In the 20th Century, the relationship between English and French in Canada has deteriorated. French-English relations were already suffering and continued to do so before World War I. The two world wars and the depression years strained relations greatly. In the post-war years, the Quebecois began to organize, and in some cases, rebelled. The product of these events is a country, threatened with division.

Relations before the turn of the century were already strained, and suffered more before World War I. On the heels of the Louis Riel execution, and Ottawa's harsh treatment of the Metis, many francophones were suspicious and even fearful of the looming English majority. As the turn of the century took place, Quebec's premier, Honore Mercier, was already fighting for greater provincial powers. The Boer War was a reminder that Canada was very much a client of Britain, a war that francophones had no interest in contributing to. The Laurier Boom largely excluded Quebec because America and English Canada shared so much language and culture that Quebec was left behind by comparison. In 1905, while Laurier tried to implement dual educational systems in Saskatchewan and Alber

ta, Clifford Sifton essentially forced Laurier to abandon it because Sifton desired to make Canada an English nation. Sifton's "white mans Canada" offended French, Blacks Asians, and others alike. French Canadians began to feel that Quebec was the only place their language and culture would be tolerated. The stage was set for unrest and discontentment in the future.

With the end of World War II, many Canadiens began to believe that their future was distinct in the future of Canada. Conservative Maurice Duplessis lost popularity in Quebec as he concentrated more on his Padlock Law, as well as for supporting the Conservatives, led by Diefenbaker, whose efforts did not solve the economic difficulties after the war. Duplessis conservative standpoint did little to assure that their position was being elevated in Canada. Duplessis' 1958 Liberal successor, Jean Lesage, attacked the federal Conservatives, and started the Quiet Revolution 196, with phrases like, "Maitre Chez-Nous." He promised the new generation of educated, affluent Quebec coters a chance to be "masters in our own house," quite different from any desire to be unified with Canada. Lesage's independent sentiment were reinforced at Expo 67 in Montreal, when French president De Gaulle endorsed and supported Quebec independence with his bold cry of "Vive le Quebec Libre!" The FLQ crisis of 1970, led by a groupp of young Quebec

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Approximate Word count = 945
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)