Socials 11 Name:
1970’s: The Pursuit of “Just Society” & “Trudeaumania”
In 1968, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a Liberal, was elected Prime Minister of Canada – the country went wild, mainly because he reflected many changing values of the time. He was “Canada’s JFK”, a Prime Minister that was dashing, articulate and confident. Young people responded to him like he was a rock star, and thus “Trudeaumania” began.
Glamorous and charismatic, Trudeau had a clear vision of what he thought Canada should be: a “just society”. He believed firmly that government had a duty to:
· Protect rights of people – he created the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
· Foster their social and economic well-being through social programs
· Believed strongly in individual freedom, and protecting the private lives of citizens
· Was a strong nationalist – he helped to patriate our constitution giving us full autonomy over our affairs with Britain
Interesting Trudeau Facts:
· Trudeau’s full name is: Joseph Phillippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau
· Trudeau was extremely well educated – a law degree in Montreal, a masters degree from Harvard, and then studies in Paris, and the London school of Economics
· He died in 2000 at the age of 81, and 50,000 people came to pay their respects to him
· He was known as a “ladies” man because he dated Barbara Streisand and Bianca Jagger before marrying Margaret (age 22) when he was 51
· Many people in Western Canada felt like he favoured Quebec and Ontario and protested against his energy and wheat policies
· Only Mackenzie King was Prime Minister longer than Trudeau
· Sadly, his oldest son Michael died in an avalanche accident in 1998
· After meeting the Queen, he did a pirouette behind her back for the cameras
· John Lennon claimed that if all politicians were like Trudeau “there would be world peace”
· He was a nationalist, and fought extremely hard against the French separatist movement, even though he was from Montreal
Trudeau’s farewell speech to the Liberal Party – 1984
“Our hopes are high. Our faith in the people is great. Our courage is strong. And our dreams for this beautiful country will never die.”
QUOTE-A-MANIA: Since Trudeau was considered to be one of our most eloquent and outspoken leaders, it makes sense to study his quotes in order to better understand him. Match the Trudeau quote with the correct event.
EVENTS:
1. T. creates the Official Languages Act – making Canada an officially bilingual nation.
2. T. discussing Canada’s struggle for autonomy with the United States.
3. When it was reported to T. that Richard Nixon called him an “asshole”.
4. T.’s responses to reporters following the kidnapping of a cabinet minister by French separatists, and after instigating martial law in Canada (civil rights were suspended, anyone could be arrested or jailed without warrant).
5. T. patriates the constitution – giving Canada full control over its affairs in 1982.
6. T. explains his decisions to change divorce and abortion laws and help to decriminalize homosexuality.
7. T.’s views on why he opposed the separatist movement.
8. Response to a group of striking Montreal mail truck drivers in 1970.
9. From T’s memoirs about politics.
10. T’s views on the importance of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
QUOTES:
_____ “Living next to you is like…sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast; one is affected by every twitch and grunt.”
_____ “The state has no business in the bedrooms of a nation.”
_____ “Of course a bilingual state is more expensive than a unilingual state, but it is a richer one.”
_____ “Well there are a lot of bleeding hearts around who don’t like to see people walking around with helmets and guns. All I can say is go on and bleed. As to how far I’ll go to defeat the FLQ – just watch me.”
_____ “It’s time to bring the constitution home to Canada and be masters of our own house.”
_____ “Mangez de la merde.”
_____ “I am trying to put Quebec in its place, and the place of Quebec is in Canada.”
_____ “Some things I never learned to like. I didn’t like to kiss babies, though I didn’t mind kissing their mothers.”
_____ “I’ve been called worse things by better people.”
_____ “There is no such thing as a model or ideal Canadian. What could be more absurd than the concept of an “all Canadian” boy or girl? A society which emphasizes uniformity is one which creates intolerance and hate.”