Constitutional Crises

Why Canadians don't know their roots

Because 'of the parochialism of dull provincial textbooks', different provinces would tell history differently. The dominance of American culture: the internet did not have the same scope/influence as today, pop culture was limited to television and news. The cultural and linguistic differences within Canada: A people's history was produced in both English and French. The dull educational materials for history

Cold War

Canada is drawn into the US' orbit. Felt weak on terms of defence. Canada, during the wars, felt it has middle power status, this influenced Canadian identity. there was also economic growth, this lead people to think Canada was a good place to live.

The Heritage Moments

Canada was the first state to declare themselves Multicultural and bilingual in the 1970s. This changed the focus of history to minority history (e.g. FN, women). Starowitz was hired to produce Canada: A People's History. These are directly related to this culture separatist crisis, supposed to bring people together. 1995: Second Quebec Referendum, yes got 49%, Canada is at the brink of falling apart

Nostalgia

HM use nostalgia Nostalgia for a mystic past of heroism and of coming together against the odds in order to save the future. At the end of Battle for a Continent, the common enemy was the Canadian winter, they endured the winter together despite their heritage.

Quebec

People from Quebec felt that the root of Canada is French and there are a conquered people, despite the Quebec Act. 1960s: Quebecois people had a glass ceiling in terms of work due to their French Heritage. A liberal reform government is elected in Quebec in the 1960s, tried to get rid of this idea of a conquered people: nationalized Hydro, made French the official language of business. Trudeau disagreed with the Separatist movement, wanted to give all Canadians individual rights: made the Canadian Constitution with a Charter of Rights in 1980. Quebec did not sign, there was a fear that Canadians were in this Constitutional mess because people did not know their history, history has failed a population

Solution

Persuaded Canadians to believe in Canada by convincing them that their past was interesting e.g. Syrup Heritage Minute

Seixas: Public History

Public history brings the past into the present consciousness and allows it to be mobilized for decisions about the future, situates us in history. As we teach history, its usability has to do with us being citizens

The problem

Started to be felt in the 1950s/60s, is that magazines and TV are bringing in American ideas. Some people felt they had British heritage, which is better than Amercian. This lead to the establishment of fundamental Canadian institutions (e.g. National Library and Archives). There was also a humans rights revolutions, brought forward voices upon a larger stage (e.g. people talked about Japanese internment)

Heritage Minutes

Wanted to show that all Canadian have a common past