In July 1977, the National Assembly of Quebec passed Bill 101, officially known as the Charter of the French Language. This landmark legislation declared French to be the official language of the provincial government, marking a decisive move to enhance the use of French in Quebec's public and private sectors. The Assembly's decision came amidst rising concerns among Francophones regarding the erosion of their linguistic and cultural identities in a province where English speakers had historically held considerable social, economic, and political power.

The new law mandated that French be used in all government operations, required public signs to be in French, and emphasized French as the language of instruction in schools. Special provisions were included for the education of children, aiming to ensure that future generations would be educated primarily in French unless parents could prove their proficiency and background in English. The legislation was met with enthusiastic approval from many Francophones, who viewed this as a necessary step towards cultural preservation and equality.

However, the law also sparked controversy and resistance from English-speaking communities and staunch defenders of bilingual rights. Critics argued that it marginalized anglophones in Quebec and conflicted with the province's historical identity as a bilingual society. Over the years, Bill 101 underwent various amendments and challenges; however, it laid the foundation for Quebec’s ongoing debates about language, identity, and multiculturalism, significantly shaping the province's social landscape for decades to come.