Quebec

English and French rivalry is a common theme in early Canadian history during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. In 1600 New France was established by the fur trade industry which encompassed what is now Canada, the Mississippi River Valley, Acadia (Nova Scotia), and New Foundland (although reluctantly shared with the English) (Hiebert p.2). New France struggled to survive and did not begin to prosper until 1663 when the French State took control of the territory (Hiebert p.2). Starting during the 1680's France and England began a series of wars that would eventually lead to the end of French domination in North America. One of these key conflicts was Queen Anne's War in 1702 in which the French surrendered Acadia (Nova Scotia) (Reed p.1). Following these successes Great Britain (three countries headed by England now) began another assault on the French by deporting the original settlers of Acadia in 1755(Reed p.1). What would ultimately end up as France's last major stand, the French and Indian Wars proved to be too much for France. In 1763 France turned over control of Canada and New Foundland to the British ending it's century plus of domination. Once in British hands, programs of assimilation and transfer to English law began but never took hold in the predominately French Quebec. When it became obvious to the British that assimilating the French population was going to be impossible a policy of subjugating them took hold. This subjugation of the French came easily for the ruling English of Canada after many years of embittered rivalry between the two countries. This policy of keeping Quebec from prospering remained unofficial policy during most of the 19th and only begun to change with the on set of the industrial revolution. It was not until the 1960's did Quebec begin to be recognized as a distinct culture from that of the rest of Canada. Which was spurred by the Parti Quebecois, which began to gain power at this time.