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During his first 4 years in power Trudeau faced several politically volatile situations.  The most dramatic was his facing down a home grown terrorist threat of the Front de Liberation du Québec (or the FLQ).  For several years [[Quebec_separatist_movement|separatist]] thoughts were rising in the French-speaking province, and the FLQ decided to remove Quebec from Canada by force.  In October 1970, Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act, for the first and only time in Canadian history.  This gave the state broad powers of arrest and detention in a time of crisis.  When asked how far and how long he would take the measures, Trudeau famously replied "Just watch me".  Although the FLQ kidnappings would end with the death of Quebec cabinet minister Pierre Laporte, the FLQ had its back broken by military presence in the province who arrested only 2 dozen or so radicals.  The general public overwhelmingly supported the emergency powers and the presence of the military in Quebec.  When the crisis was over, Trudeau revoked the powers of the War Measures Act.

During his first 4 years in power Trudeau faced several politically volatile situations.  The most dramatic was his facing down a home grown terrorist threat of the Front de Liberation du Québec (or the FLQ).  For several years [[Quebec_separatist_movement|separatist]] thoughts were rising in the French-speaking province, and the FLQ decided to remove Quebec from Canada by force.  In October 1970, Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act, for the first and only time in Canadian history.  This gave the state broad powers of arrest and detention in a time of crisis.  When asked how far and how long he would take the measures, Trudeau famously replied "Just watch me".  Although the FLQ kidnappings would end with the death of Quebec cabinet minister Pierre Laporte, the FLQ had its back broken by military presence in the province who arrested only 2 dozen or so radicals.  The general public overwhelmingly supported the emergency powers and the presence of the military in Quebec.  When the crisis was over, Trudeau revoked the powers of the War Measures Act.

Trudeau would win only a minority government in the 1972 election, in part because of a slowing economy.  In the 1974 election Trudeau won a majority, in part for making fun of the then Conservative policy, which he would have to enact only one year later regardless because of high inflation.  The economy continued perform poorly through the late 1970s and Trudeau would loose his first general election to the Conservatives in 1979 under the young [[Joe Clark]].

Trudeau would win only a minority government in the 1972 election, in part because of a slowing economy.  In the 1974 election Trudeau won a majority, in part for making fun of the then Conservative policy, which he would have to enact only one year later regardless because of high inflation.  The economy continued perform poorly through the late 1970s and Trudeau would lose his first general election to the Conservatives in 1979 under the young [[Joe Clark]].

However this minority was short lived.  In 1980 Trudeau won another majority over Conservative Joe Clark, in which he would reform the Canadian constitution and entrench a [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms|Charter of Rights and Freedoms]].  It was during this term that Trudeau would also sow the seeds of western Canadian dislike of the central government, with the introduction of the National Energy Program.  A bitter dispute arose over the socialization of oil companies, to increase Canadian control and generate federal revenues from the energy sector.  Petro Canada was founded as a [[Crown Corporation]], although the Canadian government has since sold its stake in the company.

However this minority was short lived.  In 1980 Trudeau won another majority over Conservative Joe Clark, in which he would reform the Canadian constitution and entrench a [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms|Charter of Rights and Freedoms]].  It was during this term that Trudeau would also sow the seeds of western Canadian dislike of the central government, with the introduction of the National Energy Program.  A bitter dispute arose over the socialization of oil companies, to increase Canadian control and generate federal revenues from the energy sector.  Petro Canada was founded as a [[Crown Corporation]], although the Canadian government has since sold its stake in the company.