Franco-Americans and Quebec Separatism (live in, bill, rated)

[bigpotomac]

As far as I know, there has been no effort to mobilize Franco-Americans in support of Quebec separatism, even during its peak in the 1980s and 1990s. Does anyone know why not? There's a long history of ethnic politicking concerning U.S. foreign policy: Jews in support of Israel, Cuban-Americans against Castro, Indian-Americans in favor of stronger ties with India. Irish-American nationalism has a literally centuries-old history.

My hypotheses:

(1) By the time Quebec separatism reached the mainstream in the 1970s, the Franco-American population was already quite assimilated into U.S. society and just didn't care about matters in la patrie.
(2) Those Franco-Americans who maintained a strong ethnic identity who probably more likely to be practicing Catholics, and would be put off by the strongly secular, left-wing tone of Quebec politics,
(3) Like most Americans, Franco-Americans don't much care what happens in Canada.
(4) Quebec separatism was such an internal Canadian matter that there wasn't much point for the PQ to mobilize support south of the border. It wasn't as if the U.S. government would ever endorse an independent Quebec -- although Bill Clinton famously spoke against the sovereignty referendum.

Any thoughts?

[lexdiamondz1902]

Originally Posted by bigpotomac

As far as I know, there has been no effort to mobilize Franco-Americans in support of Quebec separatism, even during its peak in the 1980s and 1990s. Does anyone know why not? There's a long history of ethnic politicking concerning U.S. foreign policy: Jews in support of Israel, Cuban-Americans against Castro, Indian-Americans in favor of stronger ties with India. Irish-American nationalism has a literally centuries-old history.

My hypotheses:

(1) By the time Quebec separatism reached the mainstream in the 1970s, the Franco-American population was already quite assimilated into U.S. society and just didn't care about matters in la patrie.
(2) Those Franco-Americans who maintained a strong ethnic identity who probably more likely to be practicing Catholics, and would be put off by the strongly secular, left-wing tone of Quebec politics,
(3) Like most Americans, Franco-Americans don't much care what happens in Canada.
(4) Quebec separatism was such an internal Canadian matter that there wasn't much point for the PQ to mobilize support south of the border. It wasn't as if the U.S. government would ever endorse an independent Quebec -- although Bill Clinton famously spoke against the sovereignty referendum.

Any thoughts?

Firstly, there's a difference between Franco-Americans and and French Canadian Americans. Not all Americans of French origin have roots in Québec or have any ties to the region so why would they intervene?

Secondly, as you said earlier, most Québecois-Americans are 3+ generation Americans and know next to nothing about Québec. They generally can't speak French well, if at all, and wouldn't have much perspective on the issue of Québecois sovereignty.

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Those dadburn Franco-Americans!

Spaghetti-Os Discontinued As Franco-American Relations Break Down | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

[bigpotomac]

French-Canadians are technically not the only Franco-Americans, but the term is usually only applied to them. I've never heard any of the other groups of French ancestry who live in the United States called "Franco-Americans." These would include Haitian-Americans, the many varieties of Louisiana French, the descendants of colonial-era Huguenots, and those who would trace their ancestry back to the relatively small number of people who immigrated directly from France after American independence.

[jambo101]

While Quebec separation was a big issue in Canada back in the 60s and 70s the issue is no longer relevant as no one really cares any more,its now a tempest in a teapot solely confined within the borders of Quebec and the Francophone demographic within.,Whether Quebec stays within Canada or leaves is not something Canadians dwell upon anymore.As for Americans with some past connection to the francophone milieu? i'd bet most of them would be hard pressed to point Quebec out on a map and also have no interest in what goes on in Quebec.