Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is the subject of many international studies together with that of Scotland, Catalonia and others. This article aims at presenting an historical overview of the evolution of Quebec nationalism from its origins until now.
Canadien Liberal Nationalism
(1800s - 1880s)
The emergence of a French Canadian (Canadien) nationalism coincides with the birth of many nation states during a period of history known as the first wave of decolonization, which began with the independence of the Thirteen British American colonies.
From 1783 to the late 1830s, the world witnessed the creation of many new national states with the birth of the United States of America, France, Haiti, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Belgium, Greece and others. Often accomplished militarily, these national liberations occurred in the context of complex ideological and political struggles opposing European metropoles with their respective colonies, and monarchists with republicans. If these battles succeeded in creating independent states in some regions of the world, they failed in other places, such as Ireland, Scotland, Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Germany etc. French Canadian nationalism can be rightfully studied in this context.
The exact time of the birth of a national consciousness in French Canada is not consensual. Some historians defend the thesis that it existed before the 1800s, because the Canadiens saw themselves as a people culturally distinct from the French even in the time of New France. However, the use of the expression la nation canadienne (the Canadian nation) by French Canadians is a reality of the 1800s as far as we know from historical records. The idea of a nation canadienne will be supported by the liberal or professional class in Lower Canada: lawyers, notaries, doctors, seigneurs, architects of all origins.
Ultramontain Catholic Nationalism
(1840s - 1950s)
Although it will still be defended an promoted up until the beginning of the 20th century, the French Canadian liberal nationalism born out of American and French revolutions will begin to decline in the 1840s, gradually being replaced by both a more moderate liberal nationalism and the ultramontanism of the enpowered Catholic clergy.
The rise of a Catholic nationalism, which was pervasive throughout Quebec society until fairly recently, marked a century of religious obscurantism. The censorship of essentially all of the Enlightenment, liberal, scientific and romantic ideas and literature of France, the United States and Great Britain has severly affected what is seen today as the normal social and economic development of Quebec.
Contemporary Quebec Nationalism
(1950s - Today)
Also in Wikipedia:
Nationalism - Quebec - History of Quebec - Politics of Quebec - Canada - Canadian nationalism - Politics of Canada - Native Americans
External Sources:
- Quebec nationalism resources at Questia.com
- Quebec: a modern, pluralist, distinct society Article by philosopher Will Kymlicka published in the American magazine Dissent.
- Quebec Nationalism History Discussion by historian Claude Bélanger of Marianopolis College in Quebec
- Quebec Nationalism and Canadian Federalism Talk by philosopher Michel Seymour at Cambridge University and Edinburgh University
- International Association of Quebec Studies