Relations between the rest of Canada and Quebec have never been easy. Beginning with the Conquest and working through the many political permutations before Copnfederation and since, there has always been conflict between the two governments, and, in particular, two points of view. The rebellions of 1837-38, conscription, the Quiet Revolution, language laws, endless constitutional wrangles, and Meech Lake are but a sampling of the issues that have divided the nation. A fascinating cast of characters has also emerged: Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, Robert Bourassa, and Ren? L?vasque...

From the preface

"A visitor seeing Canada for the first time since 1939 might well conclude that Canada, even more than nations devastated by war, has become another country. On the surface so much remains the same: the Liberals prevail in Ottawa; the provinces quarrel with Ottawa and among themselves; and we worry about Americans in our future. But most of the pieces have been rearranged, and the effect of the picture is quite different...This is a book about our own times, and as such it expresses definite views. No reader will agree with everything we say. We have not...

Through war, depression, and social upheaval, the first half of the twentieth century was a period of unprecedented turbulence in Canada. In this lively and contentious survey, Robert Bothwell, lan Drummond, and John English explore the political and economic forces that shaped this era of change.

As in their earlier work, the highly acclaimed Canada since 1945, the authors focus on the political context of events. Beginning at the turn of the century, they consider the status of Canada in the empire and the world, the burgeoning growth of its economy, and the development of social...