The Duplessis Era

Pg194

1. The Duplessis era is often referred as "The Great Darkness" and I would totally agree. The Duplessis Era was between 1936-1939 and 1944-1959, at that time Quebec was controlled by Premier Maurice Duplessis and his party, the Union Nationale. Duplessis was a strong Quebec nationalist, and he had devoted to the idea of Quebec as a distinctive society, a "nation" rather than just another Canadian province.

He introduced a new flag for Quebec bearing the French symbol, the fleur-de-lys. Under Duplessis, the Roman Catholic Church was the main defender of Quebec culture. Priests urged people in Quebec to turn their backs on the materialism of English-speaking North America. The Church praised the old Quebec traditions of farm, faith, and family. It ran Quebec's hospital and school where most children only receive basic education. Little would attend high school or university to receive a fine education. As a result, Quebec produced many priests, lawyers and politicians but few scientist, engineers, or business people.

Duplessis tried to keep out influences of foreign culture; he'd encouraged foreign investments from Ontario and the US.

The province government guaranteed cheap labor, since union activity was discouraged or banned. It also promised low taxes. Quebec would benefit from the new investment, but so would Duplessis. In return for favorable business conditions, companies were expected to contribute generously to the Union Nationale.

Bribery and corruptions became the trademark of the Duplessis regime

Duplessis Jean Lesage

Government jobs were given only if the company contribute generously to the union Jobs and contacts were awarded according to merit

Cheap labor and low taxes Wages and pension were raised

Union activities were banned Restriction on trade unionism were removed

The Church praised the old Quebec traditions The government began a peaceful but dramatic movement to modernize the province

The Church controlled the hospitals and schools (only teaches traditional subjects) The government took over control of social services and the education system. ( Students were required to learn sciences)

3. Lesage's changes were significant enough to create a revolution in Quebec. First he lowered the churches influences, now Canadiens were free to broaden their thoughts in terms of culture and education. The working class was earning more than before and unions were no longer banned.

Lesage encouraged Québécois to think of themselves as citizens of the 20th century