The Beginning of a New Era - Beginnings: The Postwar Period

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• Introduction
  • Beginnings
  • The Long Reign of the Union nationale
  • Henceforth
  • A Precursor of the Quiet Revolution
• Education
  • Brother Anonymous
  • The Creation of the Ministry of Education
  • The Parent Report
  • CEGEPs and the Université du Québec
  • Greater Access of Women to Education
• The New Role of the State
  • The Advent of the Welfare State
  • Election of the First Woman to the Legislative Assembly
  • The Tiger Team
  • Return to Power of the Union nationale
  • A Real Civil Service
• Reclaiming the Economy
  • The Nationalization of Electricity
  • The Société générale de financement
  • The Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and the Régie des rentes
• The Affirmation of Quebec
  • The Sovereignty Movement
  • Vive le Quebec libre
  • Relations between Quebec and Ottawa
  • The Délégation générale du Québec in Paris
  • The Front de Liberation du Quebec
  • Bill 63
• Culture
  • The L'Osstidcho
  • Les belles-soeurs (The Sisters-in-law)
  • Humour
  • The Era of Chansonniers
  • Filmmaking in Quebec
  • Literature in Quebec
• Social Realities
  • The Formation of Leftist Movements
  • The Decline of Religion
  • Expo 67
  • Demanding Unionism
• Women's Revolution
  • The Advent of the Pill
  • The Feminist Affirmation
  • The Femmes d'aujourd'hui Show
  • Women Storm the Labour Market
  • The Bird Commission
• Epilogue

Home > Events > Introduction > Beginnings: The Postwar Period

The Liberal Party returns to power in 1962. The main election issue concerns the nationalization of electricity. This huge victory is also the victory of the three “Ls”: René Lévesque, Jean Lesage and Georges-Émile Lapalme. They are cheered by the crowd assembled in Québec a few days before the elections

One of the figureheads of the Quiet Revolution was Jean Lesage, Liberal Party leader. At his sides, from left to right, are Georges-Émile Lapalme, Attorney General, René Hamel, Minister of Labour, and Paul Gérin-Lajoie, Minister of Youth. They are gathered at the National Assembly on their first day in office as govenrment. To the rear several other members of the Assembly listen attentively to the new Premier

Beginnings: The Postwar Period

In the 1960s, history in Quebec was on the fast track. In less than a decade, Quebec experienced in-depth change politically, economically, socially and culturally. Paradoxically, this very eventful period fraught with affirmation and the liberation of society in Quebec was termed the Quiet Revolution, a description coined by an Anglophone journalist of the Globe and Mail, but just as quickly embraced by politicians and observers in Quebec.

Opinions are far from unanimous regarding the temporal aspect of the phenomenon. In this exhibit, the departure point selected is the famous "Désormais" (henceforth) uttered by Union nationale Premier Paul Sauvé the day after the death of Maurice Duplessis in 1959, marking the unequivocal turning point with the past. At the other extremity is 1968, the last year the Union nationale and Daniel Johnson were in power. But it is important to note that the roots of the Revolution were deeply imbedded in the past, as early as immediately following the Second World War and even in the 1930s, according to some researchers. The years 1968 and thereafter did not mark the end of change, but it was clearly obvious that things were winding down.

This exhibit provides an overview of the Quiet Revolution and its many ramifications. The phenomenon is presented from a broader perspective not confined to Quebec alone, because in the West as well as elsewhere, the world was fast changing during the decade between 1960 and 1970.

Our presentation is divided into eight sections highlighting the multiple facets of the Quiet Revolution. The first section addresses the period preceding the Quiet Revolution, the postwar period rich in events. The four following sections address, in order, the upheaval in the world of education, the reshaping of the role of the state, appropriation by Quebecers of major economic levers and Quebec's affirmation on the political scene. The sixth and seventh sections explore the cultural boom in Quebec in the 1960s and social facts that led to the emergence of new values. The last section deals with freeing women in Quebec from the stereotypes to which they had long been confined.

Related events

• The Sovereignty Movement

Related characters

• Daniel Johnson
• Maurice Duplessis
• Paul Sauvé

Related years

• Before 1959
• 1959
• 1968