1791 to 1840 1841 to 1866
History of Quebec		 1867 to 1899

This section of the Timeline of Quebec history concerns the events between the Union Act and the British North America Act.

Table of contents
1 1840s
2 1850s
3 1860s

1840s

  • 1841 - The Act of Union is enforced by the British Parliament.
  • 1844 - Establishment of the Institut canadien de Montréal on December 17.
  • 1848 - Article 41 of the Union Act is amended. It is now legal to use the French language in the Parliament and in the Courts.
  • 1848 - Establishment of the Institut canadien de Québec.
  • 1849 - The first responsible government was instituted, under the Liberal coalition of Robert Baldwin from Canada West and Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine of Canada East. The first Prime Minister of United Canada is Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine.
  • 1849 - The Parliament passes the Rebellion Losses Bill that compensates people who have suffered property damages during the 1837-38 rebellion in Lower Canada. British Tories, opposed to this law and to the responsible government system, burn down the Parliament in Montréal during a riot. Only a few months before, a similar law had been passed for former Upper Canada.

1850s

  • 1850 - Beginning of the French Canadian emigration to the United-States. Referred to as la Grande saignée (the Great Exodus), this migration will see approximately 900,000 people leave Quebec between 1850 and 1940.
  • 1851 - According to a census, the population of Canada West is now numerically superior to that of Canada East. Politicians of Canada West begin to battle for representation by population (rep-by-pop).
  • 1852 - The Séminaire de Québec, the first institution of higher learning in Canada, receives its Royal Charter on December 8 from the British Parliament. It becomes the first French language university in America. See: Université Laval.
  • 1854 - The seigneurial system of land tenance is abolished in Canada East.

1860s
1791 to 1840 1841 to 1866
History of Quebec		 1867 to 1899