Final answer:
French Canadian Nationalism, associated with Honore Mercier, was a movement to protect French Canadian identity and equal status within Canada, especially in response to threats against French language rights and the issue of conscription during World War I.
Step-by-step explanation:
French Canadian Nationalism in the context of Honore Mercier was a political and cultural movement that sought to preserve the French Canadian identity, language, and traditions within the broader Canadian federation. At a time when French language rights were under threat in provinces such as Manitoba and Ontario, French Canadians, including Mercier, perceived themselves to be treated as second-class citizens in their own country. This sentiment was particularly intensified during the era of World War I, when conscription was introduced, leading to major political splits and social unrest within Canada. Mercier's nationalism was a response to these circumstances, advocating for greater provincial autonomy and respect for French Canadians as equal partners in the Canadian Confederation.