History Notes 2024-2025 PDF

History Notes 2024-2025 Rocco Chapter 1 1. Act of Union According to Lord Durham’s report, the rebellions were an ethnic and political conflict. An ethnic conflict because the English and the French are fundamentally different. They have a different language, religion and culture. A political...

History Notes 2024-2025 Rocco Chapter 1 1. Act of Union According to Lord Durham’s report, the rebellions were an ethnic and political conflict. An ethnic conflict because the English and the French are fundamentally different. They have a different language, religion and culture. A political conflict because the refusal to give power to the Legislative Assembly was a mistake. He mentions that it would be important to grant responsible government, as the Patriotes demanded. According to Durham, responsible government was not granted because of the presence of French speakers. The first solution, therefore, is to unite Upper and Lower Canada to dominate the French-speaking people politically. The other solution is to assimilate French speakers by favoring English immigration. From Durham’s recommendations, England would retain the idea of union and not that of responsible government. 2. The Institut Canadien In 1844, a group of young intellectuals from the French-Canadian professional bourgeoisie in Montreal founded the Institut canadien de Montreal. It was a place for debate that brought together all those searching for it, Catholics and Protestants alike. Lectures were given on subjects such as science, law, and literature or philosophy. The Institut canadien library housed a large collection of scientific, legal and literary books available to members. Several of these works scandalized the clergy because of their contents. 3. Responsible Government In the elections of December 1847, the party of Baldwin and LaFontaine won an important victory, electing 62 deputies to the Legislative Assembly. With the agreement of London, the new governor general Lord Elgin, asked the reformist leaders to form the government in March 1848, that is to choose the members of the Executive Council. Thus applying the principle of responsible government. 4. Irish Immigration The arrival of immigrants after a hard crossing. Beginning in 1845, a disease hit the Irish potato crops, causing a great famine. Between 1845 and 1849, hundreds of thousands of Irish people migrated to North America. Immigrants, already weakened by starvation, crowded onto ships where the appalling living conditions favor the spread of diseases like typhus, a contagious disease that was wreaking havoc in Europe. A very large number of travelers were stricken by the disease and many of them did not survive the crossing. In order to prevent typhus from spreading to the population, the authorities forced ships transporting immigrants to stop at the quarantine station on Grosse Île, near Quebec. 5. Burning of the Parliament Buildings According to Lord Durham's report, the rebellions were an ethnic and political conflict. An ethnic conflict because the English and the French are fundamentally different. They have a different language, religion and culture. A political conflict because the refusal to give power to the Legislative Assembly was a mistake. He mentions that it would be important to grant responsible government, as the Patriotes demanded. According to Durham, responsible government was not granted because of the presence of French speakers. The first solution, therefore, is to unite Upper and Lower Canada to dominate the French-speaking people politically. The other solution is to assimilate French speakers by favoring English immigration. From Durham's recommendations, England would retain the idea of union and not that of responsible government. 6. The Status of Women At the end of the 19th century in Quebec, women were considered minors in the eyes of the law. This meant that they could not act without the consent of their father or husband. Women had neither the right to vote nor the right to stand for election. Some women, because they were land owners, were able to participate in the elections following the creation of the first Legislative Assembly in the colony. Indeed, nothing in the Constitutional Act of 1791 prohibited women from voting. However, in 1849, the Baldwin-Lafontaine coalition government passed a law that removed the right to vote for women. This right would not be restored in the British North America Act of 1867. 7. The Founding of the Grand Trunk Railway Company Born out of the project to provide a main railway line that could serve the entire Province of Canada, the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada was officially incorporated in 1852 with the backing of Francis Hincks. The ultimate objective of the major railway construction project was to accelerate the colonization of the vast territories of the West. Increasing the population of the Prairies was essential to the profitability of the railroad and the development of a trade route between East and West. Inside the country, propaganda in favor of the settlement of the West was strong, orchestrated by the federal government, The Macdonald government also encouraged the arrival of immigrants, preferably of British origin, with great publicity abroad and bonuses offered to those who came. 8. Reciprocity Treaty The adoption of free trade by the United Kingdom in the 1840s forced the Province of Canada to find new markets for its raw materials. Fishermen in the United States had long wanted to be able to fish in the fish-rich waters of the colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In order to convince the United States to sign an economic agreement, the United Kingdom agreed to open these regions to navigation and fishing. In return, the United States signed an agreement removing tariffs on natural resources such as coal, wheat and wood, but not on manufactured goods. The elimination of tariffs would allow the Province of Canada to increase its exports of natural resources to the United States. This free trade agreement, called the "Reciprocity Treaty" , was signed on June 5, 1854 for a period of 10 years. 9. The British North America Act (BNA Act) The Constitutional Act of 1867 Canadian Confederation was the process by which the separate and autonomous British colonies of the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia united to form a dominion. When the Constitution of Canada came into force on July 1, 1867, the colonies collectively became provinces of the Dominion of Canada. This new country was formed in the form of a federation with a constitutional monarchy. Canada was then made up of four provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. Canadian Confederation originally had four provinces. Over time, several other provinces and territories were created or joined the federation. Here are the dates of introduction in chronological order: the province of Canada is composed of Ontario (1867) and Quebec (1867), New Brunswick (1867), Nova Scotia (1867), Manitoba (1870) , the Northwest Territories (1870), British Columbia (1871), Prince Edward Island (1873), Yukon (1898), Alberta (1905), Saskatchewan (1905) , Newfoundland and Labrador (1949), and Nunavut (1999). 10. The Indian Act The Indian Act and the creation of reserves The Canadian government adopted the Indian Act in 1876. This law was based on a paternalistic vision of the First Nations. Its objective was to induce the Aboriginals to abandon their culture and replace it with that of the majority of the country's citizens, [European]. The government was seeking to regroup the indigenous populations on Indian reserves to allow the settlers to exploit the vast territories that these populations occupied. To assimilate Aboriginal people, schools were established on these reserves, some of which were residential schools, where young Aboriginal people would receive European-style education. 11. The Beginnings of the National Policy At the time of the 1878 election, Macdonald announced that he had a national policy to solve the country's problems. His plan was to prevent the importation of cheaper goods from the United States, to encourage Canadian politicians to purchase products made in Canada, and to colonize the rich prairie lands. They could buy manufactured products from Quebec and Ontario and sell their agricultural products there. This would be possible if a railway line was built, connecting East to West. The idea of this national policy appealed to Canadians. In 1878 Macdonald returned to power. The railroad project had resurfaced. 12. The Hanging of Louis Riel A Métis leader, he led the 1st Red River Revolt in 1869 to defend their rights against the federal government's intrusion on their land. He forced the federal government to create the province of Manitoba in 1870. He was elected three times to the House of Commons between 1873 and 1874. In 1885, he led a second Métis and Aboriginal revolt in Saskatchewan. After the defeat at Batoche, he was tried and hanged in Regina for the crime of high treason. 13. The First Phase of Industrialization “I have just inspected a factory where a considerable number of men, women and children are employed. In the room where the women work, rubbish is piled up under the tables. From this garbage there escapes an odor which is far from being healthy. Washing seems unknown. There is no regular scanning; only during working hours, each worker is free to dust her corner. In winter, all ventilation is done during working hours. Everything closes after the day, and the workers find the stale air of the day before upon their return.” 14. Federal-Provincial Relations 1st interprovincial conference According to [Honoré] Mercier, Quebec must assert itself as a French and Catholic nation. And it is necessary to safeguard the elements of this nationality. He therefore adopted a strongly autonomist attitude towards the federal government. The Premier of Quebec then called, in October 1887, an interprovincial conference - the first since 1867 - to discuss provincial autonomy and federal grants. Delegates from the five provinces - Prince Edward Island and British Columbia having declined the invitation, were looking for a way to stem the rise of the overly powerful central government and remedy the inequitable and insufficient financial agreement of 1867. The demand for increased subsidies was based on the fact that the provinces were in need and that the revenues of the central government were constantly increasing. 15. Migratory Movements The demographic surge that occurred between 1780 and 1840 led to an overcrowding of agricultural land in Lower Canada. There was no longer enough land available for everyone in the St. Lawrence Valley, causing part of the population to migrate to other regions of Lower Canada or to the United States. In addition, wheat production declined in the 1830s. Several reasons explained this agricultural crisis: bad weather conditions, pests, soil exhaustion due to the intensive cultivation of wheat and the lack of fertilizers, and settlers on land less suitable for growing grains. This marked drop in cereal production also contributed to the migration of many people to the industrial centers of Lower Canada and New England. 16. The Forest Industry In the 19th century, the number of sawmills experienced significant growth. In 1844, there were more than 900 in Quebec. The establishment of these sawmills in remote regions also promoted the installation of homes, small businesses and churches. Villages developed in the forest regions of Mauricie, Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean and Outaouais. Around 1855, the export of sawn timber replaced that of squared timber to serve the United States market. Chapter 2 1. Election of Laurier's Government In 1899, the United Kingdom expected military support from Canada, as part of the British Empire, in the Second Boer War. Laurier was caught between demands for support for military action from English Canada, and a strong opposition from French Canada which saw the Boer War as an "English" war and to some degree appreciated the similar places that Boers and French Canadians held in the British Empire. Henri Bourassa was an especially vocal opponent. Laurier eventually decided to send a volunteer force, rather than the militia expected by Britain, but Bourassa continued to oppose any form of military involvement. Laurier advanced the Naval Service Act of 1910 which created the Naval Service of Canada. In times of crisis, the navy could be made subordinate to the British Royal Navy. The idea was lauded at the 1911 Imperial Conference in London, but it proved unpopular across the political spectrum in Canada, especially in Quebec as ex-Liberal Henri Bourassa organized an anti-Laurier force. 2. The Boer War The British government called on Canada for military support. The question of Canada’s involvement in this war spurred heated debates. French Canadian nationalists, such as Henri Bourassa, opposed Canada’s involvement in the conflict, while the imperialists were in favour of it. French Canadian nationalists and most French Canadians felt that this war did not concern Canada. Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier once again tried to reconcile the positions of the imperialists and the French Canadian nationalists by adopting a position of compromise. Although he supported Canada’s involvement in the war, he did not impose conscription. Only volunteers, many of whom were imperialists, were sent to the front. From 1900 to 1902, over 7000 Canadian soldiers went to South Africa to fight alongside the British. 3. The First World War In 1914, Canada entered the war as a colony, a mere extension of Britain overseas; in 1918 she was forging visibly ahead to nationhood. Canada began the war with one division of citizen soldiers under the command of a British general. For a nation of eight million people Canada's war effort was remarkable. Over 650,000 Canadian men and women served in uniform during the First World War, with more than 66,000 giving their lives and over 172,000 more being wounded. Nearly one of every ten Canadians who fought in the war did not return. It was this Canadian war record that won for Canada a separate signature on the Peace Treaty signifying that national status had been achieved. 4. The Conscription Crisis At the beginning of the war, enlistment in the armed forces was voluntary and the Canadian Expeditionary Force was primarily composed of English Canadians. French Canadians, despite the creation of the 22nd Battalion, were not very inclined to enlist. English Canadians were offended by this lack of enthusiasm among French Canadians. Meanwhile in Europe, the death toll was high and more troops were needed. To ensure that there were enough new soldiers to send to the front, the federal government decided to impose conscription and adopt the Military Service Act in 1917. 5. Women’s Struggles The Wartime Elections Act of 1917 gave the vote to female relatives of Canadian soldiers serving overseas in the First World War. It also took the vote away from many Canadians who had immigrated from "enemy" countries. The Act was passed by Prime Minister Robert Borden’s Conservative government in an attempt to gain votes in the 1917 election. In 1918, this was expanded to include most women. On 25 April 1940, thanks to the tireless efforts of women activists such as Idola Saint-Jean, the women of Québec finally obtained the right to vote in provincial elections. The government of Adélard Godbout granted women the right to vote and to run for office provincially, despite the open opposition of Cardinal Jean-Marie-Rodrigue Villeneuve. Thus Thérèse Casgrain’s social network helped to open the doors of power to Québec women suffragists, while Idola Saint-Jean’s talents as an organizer and orator galvanized the women’s movement as never before. 6. The Roaring 20’s During the 1920s, America entered a period of unprecedented economic prosperity. Electricity, especially in cities, greatly improved daily life. The increased availability of credit allowed people to purchase products that would previously have been reserved only for the wealthy. The automobile and home appliances industries grew substantially. This was the beginning of a consumer society and even working class families benefited. In cities, people began to engage in a new activity: shopping. Department stores such as Eaton’s, Simpson’s, Morgan’s, Ogilvy’s and Dupuis Frères on St. Catherine Street became popular. 7. The Founding of the CTCC The Confédération des travailleurs catholiques du Canada (CTCC) was founded at the end of September 1921 in Hull. At the time, the Catholic clergy exercised considerable influence in Quebec. The CTCC distinguished itself from the North American labour movement by promoting a national and Catholic trade unionism. It was based on the Church's Social Doctrine and advocated corporatism until the 1940s. The CTCC supports many labour struggles and adopts resolutions aimed at improving the conditions of employment of its members, particularly with regard to occupational health and safety. 8. The Great Depression The 1930s were marked by the great economic crisis that hit the world. Since the mid-19th century, capitalist economies have regularly experienced crises of overproduction, following periods of prosperity. These violent shocks led to falling prices, falling output and high unemployment. The crisis of the 1930s was larger and more severe than the previous ones. It affected the global economy, disrupted international trade and would take several years to overcome. All countries are affected. Canada is one of the hardest hit and one of the hardest to recover from. 9. The Statue of Westminster "These Dominions [Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland and Ireland] were quasi-autonomous states of the British Empire. They exercised autonomy in domestic policy through their elected legislatures, among other things, but remained under the control of London, particularly in matters of foreign policy or their constitutions. Over the years the Dominions had gradually exercised their autonomy in foreign policy and it became necessary to clarify their status as quasi-autonomous states. In 1931 the Statute of Westminster was ratified by the Parliament of London. It granted full legal autonomy to the Dominions except in those areas in which they chose not to avail themselves of it. It was proposed in the discussions in London that the power to amend the Canadian Constitution be excluded from the provisions of the Statute." 10. Second World War Our country's immense war effort during the Second World War involved virtually the entire nation, from the thousands who enlisted to the thousands who remained on the home front and worked in factories and on farms. More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the military; of these, more than 45,000 died and 55,000 were wounded. Despite larger contributions from the great powers, Canada's contribution to the war effort was remarkable from a country of eleven million people. 11. Conscription plebiscite As the recruitment of soldiers ran out of steam and the war dragged on, many English Canadians began to call for conscription, the compulsory enlistment of men into the army. But at the beginning of the war, Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King promised not to resort to such a method. In April 1942, he asked the population to release him from his commitment by means of a plebiscite, an event that warmed minds and stimulated debate. After receiving the go-ahead, the federal government passed a bill authorizing compulsory conscription for overseas service if it became necessary. However, it did not implement this law until November 1944. 12. Second Phases of Industrialization At the beginning of the 20th century, manufacturing production in the food, textile, footwear, iron and steel sectors remained predominant. In addition, domestic production, paid work done in the home, was important in the manufacture of clothing. However, Quebec's economy is undergoing changes: industrial activities related to the exploitation and transformation of natural resources are booming. These changes can be explained by the growing demand from American industries for raw materials and the advent of new technologies. The construction of the first hydroelectric dams is at the heart of Quebec's industrial transformation. 13. Migration Flows It is estimated that about two million immigrants settled in the country during Laurier's term. They came mainly from the British Isles (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland) and Europe (Russia, Scandinavia, Poland, Hungary, Germany, etc.). The House of Commons adopted a comprehensive immigration plan in 1902 known as the Sifton Plan, named after Clifford Sifton, Minister of the Interior in Wilfrid Laurier's Liberal government. Half of these immigrants would settle in the western provinces, most of them on farms, while the other half would opt for the rapidly growing industrial cities of Quebec or Ontario. These newcomers will provide a much-needed supply of cheap labour, particularly in the garment industry. 14. The Role of the Catholic Church The transformation of the way of life of French Canadians is of concern to the Catholic Church, which promotes traditional values and a traditional way of life that it considers essential to the survival of the cultural and identity characteristics of French Canadians. The Church, already present in all spheres of society, is seeking to increase its hold, particularly on youth. It is creating parish associations designed to support young Catholics, such as the Association catholique de la jeunesse canadienne-française (ACJC). Since she still holds a monopoly on education, the Church can also exercise her moral influence through this means.