Parti rouge, also known as Parti démocratique, was established about 1848 by a group of radical young francophone intellectuals who had helped found the
INSTITUT CANADIEN and who were inspired by the republican ideas of Louis-Joseph
PAPINEAU. Members included the Dorion brothers, Louis-Victor
SICOTTE, Joseph Papin and Joseph
DOUTRE. In the legislature and through
L'Avenir and
Le Pays, the
rouges advocated repeal of the
ACT OF UNION, annexation of Canada to the US, extension of the elective principle of government to all offices, abolition of the
SEIGNEURIAL SYSTEM and universal suffrage. Although their extremism moderated over time, they remained staunchly anticlerical and opposed to the
ULTRAMONTANE doctrines of Mgr
BOURGET, thereby ensuring the animosity of the church and limited popular support. After Confederation the Parti rouge merged with the
CLEAR GRITS of Canada West to form the basis of the
LIBERAL PARTY.
Louis-Joseph Papineau (Daguerrotype), politicianComplex and contradictory, Papineau was the first effective political leader of his people and a fitting symbol of their discontent (daguerrotype, courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-66899).
Links to Other Sites
Sir Wilfrid Laurier National Historic Site of Canada
This Parks Canada site offers an overview of the life and political career of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada (1896-1911).