Pierre Trudeau's The Quiet Revolution
Throughout the world, Canada is known to be a domestically peaceful, economically thriving, multicultural society. Canada and the United States share a common border, language, and colonial history. Yet, for Quebec, an amount of people are displeased with the city’s relationship with other provinces of Canada and want to secede. The issue of succession is not new; in fact, the citizens voted on this very same controversial subject, began a “Quiet Revolution”, and had protests. Canada is bilingual, meaning it has two official languages. Although most Canadians speak English, a sizable number of Canadians living in the province of Quebec primarily speak French. The French Canadians who live in Quebec are generally known as "le Québécois." Over
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He took office in a divided Canada, but thanks to his reforms, some of the tensions between Quebec and the rest of Canada were diminished. Under Trudeau, all Canadians became equal under the law. Early in his career, Trudeau helped pass the Official Languages Act of 1969, which made French and English legally equal. All government properties were required to use display both French and English. These types of reforms were still not enough for many voters in Quebec. Some still pushed for independence. As a French Canadian, Trudeau took this fight in his home province personally. In 1970, an incident known as the “October Crisis” threatened to plunge Quebec into violence. Although many groups peacefully campaigned for Quebec's rights, a militant group known as the Liberation Front of Quebec (FLQ) used more violent tactics. The FLQ kidnapped two high-ranking Canadian officials, including a friend of Prime Minister Trudeau. The FLQ had used terrorist tactics before, but this crisis was far more public and violent than in the past. The FLQ hoped to inspire those in Quebec to rise up and join the group in open revolt against the national government. Prime Minister Trudeau was forced to declare martial law in Quebec, but his actions did not stop the militants from murdering one of their captives. For several days, the situation was tense. Canadian …show more content…
Trudeau and many of his supporters felt the best way to unify Canada was through a bill of rights that would act as a supreme governing document for all Canadians. At the time, Canada still abided by the laws of Great Britain and did not have its own bill of rights. As such, the individual provinces were free to make most of their own laws. Many provinces, including Quebec, objected to losing their authority to an overriding federal law, even though it was supposed to help French Canadians. Rather than use violence, the Parti Québécois, or "Party of Quebec," was created to pursue the political goals of French Canada peacefully. One of its first actions was to make French the official language of Quebec. In the mid-1970s, they helped draft and approve two laws known as Bill 22 and Bill 101. These laws made French the undisputed legal language of Quebec. Suddenly, many of the English speakers of Canada felt unwelcome in the province. Many English-speaking businesses then chose to leave the area and relocate to other parts of Canada. Together, these laws prohibited English from being displayed on public signs and, with a few exceptions, from being taught in schools. French was also made the official language in government offices, courts, and other
He took office in a divided Canada, but thanks to his reforms, some of the tensions between Quebec and the rest of Canada were diminished. Under Trudeau, all Canadians became equal under the law. Early in his career, Trudeau helped pass the Official Languages Act of 1969, which made French and English legally equal. All government properties were required to use display both French and English. These types of reforms were still not enough for many voters in Quebec. Some still pushed for independence. As a French Canadian, Trudeau took this fight in his home province personally. In 1970, an incident known as the “October Crisis” threatened to plunge Quebec into violence. Although many groups peacefully campaigned for Quebec's rights, a militant group known as the Liberation Front of Quebec (FLQ) used more violent tactics. The FLQ kidnapped two high-ranking Canadian officials, including a friend of Prime Minister Trudeau. The FLQ had used terrorist tactics before, but this crisis was far more public and violent than in the past. The FLQ hoped to inspire those in Quebec to rise up and join the group in open revolt against the national government. Prime Minister Trudeau was forced to declare martial law in Quebec, but his actions did not stop the militants from murdering one of their captives. For several days, the situation was tense. Canadian …show more content…
Trudeau and many of his supporters felt the best way to unify Canada was through a bill of rights that would act as a supreme governing document for all Canadians. At the time, Canada still abided by the laws of Great Britain and did not have its own bill of rights. As such, the individual provinces were free to make most of their own laws. Many provinces, including Quebec, objected to losing their authority to an overriding federal law, even though it was supposed to help French Canadians. Rather than use violence, the Parti Québécois, or "Party of Quebec," was created to pursue the political goals of French Canada peacefully. One of its first actions was to make French the official language of Quebec. In the mid-1970s, they helped draft and approve two laws known as Bill 22 and Bill 101. These laws made French the undisputed legal language of Quebec. Suddenly, many of the English speakers of Canada felt unwelcome in the province. Many English-speaking businesses then chose to leave the area and relocate to other parts of Canada. Together, these laws prohibited English from being displayed on public signs and, with a few exceptions, from being taught in schools. French was also made the official language in government offices, courts, and other