Major Developments

• The Asbestos strike of 1949 pitted workers against the state and company scabs. It is often seen as a turning point in organizing opposition to Duplessis.

• Agricultural changes - the government undertook a program of rural electrification - by 1956, 90 %  of the farms had electricity. Farm credit was offered to farmers who wanted to buy new equipment and agricultural cooperatives became more important.

• American mining companies invested heavily in the exploitation and mining of iron ore leading to the development in the 1950s of the Côte-Nord and Nouveau Québec regions.

• Padlock Law (1937) was passed originally to eliminate communist activists and sympathizers. The law permitted the police to lock any building used for communist activity. However it was also used against unions and government opponents. It was eventually declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada.

• Population growth - in the post-war period two factors help to increase Quebec's population:  increased immigration from Europe after the war and a high birth rate. Between 1946 and 1960, 135, 000 infants are born each year on average in Quebec.This phenomenon is known as the baby boom.

• Americanization of life - the end of World War 11 brought a period of economic prosperity to North America. The United States led the way and had a tremendous impact on our way of life. New consumer goods, radio and television, and American capital promoted the individual and material comfort.