Quiet Revolution

The Quiet Revolution (French: Révolution tranquille [ʁevɔlysjõʊ̃ tʁãkɪl]) was a period of socio-political and socio-cultural transformation in French Canada, particularly in Quebec, following the 1960 Quebec general election. This period was marked by the secularization of the government, the establishment of a state-administered welfare state known as the état-providence, a shift in political alignment toward federalist and separatist (or sovereignist) factions (each faction influenced by Quebec nationalism), and the eventual election of a pro-sovereignty provincial government in the 1976 election. The Quiet Revolution is often associated with the efforts of the Liberal Party of Quebec's government led by Jean Lesage (elected in 1960) and, to some extent, Robert Bourassa (elected in 1970 after Daniel Johnson of the Union Nationale in 1966). A primary change was an effort by the provincial government to assume greater control over healthcare and education, both of which had previously been under the purview of the Catholic Church. To achieve this, the government established ministries of Health and Education, expanded the public service, made substantial investments in the public education system, and permitted the unionization of the civil service. Additionally, measures were taken to enhance Quebecois control over the province's economy, including the nationalization of electricity production and distribution through Hydro-Québec, and the creation of the Canada/Québec Pension Plan. These policies resulted in significant economic and social development. Furthermore, during this period, French Canadians in Quebec adopted the term Québécois to distinguish themselves from both the rest of Canada and France, solidifying their identity as a reformed province, and triggering a rise of Quebecois nationalism. The Quiet Revolution was most impactful in Montreal, Quebec's principal city. However, its influence extended across the country and throughout contemporary Canadian politics. This transformation coincided with similar developments occurring in the Western world in general.