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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.
===1974 win===
===1974 win===
The Trudeau government was little interested in economic growth, and allowed prosperity give way to stagnation and recession as unemployment and inflation proved intractable. Trudeau was reelected with only a minority government in the 1972 election, in part because of a slowing economy. In the 1974 election Trudeau won a majority, after ridiculing Conservative economic policies, which he had to adopt himself a year later. The economy performed poorly through the late 1970s and Trudeau lost his first general election to the Conservatives in 1979 under the young [[Joe Clark]].
The Trudeau government was little interested in economic growth, and allowed prosperity give way to stagnation and recession as unemployment and inflation proved intractable. Trudeau was reelected with only a minority government in the 1972 election, in part because of a slowing economy. In the 1974 election Trudeau won a majority, after ridiculing Conservative economic policies, which he had to adopt himself a year later. The economy performed poorly through the late 1970s and Trudeau lost his first general election to the Conservatives in 1979 under the [[Joe Clark]]<ref> See [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0001651 ''Canadian Encyclopedia'' on Clark]</ref> Clark's minority government tried to privatize Petro Canada, but soon lost a no-confidence vote.
===1980 win===
===1980 win===
In 1980 Trudeau won a majority, easily defeating Conservative Joe Clark. In 1982, Quebec voters narrowly rejected a separatist "sovereignty-association" option, but many expected that sooner or later the province would vote for independence from Canada. To head this off, Trudeau engineered changes in the federal constitution, ending the role of the British Parliament in amending the constitution. Trudeau successfully mobilized Canada's major interest groups in support of a [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms|Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]--something like the American [[Bill of Rights]]. He persuaded all the to accept the new constitution, except for Quebec, which refused its assent. Frustrated, Trudeau resigned both the premiership and party leadership in June 1984.
In economic policy his goal was to use the riches of Alberta oil to fund national programs, despite the vehement objections of the Albertans. His National Energy Program caused a bitter dispute over the nationalization 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.
In economic policy his goal was to use the riches of Alberta oil to fund national programs, despite the vehement objections of the Albertans. His National Energy Program caused a bitter dispute over the nationalization 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.
==Retirement==
==Family ==
Trudeau retired from politics on June 30th, 1984 and was succeeded by [[John Turner]].
Trudeau retired from politics on June 30th, 1984 and was succeeded by [[John Turner]].
Trudeau remained active in law until late in his life and passed away on September 28, 2000 at the age of 80.
Trudeau remained active in law until late in his life and passed away on September 28, 2000 at the age of 80.
==Reputation==
Liberals in Canada still fondly remember Trudeau as a dashing hero. Conservatives still complain about his poor administrative practices and bad economic policies, as well as his personal arrogance and disregard of the needs of the west. However, they admire him for standing up to the Quebec separatists and keeping Canada united.
Liberals in Canada still fondly remember Trudeau as a dashing hero. Conservatives still complain about his poor administrative practices and bad economic policies, as well as his personal arrogance and disregard of the needs of the west. Trudeau's policy of bilingualism in the civil service led to continuing resentment in English-speaking Canada. However, he is admired for standing up to the Quebec separatists and keeping Canada united.
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==