Rise Of Nationalism In Quebec During The 1980s

Quebec nationalism, though originally active just after 1800, had a large peak of change and popularity during the 1970s and the 1980s. During this twenty-year period, many events and factors contributed to the great change such as the Front de libération du Québec’s October Crisis, political affairs within Quebec’s government including French language laws, and the 1980 referendum, in support of the separatist movement. Nationalism in Quebec changed greatly in the 1970s and 1980s as it became stronger and more serious over time which is evident through the escalation in the actions of the Front de libération du Quebec, the rise of the Parti Québécois and nationalism in politics, as well as the growing threat of separatism. One of the major

For example, when the Parti Québécois leader René Lévesque proposed a sovereignty-association with Canada, which would enable Quebec to have political independence however they would have close economic ties with Canada in 1980, a separation seemed possible (Archibald, 2016). The referendum for a consensus on the sovereignty-association, held in May of 1980, resulted in a 60 percent rejection and thus the sovereignty-association between Quebec and Canada was not carried out (Hudon, 2013). Although the sovereignty-association referendum had ultimately failed, the Parti Québécois were re-elected in 1981, indicating that separatism itself had not yet died in the province and thus, the threat of Quebec’s independence was still very present (Stein, 2006). Quebec also isolated themselves from Canada when they had disagreed with the patriated and new Constitution in 1981, as their government felt that they were still not equal in comparison to the other provinces (Gall, 2006). All things considered, Quebec’s possible freedom from Canada became a real possibility in the 1980s and the threat of separatism was a key factor in the change of Quebec