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About This Quiz
European exploration and colonization of the new world began following the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Not wanting to fall behind their rivals in Britain, Spain, and the Netherlands, the French funded numerous expeditions to the newly discovered continent in hopes of establishing a profitable empire. Explorers found North America teeming with rivers, wilderness, indigenous tribes and natural resources. France wanted a piece of the action.
The major French colony in present-day Quebec was known as New France. Between its foundation in the 16th century and its capitulation to the British in 1763, New France became the major enclave of French culture in North America. Today, that culture and history persevere. Approximately 30% of Canadians are French-speaking, with the majority living in the province of Quebec. The rich history of this unique location in North America is filled with warfare, agriculture, trade and peace. Join us on a 500-year journey through Quebec history, going all the way from its foundation to the separatist movements of the 1990s. How much do you know about the First Nation people that lived there, the French explorers who traversed the woods, and the major controversies of the 20th century? Take this quiz and find out!
This intrepid French explorer founded Quebec City in 1608.
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain was one of the most important colonists in the history of New France, founding Quebec City in 1608. He also drafted many maps, explored the interior, and fought against the Iroquois.
Louis de Baude de Frontenac
Jacques Cartier
Jean le Veneur
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Europeans couldn't get enough of this commodity, fueling economic growth in New France in its early years.
Copper
Beaver pelts
New France's early economic life revolved around the beaver pelt. Before a stable farming industry was established, men would roam the woods in search of beaver pelts, which Europeans used to line their hats.
Duck fat
Maple syrup
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Montreal hosted what many regard as the most successful World's Fair of the century. What was the year?
1952
1980
1967
Expo 67 was a defining moment for Montreal, taking place over the summer and fall of 1967. The event marked Canada's centennial anniversary and saw over 50 million attendees. The MLB Montreal Expos were named after the event.
1978
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The colonial age was rough and tumble. Which war was the Battle of Quebec (1690) part of?
King William's War
Eager New England colonists saw an opportunity to take on their French counterparts during King William's War. The British colonists rebelled with help of artillery and militia.
The Glorious Revolution
Thirty Years War
The French and Indian Wars
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Although Quebec has deep French roots, French did not become the initial language of the province until what year?
1897
1927
1997
1977
Surprisingly, French was not the official language of Quebec until 1977 and it remains the only province where French is the sole official language. The change followed the Silent Revolution, where French culture went to the forefront of politics.
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France's Catholic faith followed to the New World. Which of the following religious orders arrived in New France first?
Augustine
Ursuline
Jesuit
The Jesuit Society arrived in New France in 1615, the earliest of any of the groups listed. Jesuits served many functions for the Catholic church, including converting natives, founding universities and fighting.
Trappist
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Canada was an essential stop on the Underground Railroad. When did Canada abolish slavery?
1834
Slavery was not officially abolished in Canada until the British passed the Slavery Abolition Act of 1834, which ended slavery in all British dominions. Canada had attempted some of its own anti-slavery measures prior to the law.
1801
1865
1780
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On August 5, 1689, Mohawk warriors raided and massacred the inhabitants of Lachine. Who was the governor at the time?
Joseph-Antoine de La Barre
Marquis de Denonville
Tensions between the French colonists and the Iroquois had mounted over the 17th century, with repeated French incursions and attacks angering the indigenous people. After Governor General Marquis de Denonville led an attack on the Iroquois, they retaliated, killing many of the inhabitants of the small settlement at Lachine.
Le Comte de Frontenac
Marquis du Quesne
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Over 350 million trips are taken on the Montreal Metro every year. When did it open?
1927
1996
1966
The Montreal Metro is one of the busiest in North America, trailing only New York in ridership per capita. The Metro opened in 1966 before the Montreal Expo and currently contains 68 stations.
1945
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Why was Camillien Houge, mayor of Montreal, arrested in 1940?
Told men to ignore national draft registration
Camillien Houde was an esteemed Quebec politician, serving as an MP and as mayor of Montreal during the first half of the 20th century. During WWII, he urged men to ignore to sign up for the draft and was arrested on charges of sedition.
Committed fraud and money laundering in office
Urged for Quebec to separate from Canada during the war
Ordered the assassination of a political rival
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Less than 50 years after Columbus discovered America, which explorer laid claim to Canada for France?
Jean Ribault
Comte de Frontenac
Samuel Champlain
Jacques Cartier
A mariner from the French city of Saint-Malo named Jacques Cartier laid claim to Canada for the French when he planted a French flag in the land on the St. Lawrence River. He made three trips across the Atlantic Ocean.
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France could not hold on to Quebec forever. What treaty ceded control of New France to Great Britain?
Treaty of Seville
Treaty of Paris
France found itself on the losing side of the French and Indian War and was forced to cede control of all of its mainland North American colonies to Great Britain in the Treaty of Paris of 1763.
Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of London
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The arrival of French fur trappers sparked a fierce war between the French and what confederacy of indigenous tribes?
Iroquois
French explorers discovered that Canada was teeming with beavers and wanted in on the action. The result was a series of conflicts during the 17th century known as the Beaver Wars. They pitted French and their Algonquian allies against the Iroquois Confederacy.
Chocktaw
Illinois
Seminole
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Today, the Canadian Parliament is located in Ottawa. What Quebec city was it briefly in?
Gatineau
Laval
Quebec City
Montreal
Prior to national sovereignty, the Province of Canada had its Parliament Buildings in Montreal. Parliament stayed in the St. Anne's Market from 1844 until 1849, when a group of Tories burned it down.
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When did Montreal host the Olympic Games?
1976
The 1976 Summer Olympics took place in Montreal, the only Summer Olympics to occur in Canada. The year saw many dramatic events, including Bruce Jenner's decathlon gold medal and complete domination by the East German women's swim team.
1984
1952
1998
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The French established three main settlements in New France in the 17th century. Which of the following was NOT one of them?
Montreal
Quebec City
Gatineau
Quebec City is the oldest permanent settlement and was the capital of New France, founded back in 1608. Trois-Rivières, founded in 1634, was the second permanent settlement and Montreal was the third, settled in 1642.
Trois-Rivières
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The Clarity Act of 1999 issued an important declaration regarding what?
Allowed Quebec to write its own constitution
The terms for a province to separate from Canada
The Parliament of Canada passed the Clarity Act of 1999 after Quebec had two separation referendums. Even though neither of the polls passed, the Clarity Act set out the terms for secession negotiations at any point in the future.
The use of English and French in all public signage in Quebec
Re-established Quebec's loyalty to the British crown
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Quebec has had two independence referendums. When was the most recent?
1995
Jacques Parizeau and the Parti Quebecois government spearheaded a second vote on independence in 1995. The vote was very close, with the no vote winning with 50.58% of the vote on over 93% voter turnout.
1998
1988
2005
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Which of the following popular musical acts did not originate in Quebec?
Prince
Quebec is home to many talented artists and musicians, including some of Canada's most famous acts. The Arcade Fire, Celine Dion and Leonard Cohen are all from the province, while Prince is from Minnesota.
Leonard Cohen
Céline Dion
The Arcade Fire
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Today Quebec flies a blue and white Fleur-de-lis flag. When was the flag adopted?
1948
Quebec flew the Union Jack until they adopted the Fleur-de-lis flag. The flag represents France's past involvement on the North American continent. The Fleur-de-lis has origins from the ancient royal flags of France.
1881
2005
1765
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The Battle of Quebec (1759) was a decisive defeat for the French in the French and Indian War. Where was the battle fought?
Bois Beckett Forest
Mount Gosford
Montreal
Plains of Abraham
The Battle of Quebec saw the Marquis de Montcalm lose decisively to Maj. Gen James Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham. The battle took place after a three-month-long siege of Quebec City and precipitated the fall of New France.
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When Jacques Cartier arrived on Montreal Island, he found a large walled Iroquoian village. What was its name?
Wis Ahsen
Hochelaga
French explorer Jacques Cartier discovered a large Iroquoian village on the island of Montreal when he sailed down the St. Lawrence River in 1535. The village had around 3,000 inhabitants and was protected by walled palisades.
Rahronkas
Onekwenhtara
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What are members of the Parti Québécois referred to?
Généreux
Péquistes
The Parti Québécois is comprised of Péquistes, left-leaning French-Canadians that want to separate from the rest of Canada. They spearheaded two independence referendums, but neither was successful.
Souverainetistes
Bloquiste
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Which group founded the Collège de Québec in 1634?
Ursulines
French Marines
Jesuits
The Jesuits were not in New France long before they established the colony's first university, the Collège de Québec. Today, the college is named St. Charles Garnier College and remains operated by Jesuits.
Dutch merchants
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When Jaques Cartier arrived in Canada, he found many groups of indigenous people. Which First Nations people did not live in New France?
Iroquois
Huron
Algonquian
Seminole
The Algonquin and Iroquoian people were tribes within a similar language group and culture that lived in Quebec and other places before European contact. The Seminole people are originally from Florida.
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A notorious murder-suicide cult operated in Quebec during the 1980s and 1990s. What was its name?
Order of the Solar Temple
The Order of the Solar Temple gained international notoriety as a deadly cult after a series of mass-suicides and murders occurred throughout the 1990s, leaving 74 dead across Switzerland, Quebec and France.
Superior Universal Alignment
The Ant Hill Kids
The Brethren
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The fur trade became the center of economic life in the early days of New France. What were fur trappers called?
Charpentiers de sauvage
Groseillers
Mangeurs de castor
Coeurs de bois
The coeurs de bois were Frenchmen who roamed the American wilderness in search of beaver furs to trade with the indigenous people or bring back to the ports to sell to Europe. They would spend the whole summer season out in the woods.
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Quebec comes from the Algonquian word Kébec. What does the word mean?
Wild River
Where the River Narrows
The Algonquin referred to the present-day location of Quebec City as Kébec, which means "where the river narrows." This is a reference to the St. Lawrence River narrowing right before the banks of the city.
Land of Green Water
Land Built by Beaver
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Name the politician who founded the Parti Québécois.
Andre Boisclair
René Lévesque
René Lévesque founded the Parti Québécois in 1968 intending to establish a sovereign Quebec without the use of extreme tactics. He became the Premier of Quebec in 1976 and was a prominent political figure.
John Abbot
Francis Fox
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The bloody Biker Wars were fought between the Quebec Hell's Angels and what rival faction?
Gabriel's Chosen
Outlaw Riders
Couers de bois
Rock Machine
The Quebec Biker War wreaked carnage across the province from 1994-2004, leaving over 160 dead and many more wounded. The turf war revolved around the sale of drugs, and many bombs and stolen dynamite were the weapons of choice.
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Which city's old town is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Quebec City
The 1.4km Historic District of Old Quebec is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is complete with cobblestones, stone walls and old buildings that look more European than North American.
Montreal
Trois-Rivières
Gatineau
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The Quiet Revolution launched many important reforms in post-WWII. Which of the following was NOT one of them?
Protection of French language
Secularization
Discontinuation of mandatory enlistment
The Quiet Revolution was a series of collective reforms and a political shift towards the secularization and liberalization of government. It minimized the role of the Roman Catholic Church and set the foundation for a welfare state.
Creation of a welfare state
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The British passed an act in 1774 guaranteeing the language and culture of the colony. What was it called?
The New France New Deal
The Paris Agreement of 1774
The Preservation of French Values
The Quebec Act of 1774
The British had assumed control of Quebec following The French and Indian War. To establish a permanent government that maintained the religious and legal customs of the region, they implemented the Quebec Act of 1774.
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Which of the following Canadian Prime Ministers was NOT from Quebec?
Jean Chrétien
Pierre Trudeau
Joe Clark
Five of Canada's Prime Ministers are of French-Canadian origins, including the incumbent Justin Trudeau. Brian Mulroney lived in Montreal, though he is an English speaker, and Joe Clark is from Alberta.
Brian Mulroney
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What was the name of the system that distributed land in rural New France?
Feudal revisionism
Post system
Seigneurial system
Outside of the three main settlements in New France, land was divided using the Seigneurial system. Landlords presided over a block of land and rented out strips to tenant farmers.
Strip farming
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