When Jacques Cartier arrived in 1534, he found Iroquois settlements both in Québec City and Montréal. But it wasn’t until 1641 that Paul de Chomedy, Sieur de Maisonneuve, founded Montréal with the intention of converting the natives.
Confrontations with the Iroquois led to the French abandoning their mission. Instead, many went into the wilderness, developing a lucrative fur trade.
After France’s defeat at Québec City in 1759, the British conquered Montréal. American troops under General James Montgomery captured Montréal in 1775 but not Québec City. When British reinforcements arrived, the Americans retreated.
In the early 19th century, Montréal was a thriving, largely anglophone city. Francophones wanting more say launched the Patriote Rebellion of 1837-1838. The insurrection failed.
Until the 1970s, most business was conducted in English although francophones formed the majority. To change the situation, the Front de Libération (FLQ) started a terrorist campaign in 1963. They kidnapped British diplomat James Cross and Québec Cabinet Minister Pierre Laporte. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau enforced martial law. Cross was released in exchange for the kidnappers receiving safe passage to Cuba. But Laporte was murdered.
Businesses and anglophones fled the province. In the mid-1970s, the province enacted laws making French the dominant language. All signs, for instance, had to be in French only. Amended later, the law now allows English but French lettering must be larger. To insure compliance, the province created Office de la Langue Française. The language police can fine any infractions. Many Montréalers today speak a mix of English and French.
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