Quebec Should Not Separate from Canada
Quebec should not separate from Canada
Quebec was founded by French settlers during the 16th century. It was then conquered by the British (known as the conquest of New France in 1760). “The Philosophy of the Enlightment” allowed Britain’s victory to treat the French people with dignity as both nations were civilized societies (source?). The British allowed the French occupants to maintain cultural aspects such as language and traditions (source?). In effect, The Quebec Act was published in 1974, in efforts to ensure loyalty from the French as the British government worried that the remaining French people would support the American Independent War (source?). The act was favourable for French people; allowing the continual practice of the French laws in civil cases and redistributing provincial boundaries (source?). After the American War, the 1791 Constitutional Act was introduced; dividing Quebec into two separated provinces: Upper Canada and Lower Canada (source?). This act fulfilled both British and French desires as Upper Canada, which later became Ontario, adopted English as the official language and practiced British Common Law. Lower Canada, where the loyal French resided, chose French as the official language and continued to practice French Civil Laws. One clause of the act that went against French laws was the recognition of the Church of England as the official Church in both Upper and Lower Canada (Couturier and Ouellete Page). This clause soon triggered the conflict between Anglophone and Francophone.
The continuing debate about the sovereignty of Quebec has impacted both the province and Canada. Quebec remained indifferent with the rest of Canada. Their sovereign movements have raised many questions from people residing in Quebec and other provinces. People who supported the sovereignty believed that the identity of Quebec’s French culture is being threatened from the dominance of English speaking people and separation from Canada would help
Quebec was founded by French settlers during the 16th century. It was then conquered by the British (known as the conquest of New France in 1760). “The Philosophy of the Enlightment” allowed Britain’s victory to treat the French people with dignity as both nations were civilized societies (source?). The British allowed the French occupants to maintain cultural aspects such as language and traditions (source?). In effect, The Quebec Act was published in 1974, in efforts to ensure loyalty from the French as the British government worried that the remaining French people would support the American Independent War (source?). The act was favourable for French people; allowing the continual practice of the French laws in civil cases and redistributing provincial boundaries (source?). After the American War, the 1791 Constitutional Act was introduced; dividing Quebec into two separated provinces: Upper Canada and Lower Canada (source?). This act fulfilled both British and French desires as Upper Canada, which later became Ontario, adopted English as the official language and practiced British Common Law. Lower Canada, where the loyal French resided, chose French as the official language and continued to practice French Civil Laws. One clause of the act that went against French laws was the recognition of the Church of England as the official Church in both Upper and Lower Canada (Couturier and Ouellete Page). This clause soon triggered the conflict between Anglophone and Francophone.
The continuing debate about the sovereignty of Quebec has impacted both the province and Canada. Quebec remained indifferent with the rest of Canada. Their sovereign movements have raised many questions from people residing in Quebec and other provinces. People who supported the sovereignty believed that the identity of Quebec’s French culture is being threatened from the dominance of English speaking people and separation from Canada would help