Maurice Duplessis (original) (raw)

Maurice Duplessis (20 April, 1890 - 7 September, 1959) was a Canadian politician, the Union Nationale premier of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1959.

A conservative and strong supporter of provincial rights, he was a founder of the Union Nationale party (1935), and his governments were characterized by the lavish use of patronage, anti-communism and strong-arm methods against labor unions, and effective electoral campaigning, often involving the Roman Catholic Church. A slogan commonly heard from the pulpit was Le ciel est bleu; l'enfer est rouge (Heaven is blue Union Nationale; Hell is red [ Liberal ]).

On January 21, 1948 he made one of his most enduring contributions to Quebec with the adoption of a national flag, the fleurdelys�, which replaced Great Britain's Union Jack at the top of the National Assembly.

After his death, Quebec society was caught up in a swift socio-cultural change away from his conservative, church-oriented policies towards a highly secular, socially liberal welfare state. This was called the Quiet Revolution (Révolution tranquille).

First Term

Second Term