Two major groups challenged the traditional and conservative nature of  Quebec society and its government. They were:

Union leaders

• They accuse Duplessis of opposing social progress and of serving American interests rather than the interests of Quebec workers. Throughout this period there were numerous strikes in Quebec. During the Asbestos strike of 1949 even church officials such as Bishop Charbonneau supported the strikers.

• Intellectuals such as Pierre Elliott Trudeau and René Lévesque opposed the Duplessis government and attacked the conservative nature of Quebec society in newspapers, magazine articles and television programs.