-class citizens in their own country.
• Most started to think that Quebec should secede from Canada (be independent).
  • Separatists--want Quebec to “separate” from Canada.

• Those who support Quebec separatism want:
  • to protect French language and culture
  • to be treated as equals with English-speaking Canadians
  • other Canadians to respect French language and culture
  • to preserve French Canadian culture for future generations

• Those who oppose Quebec separatism argue

that separatism would:

• result in economic disaster for Quebec,
• Ruin national unity and pride, &
• Make the rest of Canada lose all of Quebec’s

natural resources.

• Canada’s government does not want to allow Quebec to separate from Canada because Quebec:
  • Is a huge economic help to country,
  • Is rich in natural resources, &
  • Has access to many waterways (shipping & trade).
• The government has made several reforms in an attempt to keep separatists happy.

• Canada’s government has passed several laws to help Quebec’s citizens preserve their language and culture.
• In 1982, the Constitution Act made Canada bilingual. - 1. Two official languages (English & French) - 2. All government documents must be written in French & English