Quebec City 1720, Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quebec_en_1720.jpg

Quebec City: The European City in Canada

History of Canada through the eyes of a French City

Michael Koy
4 min readAug 17, 2021

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The Quebecois and Anglo Canadians have been viewed as historical rivals for centuries, and in fact, the thought of Quebec independence lingers on till this day. However, Quebec City, the capital of Francophone culture in North America, shows another perspective from the straightforward English versus French narrative; as the Capital embodies the history of Francophone culture in Quebec and the relationship between the English and French Canadians respectively. From its fight for survival against the Americans to the social in-cohesion of the 19th century, and finally, the Quebec question of the 20th century, the history of Canada can be seen through the eyes of a French City.

Setting Stones

On the brink of revolution, the American colonies in the South threatened to rebel against the British Empire and the instability that ensued threatened British-dominated North America. As a result, the atmosphere in Canada was grim, and the governors and administrators desperately sought allies to unite against the Americans. Surprisingly, Quebec City was indifferent to the situation, which forced the British to grant concessions towards the newly subjugated French population.

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Michael Koy
The History Inquiry

Your daily History and a cup of philosophy! Proud founder of The History Inquiry.