As with many discussions of identity, there were some contradictions to the sense of identity and heritage shared by French Americans at this time. Although their lineage was rooted in France, because of the lack of support or protection during the hundred years of British attack and conquest, many French Canadians as well of course as those who migrated to America felt little connection to France and certainly did not consider it as their homeland. (14) Many felt like the language was the only connection they still had to France, and by consequence they developed strong roots in French Canada, which those who migrated carried with them. As France ceased to feel like home, in real memories and heritage as well as in the collective unconscious of French Canadians, Quebec and the Maritimes grew solidly as a cherished homeland. So much so that many Americans felt threatened by their attachment to it and their ethnic traditions. (15) Many French Canadians that settled in the United States made frequent trips back to their native villages, to keep in touch with relatives who did not make the trip as well as to reminisce; this also helped keep the culture strong.
Whenever immigration happens, there is a struggle of some sort between holding tight to the heritage of origin and seeking to build a new life in a new land, with new stories and traditions. Often there is the sense that one must relinquish the traditions of old in order to properly assimilate into the new society. While some do that eagerly, others resist and resent the implied need to do so, gripping tight to traditions that reflect their national and cultural origins.
French Canadians had become intent on preserving their cultural identity, and this desire traveled with them to the United States. As has been stated elsewhere, many were Roman Catholic, and this was an important facet of their identity. Family, including extended family, was also a strong part of French Canadian life and culture, out of love and kinship of course, but also out of necessity, as the predominant farming lifestyle relied on a family's worth of involvement. (16) It was common for three generations to live in the same house, and family celebrations were often big, all night affairs.
Edmond-Joseph Massicotte was a popular Quebecois artist-illustrator who depicted life in Quebec in the early twentieth century. (17) He has been compared to Norman Rockwell in the way he expressed a sense of sentimentality and nostalgia in his works, as well as in the way he has become part of the heritage and identity of Quebec. Any number of his works, found online, would be excellent additions to our timeline.
To emphasize some of the ideas behind the issues of identity here, you may wish to add components to the oral or written activities, such as differentiating between the language one speaks with family versus at work or adding vocabulary to reflect these concerns more explicitly. Also, students may be asked about why or when they
feel
French or American. With no information on a role card, students will need to think about their answers a little more deeply; for some this will be a welcome challenge, and for others it will be a little uncomfortable, so be sure to scaffold accordingly!