The Quiet Revolution and

The October Crisis

By: Michael Moore, Jay Zhou,
and Andre Villanueva
 What is Separatism
• Definition: an advocacy of separation,
especially ecclesiastical or political separation,
as the secession of U.S. states before the Civil
War. (thefreedictionary.com)
 Separatism in Quebec
• Separatism in Quebec started with the
frustration of French-Canadians and their part
in the Canadian society.
• English-Canadians control of Canada lead to
the idea of an independent state of Quebec
for French-Canadians.
• Then secularization of Quebec during the
Quiet revolution brought separatism as an
ideal to many French-Canadians.
 What was the Quiet Revolution?
• The “revolution” was the changes that
occurred in Quebec Jean Lesage Liberal
government.
• The changes included social changes and the
modernization of Quebec after the rule of the
Union Nationale.
• The belief of Quebecers was that they
shouldn’t play a second class role in society.
 How Did it Start
• During the years before the revolution,
Maurice Duplessis was ruling over Quebec and
he led the province into isolationism.
• Duplessis isolated Quebec from the rest of
Canada and implemented conservative
policies during his reign.
• When the Liberal government came to power
in 1959, they sought to modernize Quebec
and to reserve the effects of his government.
 What Happened?
• Jean Lesage started to make a series of
reforms that changed the way of life in
Quebec.
• Examples: education, wholesale,
hospitalization, and cultural reforms.
• However to make all of these reforms Quebec
needed to raise the taxes and thus created
tension between Quebec and the Federal
Government.
 What Happened (continued)
• Over time the Quebec government started to
dislike when the federal government got involved
in their provincial decisions.
• The French Canadians wanted to be independent
from the Anglos and wanted to rule the province
their way.
• Overtime, the Quebec government became the
voice for French Canadians to the rest of Canada.
• Eventually, the idea of a special “status” for
Quebec emerged as the idea of Quebec as the
homeland for French-Canadians popped up.
 Who is the FLQ
• FLQ: Front de Libération du Quebec
• Was a left wing separatist paramilitary group
that believed in overthrowing the provincial
government in Quebec.
• There were known for their violent acts in the
support of the independence of Quebec.
 The lead up to
• The first formation of the FLQ came from
groups of people who sought independence
through force.
• The group did bombings in the 1960’s and
gained resources through robberies .
• The first major attacking was the bombing of
the Montreal stock exchange on February 13,
1969.
 October Crisis
• Began with the kidnapping of British trade
commissioner James Cross which happened in
his house on October 5th, 1970.
• On October 8th, a message was sent to all
English and French media outlets in Quebec.
• Quebec Minister of Labor is kidnapped on
October 10th while he’s playing with his
nephew in his front lawn.
 The crisis continues
• A reporter asks Prime Minister Trudeau how far
he would go, he replies “Just watch me”.
• The Quebec government asks for the aid of the
Canadian army 10 days into the crisis.
• Pierre Laporte is announced executed on
October 17th. His body was found at an airport a
few miles away from Montreal.
• Negotiations continue as the war measures act
is introduced by the federal government.
 The crisis ends.
• Raids are conducted as civil liberties are
suspended for civilians.
• The military is sent in to help with the
situation. Armed soldiers are found in city
streets during the crises.
• Eventually on December 3rd, James Cross is
released. The kidnappers ask for safe passage
to Cuba to find asylum. The last of the
kidnappers are arrested weeks later.
 The effects on the rest of Canada
-These events bring Canadians the idea separatist movement for the first
time.
- Most Canadians are shocked by these events and approve whatever action
was necessary to find the extremists.
- The events bring about anger to Anglo-Canadians when a British diplomat is
kidnapped within Canada.
-These are also some of the first violent acts within what is mainly considered
to be a country with a peaceful history.
-The idea of Quebec separating from Canada is a huge thought on the minds
of many Canadians.
The effects on Quebec and Montreal

-To many in Quebec, this is a major event as they see their streets become
places where violent acts occur.
- This also brings to light the separatist movement which is what many
French-Canadians want.
- Those against this movement use this as way to criticize the movement.
-Everyone in Quebec and Canada is effected by the as the National War
measures act comes into effect.
-This eventually leads to soverneignist provincial governments who
preserve the French-Canadian culture and attempt to referendums to
separate Quebec.