Quebec under Duplessis:
1935 to 1960
The two official symbols of Quebec?
Brief history of French-English relations
French controlled North America until mid18th century – relegated to “second-class
status” after loss in Seven Years’ War

French (Lower Canada) spent much of 19th
century under English rule (eg. Chateau Clique)

Brief history of French-English relations
Canada
East was a significant part of
Confederation – Province of Quebec created

Still often treated as secondary citizens
Wilfrid
Laurier became first Francophone PM
from 1896-1911 – only until St. Laurent (1948)
Conscription Crises
Conflict between
government and French
citizens in WWI and
WWII over conscription

Conscription Crises
Anglophone
PMs Borden
(1917) and Mackenzie
King (1942) handled
situation poorly
Conscription Crises
Created
tension
between Quebec and
English Canada
Union Nationale emerges
Union Nationale was an alternative party started
in response to Great Depression in early 1930s

Maurice
Duplessis was leader and served as
premier for 18 years (1936-39 and 1944-59)
Union Nationale emerges
Duplessis
dominated Quebec
politics until his
death in 1959

Duplessis
was
known as “Le Chef”
(“The Chief”)
Duplessis’ Politics
Duplessis was known for nationalism –
advocating rights for Québec

Adopted
flag in 1948 (right)
Duplessis’ Politics
Balanced
budgets and helped
advance Québec’s infrastructure
But
opinion of Duplessis is divided:
He was anti-union and Anti-Communist
 He used corrupt and unscrupulous methods
 His time in power is now known as La Grand
Noirceur (“The Great Darkness”) [READ]

Intro to Richard Riot
Hockey
was always
important to Quebec
Intro to Richard Riot
The
Montréal Canadiens
were winningest team in
NHL history and were very
important to Quebec’s
Francophone identity
Intro to Richard Riot
Their most popular player
was a fiery-tempered
Quebec-born winger named
Maurice “Rocket” Richard

Richard Riot (continued)
At
the end of the 1954-55 season, Richard
was poised to win his first scoring title
In
a late-season game against the Boston
Bruins, Richard punched an opposing player
and the referee after being high-sticked
Richard Riot (continued)
Richard
was suspended for the last games of
the season and the playoffs by NHL President
Clarence Campbell
Campbell then attended the next game in
Montréal on March 17, 1955 (St. Patrick’s Day)

Richard Riot (continued)
Fans
started pelting Campbell with eggs and
vegetables, and a tear-gas bomb was set off
The game was forfeited, and the arena was
evacuated

Richard Riot (continued)
Rioting
began on Rue Ste-Catherine
Stores within 15 blocks were looted and
vandalized, causing about $500,000 damage

At
least 60 people were arrested, and 25 c
Richard Riot (continued)
At
least 60 people were arrested, and 25
civilians and 12 policemen were injured in
violence that lasted until 3 AM
Significance of Richard Riot
Richard had become a symbol of Quebec
nationalism (“hometown hero”)

Campbell, an anglophone, was seen as
representative of English Canada

Significance of Richard Riot
The
Riot demonstrated disaffection with
treatment of Quebeckers in Canada

Riot served as lead-in to “Quiet Revolution”
Significance of Richard Riot
And Richard lost the scoring title to his
teammate Bernie Geoffrion, Montreal finished
in 2nd place, and they lost the Cup Final to
Detroit in Game 7…in Detroit.
