Chapter 5: Canada "Quebec"

Introduction

In this chapter students read about the world's second-largest country, Canada. In the province of Quebec, the influence of the original French settlers is still present. French is the predominant language and French customs are still practiced. Feelings are so strong that many Quebecois would like to establish their own independent nation.

Lesson Description

Students will visit the CBC Newsworld Flashback Web site’s feature on the 1995 referendum in Quebec. They will read about the background of the referendum, the campaign arguments used by both sides, and the results. Students will then research to find out where the Quebec–Canada issue stands today.

National Geography Standards:

Standard 4: The geographically informed person knows and understands the physical and human characteristics of places.
Standard 6: The geographically informed person knows and understands how culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions.
Standard 10: The geographically informed person knows and understands the characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.
Standard 13: The geographically informed person knows and understands how the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface.

Instructional Objectives

1. The student will be able to identify and analyze different points of view.
2. The student will be able to use Internet or library resources to research a current issue.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. The purpose of the referendum held by the Parti Quebecois was to ask the citizens of Quebec if they wanted to change their relationship with Canada.
2. The “Quiet Revolution” was a period of cultural and economic growth in Quebec during the 1960s and 1970s. French influence began to assert itself against English domination, and momentum for Quebec independence grew.
3. Those who opposed Quebec separatism (the “No” campaign) argued that separatism would result in economic disaster for Quebec and called for people to display a spirit of national unity. Those who supported Quebec separatism (the “Yes” campaign) appealed to Quebecers’ pride in their French language and culture and played on the resentment many felt toward English Canada for refusing to give Quebec more power to protect its culture.
4. By a razor-thin margin (No = 50.6 %, Yes = 49.4%), voters decided that Quebec should remain part of Canada. The close results showed that the relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada would continue to be a controversial issue.
5. Students' paragraphs may vary.

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