The Quiet Revolution

1. The Quiet Revolution

2. Causes The Union National Party had been in power in Quebec since 1994. The party began to seem out of date as they held strongly to a conservative ideology and defended outdated, traditional values. In the election on June 22, 1960, the Liberals beat the Union National The Liberals slogan: “It’s time for change.”

3. Causes The change in government was the big cause that got “the ball rolling”. Everything set up by the old government came under scrutiny and was discussed, a new age of open debate had begun. Many things changed including voting, education, and health care.

4. The Quiet Revolution & Impact Prior to 1960, the Quebec government played a limited role in provincial affairs. There was a publicly owned electric utility (Hydro-Quebec), but the company’s activities were limited to the Montreal area. There was noMinistry of Education and the Roman Catholic Church heavily influenced theschools and their curriculum. Health carewas state-controlled and provided throughchurch-related institutions.

5. The Quiet Revolution & Impact • The new Liberal Government... • Improved Hydro-Quebec, which became a great achievement for French Canadians. • Established many other state-owned corporations. • Created an investment institution to provide capital for private enterprises. • Introduced major educational reforms, establishing a ministry of education and creating regional school boards • Displaced the Catholic Church in the area of health and social services. • Created the Quebec Pension Plan

6. The Quiet Revolution & Impact The changes put in place created new opportunities for Quebec’s middle class. The Liberals were defeated in the 1966 election, although The Quiet Revolution is a reference used by all Quebec governments since that time, which shows us the importance of the Revolution in Quebec’s history. The Quiet Revolution profoundly affected Quebec society with the reform of education, health, and social services.

7. Nationalism The Quiet Revolution marked an important change in French Canadian nationalism, transforming it into Quebec nationalism. In the past, Quebec Francophones believed the idea of a French Canadian nation extended to other parts of Canada. With new emphasis on the provincial state, Quebec alone became the basis for a French Canadian nation. Quebec Franchophones began to refer to themselves as Quebecois rather than French Canadians. The French Canadians became more involved, demanding things (later accepted) that were deemed important to preserve and develop the French Canadian culture.

8. Nationalism When Pierre Trudeau became Prime Minister in 1968, he viewed nationalism as a divisive force and declared that Canada, not Quebec, was the homeland for all French Canadians. This produced a strong movement that led to Quebec’s withdrawal from Canada, believing that it was the only means to protect the French Canadian culture.

9. Bibliography http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/projects/classof2008/chong2/liang/Calendar.htm http://www.canada-photos.com/data/media/8/quebec-flag_2436.jpg http://www.plq.org/en/images/realisations/03.jpg http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_461511103/Quiet_Revolution.html http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006619 http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/events/quiet.htm