Timeline of Quebec history (1867 to 1899)
This section of the
Timeline of Quebec history concerns the events relating to the province of
Quebec,
Canada between the enactment of the
British North America Act and the end of the 19th century.
*
1867 - Following the
Great Coalition, upon the request of its colonial representatives their
British North America Act is passed by the
Parliament of Great Britain. Rather than remain a colony of Great Britain, the citizens of Quebec vote to join with
New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia and
Ontario to create the nation of
Canada.
*
1867 -
Quebec general election: In August, the first provincial elections are held under the British North America Act. The
Bleus (Conservatives) support the confederation while the
Rouges (Liberals) oppose it. 55% of Quebecers vote in favour of the new
Confederation of Canada while 45% oppose.
*
1868 -
Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Member of Parliament in Montreal-West, is assassinated by an
Irish Fenian,
Patrick Whelan.
*
1869 -
January 16 - In
Montreal,
Hugh Graham and
George T. Lanigan founded the
Montreal Evening Star.
*
1870 - A major forest fire ravages the
Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region, leaving a third of the population homeless.
*
1871 - The Parliament of
New Brunswick passes the
Common School Act.
*
1871 -
Quebec general election:
Conservatives win.
*
1873 - The
House of Commons disallows "double mandates": the same person can no longer simultaneously hold a seat in the House of Commons and a provincial legislature.
*
1873 - Foundation of the
Banque d'Hochelaga.
*
1874 - The Legislative Assembly of Quebec passes its own law to the same effect (abolishing double mandates).
*
1874 - The
Montreal Stock Exchange is founded.
*
1875 -
February 23: New electoral law: voting is now secret and takes place in all ridings on the same day.
*
1875 -
Quebec general election:
Conservatives win.
*
1877 - The Parliament of
Prince Edward Island passes the
Public Schools Act.
*
1878 -
Quebec general election:
Conservatives win one more seat than the
Liberals, but Liberal
Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière nonetheless remains premier.
*
1878 - The
Legislative Assembly passes a law abolishing the
Legislative Council, but the latter does not agree to its own demise (which would not occur until
1968).
*
1879 - The rules of
ice hockey are established by three
McGill students.
*
1881 - The First
Acadian Congress is held in
Memramcook, New Brunswick.
*
1881 -
Quebec general election:
Conservatives win.
*
1884 - The Acadian national flag is adopted.
*
1884 - Founding of
La Presse (newspaper) in
Montreal.
*
1885 - The
Canadian Pacific railroad (from
Montreal to
Vancouver) is completed: the "last spike" is driven in on
November 7.
*
1885 - Tried and found guilty, rebel
Louis Riel is hung on
November 16.
*
1885 - Popular assembly held at Champ de Mars (in
Montreal) on
November 22 in reaction to
Riel's hanging.
Honoré Mercier calls for the creation of a new political party, the
Parti National.
*
1886 -
Quebec general election:
Liberals win, but
Conservative minority government remains in office for a few more months.
*
1886 - The first transcanadian train leaves Montreal for
Vancouver in
British Columbia.
*
1887 -
Honoré Mercier, leader of the
Parti national (Liberals), becomes premier of Quebec. The name "Parti National" is soon abandoned and the party calls itself the Liberal party.
*
1890 - A law abolishing public funding of Roman Catholic schools in
Manitoba is enacted. (see
Manitoba Schools Question).
*
1890 -
Quebec general election:
Liberals win.
*
1891 - Quebec premier
Honoré Mercier removed from office by Lieutenant-Governor
Auguste-Réal Angers after being accused of corruption. The following year he is cleared of all charges.
*
1892 -
Quebec general election:
Conservatives win.
*
1892 -
Montreal has electric streetcars for the first time.
*
1896 -
Wilfrid Laurier, born in
Saint-Lin, Quebec becomes the first Quebecer to be elected
Prime Minister of Canada.
*
1896 - In a decision by the British
Privy Council, the federal government loses the right to veto provincial laws.
*
1897 -
Quebec general election:
Liberals win.
*
1898 - The
Parliament of Canada passes the
Quebec Boundary Extension Act, 1898 extending the northern boundary of the province of Quebec to the
Eastmain River.
*
1899 - The
Second Boer War erupts in
South Africa. Some English Canadians are willing to participate in support of
Great Britain, while most
Quebecers are opposed. This foreshadowed the
Conscription Crisis of 1917 and the
Conscription Crisis of 1944.
