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    Other factors of a cultural nature were added to the influences of economic depression. Ever since Confederation in 1949, and even well before, the government of Newfoundland had attempted to apply a policy of assimilation towards the French. It was an undeclared policy, of course, the chief instrument of which was the Church, which controlled education in the area. Attempts were made to impose the use of English through both lay and religious education. This "positive" aspect of assimilation was reinforced by another negative one, which was quite simply a lack of concern for the interests of the French.

    This negligence, demoralizing to the French, was buttressed by a disdainful attitude towards them on the part of anglophones on the West Coast and elsewhere. The most commonly used pejorative term aimed at the French-"Jacotar" or "Jackytar"- had been used since the early years of the nineteenth century to designate the descendants of mixed French-Micmac unions. In using the term, people made fun of the accent of the French when they spoke English, and of other qualities unkindly attributed to them such as laziness or immorality.

    This was the low point of their misfortune. Some French people even began scorning their language and culture. And then, all at once it seemed, the French took a new and apparently spontaneous interest in their future as French people. Several mutually reinforcing factors contributed to this renaissance.