“La fédération impériale, voilà notre ennemie”: Honoré Mercier and Public Opinion on Imperial Federalism as Seen Through the Montreal Press, 1885-1893
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Authors
Scrosati, Scott
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Imperial Federalism , Imperial Federation , Honoré Mercier , Laurent-Olivier David , Confederation , Provincial Autonomy , Public Opinion , Montreal Press , Sohmer Park , Québec Nationalism , Canadian Politics , Canadian History , Québec History , British World , French-Canadian , Political Spectacle , Elite Opinion , Mercier , Newspapers in Montreal , fédération impériale , Québec Politics , British Empire , Imperial History , Colonial History
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Abstract
This thesis examines Québec Premier Honoré Mercier's (1887-1891) critique of imperial federalism from 1885-1893 and its impact on public opinion in Montreal by analysing press coverage. Hostility to imperial federalism was nurtured and maintained by Mercier's continuous, multi-pronged and organised critique. This opposition to imperial federalism has been overlooked as a key issue in Mercier's political strategy. Disappointment with Confederation and the centralising tendencies of the federal government, coupled with surging French-Canadian nationalism, allowed Mercier to successfully frame imperial federation as a threat to provincial autonomy and to French-Canadian survival. Mercier's strategy relied on rhetoric, spectacle and political savvy in a successful example of elite opinion formation. An 1890 motion in the Quebec Assembly condemning imperial federation and an 1892 oratory contest on Canada's future at Sohmer Park, in Montreal, are examined through Montreal press coverage to illustrate the effectiveness of Mercier's critique that transcended partisan and ethnic divisions.
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ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.