C’est un épisode de notre histoire que nous connaissons peu mais qui a momentanément rivalisé la Conquête de 1759-1760 en importance. À l’automne 1775, l’armée des insurgés anglo-américains envahit la vieille province de Québec et prend Montréal. Pendant près de six mois, ce corps expéditionnaire assoit imparfaitement son pouvoir sur la vallée du fleuve Saint-Laurent […]
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The Ghost of Léon Duroc
Canada was a close witness of the Civil War. A great many of its sons even took part in it, such that the events of this great tumult do not find us all indifferent. The episode that Mr. Tremblay resurrects belongs to American history by its stage, but belongs to ours by virtue of the […]
Continue readingKeeping Kinfolk in Franco-American Holyoke
The funeral of Mrs. Melanise Larocque, 26 Broadway, was held from the home this morning [February 3, 1936] followed by solemn requiem high mass in St. George’s church. Rev. George Gagnon was celebrant, Rev. Elzear Larochelle deacon, and Rev. Albert Paquette sub-deacon. A delegation from the St. Anne Sodality of the church attended. Bearers were […]
Continue readingThe Transnational Quebecs
Last year, on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, the Montreal-based La Presse offered us a fascinating article about the Québecs—yes, plural. Reporter Jean-Christophe Laurence was not using the term metaphorically to describe the different regions or cultures that make up the province of Quebec. He was writing about the Québec family, for, yes, “Québec” happens to be a […]
Continue readingHistoire du Québec : Rectifier le tir
À lire ce qui s’écrit sur les réseaux sociaux, bon nombre de Québécoises et de Québécois vivent un combat quotidien—une petite guerre amorcée à la fin du régime français et loin d’être achevée, une petite guerre qui anime tous les aspects de la vie publique du Québec. Entendons-nous : le fait français est minoritaire dans son […]
Continue readingDepopulation and Despair, 140 Years Ago
So declared Sir Richard Cartwright in the House of Commons in Ottawa exactly 140 years ago, February 29, 1884, while offering a vigorous response to the government’s proposed budget. Not that he knew any other kind of response: in the 1870s, Cartwright had emerged as one of the most outspoken and effective critics of John […]
Continue readingTransnational Tales of the Civil War, Part II
See Part I here. Others emigrate freely with their families, driven by poverty or despair, as, in fact, has been done for many years despite the efforts of governments and friends of domestic colonization. All of this owes to causes that are separate from what we are presently discussing; we only mention it to highlight […]
Continue readingTransnational Tales of the Civil War, Part I
Private Sylvester Turner’s experiences during the War of the Rebellion are probably lost to time. But those experiences were undoubtedly trying, complex, and sobering. The Second Vermont Infantry with which Turner served fought in some of the bloodiest engagements of the war, including Antietam and Gettysburg. In fact, the Vermont Brigade had an unequalled casualty […]
Continue readingFamilies of the Diaspora
Again has commenced and closed the annual migration of the French Canadians.—Daily have we seen them pass in companies, loaded with knapsacks and covered with the dust of travel; all dressed alike, with Canada gray trousers, homespun shirt, straw hat and moccasins. Every year just before haying, thousands of the French inhabitants of Canada come […]
Continue readingLesson Plan: Early Franco-American History
Regular readers have heard the refrain: there are many ways in which we can deepen our knowledge of Franco-American history, many paths we have yet to take in our field of research. That is not all, however. We can broaden and discuss; we must also seek out opportunities to disseminate our findings. Many teachers and […]
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