Bourassa, Robert Elected Member of the National Assembly in the Québec provincial election of 1966, he became Premier in April 1970 at the age of 36. Soon after, he was faced with the FLQ and the October Crisis. He requested the assistance of the federal government on October 16, 1970 because of an apprehended insurrection. Although he left politics in 1976, after the elections of the Parti Québécois, he came back as Premier from 1985 to 1994.

Chartrand, Michel Union activist and leader, he became president of the Montreal construction union ( Conseil central des Syndicats nationaux de Montréal ). Strong nationalist, he was a vocal leader during the October Crisis, supporting the positions of the FLQ. He was jailed for sedition.

Civil rights (freedoms) Personal rights of the individual citizen, which include, among other things, the right to be protected against unwarranted or arbitrary arrests, detentions, searches and seizures, and the right to an attorney.

Cross, James Former British trade commissioner in Montréal. He was captured by the FLQ on October 5, 1970 and released, after a police raid, on December 3, 1970.

Drapeau, Jean Lawyer and politician, he entered municipal politics in 1954 at the age of 37. He ruled the city of Montréal as mayor for 29 years. He gave Montréal the 1967 World Exposition, the Olympic Games of 1976, and a unique subway system. During the October Crisis, he was a very influential figure, formally requesting the intervention of the army to prevent an insurrection. He resigned from politics in 1986.

FLQ Front de Libération du Québec (FLQ). A revolutionary movement created in 1963 that strived for an independent and socialist Québec. It used propaganda, violence, and terror to promote its message. It was officially dismantled in 1971.

Laporte, Pierre Former Québec minister of labour and vice-premier of Québec. He was kidnapped by the FLQ on October 10, 1970 and was found dead by the police seven days later. His funeral was held on October 20 in Montreal.

Lévesque, René Journalist and politician, he joined the Québec Liberal Party and was elected Member of the National Assembly in 1960. In 1967, he left the party and founded the Mouvement souveraineté-association, which in October 1968 became the Parti Québécois. He became Premier of Québec in the provincial elections of 1976. He left politics in 1984.

Parti Québécois Socio-democratic political party founded in 1968 by René Lévesque that promotes Quebec independence paired with an economic union with the rest of Canada .

Quiet Revolution: Term used to describe the period during the 1960s marked by drastic reforms to modernize the Quebec State and society.

Ryan, Claude Journalist and politician, he was an influential authority in Québec, notably during the Quiet Revolution. Mr. Ryan was editor of Le Devoir newspaper (1964-1978) and very critical of the proclamation of the War Measures Act. Elected as Member of the National Assembly in 1979, he later became leader of the Liberal Party of Québec and held several portfolios.

Sharp, Mitchell Public servant and politician, he was elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1963. He became minister of trade and commerce and then minister of finance. After running unsuccessfully for the Liberal leadership in 1968, he became Secretary of State for External affairs under PM Trudeau (1968-74). During the kidnapping of James Cross and the October Crisis, he played a key role in the negotiations with Great Britain .

Trudeau, Pierre Elliot Professor, constitutional lawyer, and politician, he was elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1965. He became leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Prime Minister in 1968. The most dramatic event of his fist mandate was the October Crisis and the proclamation of the War Measures Act. Mr. Trudeau left politics in 1984.

Vallières, Pierre Originally a journalist in Montréal, he joined the Front de Libération du Québec in 1965. Convinced that Québec could survive only as an independent, socialist country, and impressed by the example of revolutionary movements elsewhere, he pushed the FLQ to use violence and terror to achieve its goals.

War Measures Act Initially adopted in 1914, the War Measures Act (WMA) assigned emergency powers to the federal government during periods of war, invasion or insurrection, apprehended or real. The WMA was replaced in 1988 by the Emergency Act.