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June 02, 2023

The Silent/Quiet Revolution, or Révolution tranquille, was a period of tremendous

political uprisings in Quebec throughout the 1960s, and was one of the most significant changes

within French-English relations. It was a time of political and social change. With the election of

the Quebec Liberal Party and the leader Jean Lesage in 1960, the 20 year period of the revolution

began. Defined by the slogan, “Maitres chez nous” translates to “Master with us” referring to the

idea of controlling our own decision making. Lesage wanted to modernize the old, conservative,

religious Quebec into a more secular society. It is worth mentioning that although Lesage wanted

to develop and modernize Quebec, his governmental ways were old and corrupt, where cronyism

was extremely prevalent. This would create the 4 objectives Many reforms were carried out or

planned by the Lesage administration, including the establishment of a public hospital network

1961, the establishment of ministries of cultural affairs and federal-provincial relations, 1961,

and the establishment of the Société générale de financement, General Investment Corporation,

in 19621. Lesage’s government had to raise the general level of school, accelerate economic

development, share increased income widely, and improve the relative economic position of

francophones. With the baby boom generation reaching adolescence, Quebec’s weak educational

system was reaching a point beyond repair, introducing the Commission of Inquiry on Education

in 1961 leading to the Parent Report in 19642. This would bring into question the Catholic

Church, which controlled the public school system, and secularization. The church attempted,

but failed, to fight suggested reforms. Breaking free from the traditional values that had been

dominated throught the provinces was seen as an enormous change and development in Quebec

society, this would lead to a rather dramatic shift in political power. As a result of the
1
Rene Durocher. 2015.“Quiet Revolution.” Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed June 2, 2023.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quiet-revolution
2
Rene Durocher. 2015. “Quiet Revolution.” Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed June 2, 2023.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quiet-revolution
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June 02, 2023
nationalization of companies, an idea proposed by Rene Levesque, Hydro-Quebec would be one

of the largest crowned companies in North America, with the immense hydroelectric resources of

the province, the government assesters, will be utillised to propel the region's growth and the

peoples burgeoninig nationalist aspirations3. Lessage would lose the election in 1966 but the

Quiet Revolution would still continue. Quebec nationalism would rise and the desire of

seperatism would as well. With this increase in the sentiment of seperatism, two referndum

would be given to the citizens of Quebec, regarding the separation of Quebec from the rest of

Canada. With the baseline of the necessity for respect and gratitude, set up by Jean Lesage, the

yearning for both also increased within citizens. This want of more francophone representation in

Canadian culture caused the friction between them and the anglephones elevated. The Quiet

Revolution had far-reaching consequences for women's rights and gender equality in Quebec.

Women began to reject traditional gender roles and demand their rights as the province

modernised. The Lesage government established programmes to boost women's education and

employment prospects. During this time, feminist groups and organisations pushing for women's

rights emerged. During the Quiet Revolution, changing societal norms and expanded

opportunities for women contributed to a more fair and inclusive society4. The Quebec Liberal

Party's Quiet Revolution, led by Jean Lesage, brought substantial political, social, and cultural

transformation, changing Quebec's identity and relationship with the rest of Canada.

3
Latouche, Daniel. 2015. “Jean Lesage.” Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed June 2, 2023.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jean-lesage
4
Josiana Lavallee. 2018. “Women and Quiet Revolution.” Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed June 2, 2023.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/women-and-quiet-revolution
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June 02, 2023
Bibliography

Josiana Lavallee. 2018. “Women and Quiet Revolution.” Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed June

2, 2023.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/women-and-quiet-revolution

Latouche, Daniel. 2015. “Jean Lesage.” Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed June 2, 2023.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jean-lesage

Rene Durocher. 2015. “Quiet Revolution.” Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed June 2, 2023.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quiet-revolution