chapter 6 the modernization of quebec (1930...

Chapter 6

The Modernization of Quebec

(1930 – 1980)

1970: “October

Crisis” (F.L.Q.)

1929

1929-1939

1970

1929: Stock Market Crash in

New York

In 1929, a deep global economic crisis shakes the

confidence of citizens and in the capitalist system.

Timeline The Modernization of Quebec (1929 – 1980)

1929-39: The ‘Great Depression’

1960

1960: Start of the

“Quiet Revolution”

1945-60: “Baby-Boom” period of

population and economic growth

1967: Expo

‘67 in Montreal

1967 Second World

War (WW2)

1939

1945

1940: Women’s

right to vote

(Quebec)

1945-1960

1942: WW2

Conscription

Crisis

1944-59: Duplessis

Government in QC

People look to the government for help out of the crisis.

Governments begin to intervene in many sectors of the

economy and society.

The Modernization of Quebec (1929 – 1970)

Just Before World War 2

• Black Thursday, October 4th, 1929 (p. 146-151)



• Black Thursday, October 4th, 1929



• The Great Depression 1929-1939 (p. 146-151)

– Started on October 24th, 1929: “Black Thursday”

on the New York stock exchange.

Stock markets crash in New York, then

around the world.

Companies go bankrupt,

Millions of people lose their jobs

– Followed by 10 years of misery in society

– Unemployment rate soars in Quebec:

1929: 2.9%

1933: 25% (2016: ~8%)



– During the Depression, if you lost your job, and

if you had no savings, you had nothing left.

• Some people had no job and no income for

10 years.

• What do you do to feed your family, and to

stay alive?

– People went to soup kitchens and charities for

food.

• But charity food was quickly used up.



What happens to the people when

all the food and donations are gone?



• Government Interventionism (p. 146-151)

– Interventionism: When governments intervene

(get involved) in the economy and society

To get people back to work, the government

spent money to create jobs:

1. Created a public works programs:

– Build new bridges,

– Tunnels,

– Railways, etc.



2. Direct government assistance:

• Unemployment Insurance (UI)

– Government pays a percentage of your salary for

a certain period of time if you lose your job

• Direct Relief:

– Provide food, cheques (money) to families

– Similar to welfare today



• Offer cheap land:

– Cheap land was offered in the regions of Quebec

» Gaspe, Abitibi-Temiscamingue

– To promote the development of the regions

– ‘Return to the farm’ movement supported by the

church



• New Political Parties emerge during the

Great Depression (p. 149-153)

– Due to the negative consequences of the Great

Depression, many people started doubting free

market capitalism.

– Communist Parties in the 1920s:

• Abolition of private property and the capitalist system

– Fascist Parties in the 1930s:

• Totalitarian regime based on extreme nationalism.

• Hitler’s Fascist Party (p. 151)



• 1936: New Premier of Quebec

Maurice Duplessis

– Premier of Quebec for 18 years (1936-1939,

1944-1959)

– ‘Union Nationale’ Party

– Very French Nationalist

• Defended the interests of

Quebec

– Died in office


Maurice Duplessis

– He was very Conservative:

– Had traditional and religious values:

Farming and agriculture

Women’s ‘traditional’ role was to stay home, look after

the kids, not to work or go to school.

– Left Healthcare and

Education to the Church

– Refused to recognize

workers rights to strike

– Believed in capitalism



• In 1939, a new Liberal gov’t was elected.

– Time for change / modernity:

1940: Women obtain the right to vote

in Quebec (feminism)

1940: Unemployment Insurance

1943: Compulsory School Attendance Act:

- Must attend school until 14

1944: Power Companies nationalized into

Hydro-Quebec

1944: Labour Relations Act: right to collective

bargaining (negotiating) for workers

Casgrain

Kirkland


World War 2

• Quebec and Canada during wartime (p. 155-156)

– Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party (extreme nationalist /

fascist) rises to power, wants total control over

all of Europe (and the world?)

– Canada, as a member of the British

Commonwealth, must help its allies.

– Led to profound changes in the economy of

Quebec and Canada

– 1944: Canadian Government passes

conscription law, forcing people to fight abroad

• Quebecois people were very opposed to this (p.158)


World War 2

• The economy during wartime

– Every decision made in Canada was designed to

organize the country’s economy

– 1939: War Measures Act, gave control to the

government to (turn to p. 156)

Fix salaries

Control prices

Ration food, gasoline, sugar, tea, butter, meat

Subsidize industries making war goods

Encourage people to work for those industries

Prioritize natural resources for the construction of

military equipment


World War 2

• The economy during wartime

– The production of food, arms, and clothes

boosted the economy

– Industries were modernized and became

state of the art

– New production created jobs and lessened the

effects of the Great Depression

– Unemployment rate decreased quickly

– 1943: Created the ‘Ministère de l’Industrie et du

Commerce’


World War 2

• April 27th 1945: Mussolini’s Death in Milan

• April 30th 1945: Hitler commits suicide as the

Battle of Berlin rages above him

• The War is Over on May 8th, 1945

• Holocaust: 11 million people were killed in

concentration camps


World War 2

Country Military Civilian Total

USSR 12 million 17 million 29 million

Poland 597,000 5.86 million 6.27 million

Germany 3.25 million 2.44 million 5.69 million

Yugoslavia 305,000 1.35 million 1.66 million

Romania 450,000 465,000 915,000

Hungary 200,000 600,000 800,000

France 245,000 350,000 595,000

Italy 380,000 153,000 533,000

Great Britain 403,000 92,700 495,000

United

States 407,000 6,000 413,000

Czechoslova

kia 7,000 315,000 322,000

Holland 13,700 236,000 249,000

Greece 19,000 140,000 159,000

Belgium 76,000 23,000 99,000

Canada 39, 000 39, 000

WWII Death Count Per Country:


World War 2

• Battle of Berlin


World War 2

• The War is Over!!! May 8th 1945

Portrait of the Canadian and Québécoise society

Social:

- Baby-boom, immigration

Politics:

- Maurice Duplessis

government in power for

15 consecutive years

Economy:

- Consumption Society

Lifestyle:

- Mass-consumption

(television, cars, radio).

Post WW 2 – 1944 - 1960 The Modernization of Quebec (1929 – 1970)


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Quebec After World War II (1944 – 60)

1. The feminist movement:

• During the war, most men were

fighting in the war.

• Women were needed to work

in the factories back home.

• Women gained independence,

and their role

in society

began

to change. "Rosie the Riveter" was a

American cultural icon

representing women who

worked in factories during

World War II producing

munitions and war supplies.


After WW2 – 1944 - 1960

– Demands made by feminist movement:

• Equal pay

• Right to vote

• More representation in

politics and government

• Access to higher education

– The Church was opposed

to the feminist movement. • Wanted to maintain ‘traditional’ roles

Casgrain

Kirkland


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960


2. The union movement:

• Unions became popular in Quebec after the

industrial revolution.

– Ex: Federation des Travailleurs du Quebec (FTQ)

– Canadian Catholic Confederation of Labour (CCCL)

• Unions represented workers and asked for:

–Better pay, working conditions, safety, and

health.


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• At first, businesses and the govt (Duplessis)

refused to recognize unions.

– Union leaders were

often put in jail.

• Unions gradually gained

recognition in society.

– 1944: Labour Relations Act

– 1965: Labour Code / Rules

– 1965: Right to strike


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960


3. Secularism and modernity:

• After WW2, Quebec society was torn between

modernization and traditionalism.

–Democracy and equality vs. Duplessis and the

traditional ways of the Church

• Until Duplessis’ death in 1959, the Church was

responsible for ‘social affairs’:

–Education and healthcare


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Bit by bit, the Church could no longer manage

its responsibilities.

• Quebec slowly became ‘secular’:

– The government and institutions were separate from

religion.

– The influence of the Church diminished in society.

– The govt took control of education and health in 1960


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Quebec After WW2 (1944 – 60)

– Many people immigrated to Canada from Europe

after the devastation of the war:

• Italy

• Greece

• Portugal

• Eastern European countries

– Immigrants usually integrated with the English

population


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Quebec After WW2 (1944 – 60) – Population

– Baby-boom! (p. 164)

• Many children were born after the war (large families)

• Lowered the average age of the population

1951: 25% of the total pop was under the age of 10!

– Government had to build:

• Schools,

• Daycares,

• Universities,


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Quebec After WW2 (1944 – 60) – Population


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• American culture and the consumer society

– Before WW2, American businesses were

investing in Quebec’s natural resources.

• Mining Iron / Steel, Aluminum, Asbestos

• Pulp and paper Newspaper, Lumber.

– This created jobs and wealth for Quebec.

– Duplessis encouraged American investment in

Quebec to create jobs and wealth for the

regions.

• Cote-Nord, Lac-Saint-Jean, Abitibi-

Temiscamingue


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

– American culture followed American money

into Quebec:

• Pop culture Music, TV / Radio shows

• Cars culture Drive-in theatres, roads,

highways

• Fast food

• Consumer goods Refrigerator, radio, car, TV


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• American culture – media - TV


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• American culture – consumer goods


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• American culture –

consumer society


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• American culture – cars – fast food


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• American culture - cars


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• American culture – cars, roads, highways

Anjou Interchange ~1970


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• American culture – cars – suburbia


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Suburbia today


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Quebec After WW2 (1944 – 60) – Society

– Youth, captivated by entertainment, abandon

Church activities


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

– During and after WW2, American investors inject

even more capital ($$) into Quebec’s economy.

• More jobs and increased salaries led to the

consumer society.

Purchasing goods like TVs, cars, radio, etc.

– Americanism rapidly changed Quebec society.

• French losing out to English.

• Church losing out to TV / entertainment


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Quebec After WW2 (1944 – 60) - Economy

– Worried about decreasing population in the rural

areas, Duplessis sets out to modernize the farm

to stop people from leaving (p. 160)

• Brings electricity to farms

Improves productivity


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960



Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Quebec After WW2 (1944 – 60) - Government

– Remember: Duplessis is a ‘traditionalist’ and a

Quebec ‘Nationalist’

• Does not like the Federal Government getting

involved in Quebec’s affairs

• Favours Provincial autonomy

– He rejected Federal money for universities,

roads, etc. (ex: Highway 40)

– Created a Provincial Income tax (p. 160)

• Assured the government of Quebec, not Ottawa, a

source of money to pay for all the government

programs


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

– Duplessis gave funds to the Church to run

Healthcare and Education (p. 160-161):

The Church could not meet the demands of the

people

• Too few schools (poorly equipped), too many kids

• Francophones remained less-educated than

Anglophones

• Hospitals could not handle all the people

• People still had to pay out of pocket for healthcare

because Duplessis refused to establish health

insurance


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960

• Quebec After WW2 (1944 – 60) – Society

– Quebec was torn between

Traditional vs. Social Change

Church vs. Secularization

Stability vs. Democratization

Duplessis vs. Americanism

– Secularization:

• Removing religion from institutions

(schools, hospitals, government, courts, etc.)

– Little by little, secular staff were replacing

religious personnel in schools and hospitals


Post WW2 – 1944 - 1960



The Quiet Revolution (1960-70)

• End of An Era (p. 170):

– Duplessis dies in 1959

Quebec now ready to undergo

great political, economic,

social and culture change

1960: The “Quiet Revolution” Begins

– New Liberal Government elected in 1960

– Jean Lesage promises ‘it’s time for a change!’

– Page 170



• Main features of the Quiet Revolution:

– Government becomes the major force behind social

and economic change by increasing the role of gov’t

– Modernize the education system to catch up to the

rest of Canada

– To weaken

the influence

of the church



• Specific measures taken to ‘modernize’:

– Coeducation at school to promote girls education

– 1967: CEGEPs (college) created

– 1974: Concordia founded

– Many crown corporations (government corporations)

are created

• Hydro-Quebec

• Pension fund institutions

– Church no longer in charge of education and health

– 1968: New law makes divorce easier to get

– 1960s: Government changes immigration laws



• Expo ‘67:

– 1967: Montreal hosted the

world fair

– Presence of many diverse

foreign delegates contributes

to the city’s multicultural character helps

Quebecoise society be more open to different

cultures


The Cold War



• Extreme Nationalism:

– During the Quiet Revolution

the independence movement

gains momentum

– ‘Quebecoise’ culture ‘threatened’

by influx of Anglophones and Americanization

– F.L.Q.: “Front du Liberation du Quebec”

• Terrorist organization that plants

bombs at federal military institutions

and in mailboxes in Westmount

• Main goal:

Independence for Quebec

from Canada



• October Crisis of 1970:

– Members of the F.L.Q. kidnap James Cross, a

British diplomat, and Pierre Laporte, the Minister of

Labour in the Quebec Government.

– Laporte was later found murdered

– Led to the imposition of the War Measures Act by

the Federal Government, led by Pierre Trudeau,

• Sends troops to Montreal

• Suspend civil liberties

– Several hundred people

were arrested



The relationship between

Native people and the State

- Cree: Hydro,

James Bay



Duplessis Era Quiet Revolution

o Period of Privatisation in the

economy

o Education, Healthcare and

social assistance is left to the

Church

o Economic development in the

hands of major Americans

companies (natural resources)

o Period of Nationalisation of

resources and services

o Social change

o Control over the Quebec

economy

(«Maîtres chez nous»)

(1944-59) (1960-80)

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