During the twentieth century, Canada as a nation witnessed and endured several historical events that had a profound and profound influence on Canadian politics. The most influential and consistent force in 20th century Canadian politics has been the growing power and command of Quebec nationalism and the influence it has had on Canadian politics today. Quebec nationalism shaped the structure and dynamics of Canadian federalism from a centralized to a decentralized federal form of government (Beland and Lecours 2010, 423). The decentralization of several sectors within the Canadian government was a direct effect of Quebec nationalism. Decentralization has led to greater autonomy among provincial governments, especially in the province of Quebec. This article will argue that Quebec nationalism influenced Canadian politics through decentralization. More importantly, the decentralization of Canadian politics can be determined at the constitutional, institutional and political levels. To fully understand the impact that Quebec nationalism has had on Canadian politics, it is important to first understand the roots of Quebec nationalism. Quebec was founded in 1608, originally called New France, by the French (McRoberts 1991, 412). However, in 1759 New France came under the power of the English (McRoberts 1991, 412). British rule did not lead to assimilation, so the Francophone language and culture were preserved despite the British authorities' initial intention to do so. (McRoberts 1991, 413). In 1837, Quebec was merged with Britain's predominantly English-speaking colony, Upper Canada (McRoberts 1991, 413). Together, Quebec and the Anglophone colony created Lower and Upper Canada, respectively... middle of paper... "Federalism, nationalism and the decentralization of social policy in Canada and Belgium." Regional and Federal Studies 17, no. 4 (2007): 405-419. Cameron, David R. and Jacqueline D. Krikorian. “Recognizing Quebec in the Constitution of Canada: Using the Bilateral Constitutional Amendment Process.” University of Toronto Law Journal, 2008: 389-420.Courchene, Thomas J. The Case for Decentralized Federalism. Ottawa, Ontario: University of Ottawa Press, 2010. Guiberneau, Monsterrat. "National identity, devolution and secession in Canada, Great Britain and Spain". Nations and Nationalism 12, no. 1 (2006): 51-76. Kukucha, Christopher J. "Dismembering Canada? Stephen Harper and the Foreign Relations of the Canadian Provinces." Review of Constitutional Studies 14, n. 1 (2009): 21-52. McRoberts, Kenneth. “Canada's Constitutional Crisis.” Current history 90 (1991): 411-416.