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History
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English (U.S.)
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Topic:

What Motivated Protest in Canada and Quebec in the 1960s and 70s?

Essay Instructions:

this essay MUST be answered using the three sources provided, and in addition any 3 other academic sources could be used. 12 point font double-space.
the three sources provided ( these are the two pdfs and one video link - http://www(dot)nfb(dot)ca/film/action_the_october_crisis_of_1970/ ) plus other three sources in total 6 sources needed.
section 1 and 2 are both to be answered in within the 5 pages with references. section 1 should not be more than 4 pages. and section 2 maximum 1 page. 
this is the question :
Section 1:
The period after World War 2 is often described as a golden age in Canada. And yet it was a period of great political protest as well. What motivated protest in Canada and Quebec in the 1960s and 70s? How did the state respond? What can this tell us about the relationship between Canadians and the state in that era? This section should be three to four pages long and must reference at least two class readings.
Section 2:
The final page of your assignment should be reflexive. Is there anything that you think is worth protesting about today? Would you join in a popular protest? Why or why not?
please use the articles provided plus any other sources.

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Section 1:
What motivated protest in Canada and Quebec in the 1960s and 70s?
The end of the Second World War led to significant changes in the world. Initially, the Britons were seen as the reigning superpower and their extension of authority to other different parts of the country was a testament to this. However, the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union led to a shift in power. The onset of the Cold War impacted not only the international balance of power but also internal affairs of countries. In Canada, for example, British Imperialism took a great hit from the immigrants who felt marginalized. During the colonial era, the British were not only interested in spreading civilization but also extending their imperial rule to all their colonies. The British largely depended on divide and conquer to rule their territories. In Canada, this was the plan, and it worked for a while until the French-speaking Quebecers rose up against the neo-colonialism. The wave of protests started in Quebec but spread to other parts of Canada fast. In Quebec, however, they were vicious and violent because of the numerous terrorist attacks that were instigated by FLQ.
Leaders such as Premier Maurice Duplessis left many people angry and at loggerheads with the status quo. Duplessis was an autocrat and was heavily supported by the Catholic Church in Quebec. With time, Duplessis became a great friend of the private sector and started selling Quebec’s resources to outsiders. Quebecers languished in poverty while outsiders, particularly the English side of Canada, continued to benefit from the Province’s resources. Control of resources was also transferred to the foreigners who made sure that the Francophone Quebec got very little in return. Duplessis was a traitor to his people but with ties to the capital and the government, his safety was always guaranteed. There were no leaders to advocate for the Quebecer’s rights, but this changed once the Liberal Party of Quebec ascended to power. “The Liberal Party of Quebec ushered in a new era when it came to power in 1960” (Clement Dominique, 162). Quebecers started demanding for more especially with regards to control of resources. The Liberal Party of Quebec started pushing for reforms and demanding more for the Quebecers.
Resources allocation was also another issue that made the Quebecers angry and frustrated with the government. While the English side of the country was flourishing, Quebec was in ruins and deep in poverty. However, people yearned and sought change. With each passing day, their spirit was rejuvenated because their numbers increased. After the onset of 1960 and the ascension to power of the Liberal Party of Quebec, everything changed including the speed of the wave of change. “The pace of change after 1960 was breathtaking” (Clement, 162). The Church lost its power over political matters and became ceremonial. Funding for a sector such as education more than tripled by the onset of 1970. Change was imminent, and the central government knew that eventually, it would have to bend and either negotiate with the Liberal Party of Quebec or concede to the demands of the Liberal Party of Quebec and much worse the requirements of the FLQ.
One of the main reasons that sparked the protests particularly in Quebec was the fact that workers were being mistreated. Abuse of employees was not new in Quebec, and many of their rights were denied, for example, the right to strike. These strikes that started in the early 60s were purported to be simple and scattered cries but eventually grew to enormous levels. Workers began to ask and seek for more answers and better treatment and pay. However, their employers were not keen on bowing to their demands. This led to a clash of interests and having been treated and seen as second to the English-speaking Canadians, the Quebecers pressed on with their quest for change. These strikes played a significant role in instilling belief in people. Change was within their grasps and with this in mind, many people joined in the struggles and helped to push for reforms. With the government on their side, the employers were determined not to honor the demands of the workers, and this prolonged the Quebec protests that turned violent soon.
Strikes were not only experienced in Quebec because, in Canada, workers also went on strike. For example, the taxi drivers. The taxi drivers took to the streets to vent their frustration and disappointment with the poor pay that they were given as well as the rise in insecurity levels. Everyone was following in the footsteps of the Quebecers in demanding for their rights but with a stubborn government in place, this seemed like the longest path. Postal workers also went on strike but when the police went on strike, everything changed and given that security was out of the picture, people took advantage of this. Protesters decided to express their anger and disappointment by destroying property and clashing with security officials, and this led to the d...
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