A Brutally Quick Overview of French/English Relations during the

Cold War

Maurice Duplessis Years (1936-59)La Grande Noirceur("The Great Darkness")

•Believed the French Needed to keep faith and Language to keep identity

•He does allow English-American businesses into Quebec (tax breaks to all for luring businesses into the province)

•Many Quebecers leave farms to work in the cities – however they end up receiving poor pay

•As a result, people strike often – Duplessis orders the police to arrest protest leaders

•People of Quebec have a secular vision – this goes against the traditional view

Quiet Revolution (1960)When did it start?• Liberal government (led by Lesage – part of Trudeau

government) defeats Duplessis

What actually happened?• Government sets out to modernize the schools – up until now,

most never finished high schoolResult – thousands start going to post secondary schools

Introduction of “Special Status”• Result – Quebec need more provincial powers to protect the

French culture. So, they are given free reign over: Medicare, schooling, pensions, etc…

End Result• Despite the steps taken by the Liberals, of the top 50

businesses, only 3 were French!• Creation of Hydro Quebec (1962) started to make people

realize that a French owned company could be profitable.

Charles de Gaulle

In a speech to Quebec by the leader of France, Gaulle said:Vive le Quebec libre – Long live Free Quebec

This set off the beginning of serious separatist talk

1963 – Fire bomb set off – the exact same quote (Gaulle’s

statement) found spray painted on a nearby wall

Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ)

• Late 60s it takes its cause to violence• Slogan – “Independence or death”• Bomb several areas where English or

large Businesses are located• The famous quote shot off was

during Expo 67 (in Montreal):“100 years of injustice”