Nationalism and Collective Consciousness

1. Nationalism and Collective Consciousness Chapter Issue: To what extent do people’s experiences with nationalism vary?

2. Do these images evoke the same response in all Canadians?

4. Collective Consciousness A group or nation may share a collective consciousness when its members collectively share similar values, beliefs, and internalized feelings based on their shared experiences. A collective consciousness can develop when the people of a nation focus on their identity as a group rather than on their identities as individuals

5. What is a Canadian?What is Canada? A Canadian is someone who keeps asking the question, “What is a Canadian?” – Irving Layton, Canadian Poet Canada is a country built against any common, geographic, historic or cultural sense – Pierre Elliot Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada Canada is the greatest nation in this country – Alan Lamport, former Toronto mayor

6. Turn to page 74 in your text: Which 3 events do you think were most important in creating the nation of Canada? Be prepared to discuss your answers

7. Read “One Country, Two Anthems” on page 75 1. What images are present in the French anthem that do not appear in the English version? 2. If we each sing a different version, can we still share a collective consciousness of what it means to be Canadian?

8. Examine the maps of Canada on pages 74-76 How do the maps represent some of the multiple understandings of what it means to be a Canadian?

9. The Battle of Vimy Ridge, 1917 The Battle of Vimy Ridge during World War I was a key event in Canada's development as a nation. Vimy became a shared symbol for Canadians and a source of national identity and pride. The French and British armies had failed to take Vimy Ridge from the Germans, at a cost of thousands of lives. The icy, snow-covered ridge in northern France seemed impregnable; its slopes had three layers of trenches, shelters and tunnels protected by barbed wire and machine guns.

10. Vimy Ridge Vimy Ridge was key to the German defense. From the height of the plateau, 150 kilometres from Paris, the Germans can see the entire region.

12. Vimy Ridge "At one place, we heard a Canadian who lying deep in a shell hole calling out, 'Water, water!'" Lieutenant Williams wrote. "The top of his head had been blown off, exposing his brain. We could do nothing. Orders were that we were not to stop to attend the wounded. They must wait for the stretcher bearer."

13. Four days later the troops had captured all of Vimy Ridge. In all 3,598 Canadians died and 7,004 were wounded. During the war, Canada obtained a greater autonomy from Great Britain..

14. Vimy Ridge Memorial

15. Read the section on page 77 on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) Which Canadian values are expressed in the Charter? How does the charter reflect a shared collected consciousness for Canadians?

16. To what extend do our histories shape our collective consciousness? Within Canada there are diverse understandings of nation Among Canadians there may be one common national identity or a range of understandings of who we are

17. Quebec, First Nations, Metis and Inuit Historically, the collective consciousness of the Quebecois has developed since the first French settlements First Nations, Metis, and Inuit hold alternative understandings of nation based on unique languages and cultures

18. Quebecois Nationalism The Quebec motto, which appears on the provincial coat of arms translates to “I remember” What do you think this means?

19. Quebecois Nationalism and the Quiet Revolution By the 1960s French Canadians tired of dominance of English-Canadians In Quebec, Anglophones dominated the economy and business despite being a minority Anglophones earned more money in Quebec than Francophones

20. Quiet Revolution A generation wanted more political control and economic opportunities 1960 new liberal government in Quebec made sweeping social reforms These reforms put control back in the hands of the French majority

21. As one commentator put it, “prior to the 1960s, Anglophone Quebecers behaved like a self-confident majority by combining a sense of superiority in educational and cultural terms with their commanding position in the Quebec economy” (Stein, 1985).

22. The Reforms Among the reforms of the Quiet Revolution were: - modernization of industry - nationalization of hydroelectric industry - reforms to education system - social programs that offered services in French

23. The FLQ Some saw the reforms as too moderate and wanted more radical changes The FLQ (Front de Liberation du Quebec) was formed to spark change through violence and protest 1970 – The FLQ kidnapped and murdered a government official

24. The October Crisis

25. The War Measures Act Canadian government introduced the War Measures Act which suspended citizens’ legal rights Over 400 Quebecois were arrested and detained without any charges being laid Created a division between French and English Canada

26. Language Laws 1976 – Law was passed in Quebec that made French the official language of government and business in the province - advertisements, business signs had to be in French

27. Quebecois Separatist Movement On going movement in Quebec to separate from Canada 1995 referendum ALMOST saw Quebec separate from Canada 49.42% of the province voted for sovereignty from Canada

28. Western Alienation Feeling in Western Canada of neglect by federal government in the East West feels federal government has too much control of the abundant natural resources in the region(oil, salmon, lumber etc.) Federal government is out of touch with Western needs