Torn during its existence between different ideological tendencies, the RIN essentially represented the left wing of the Quebec sovereignty movement of the 1960s.

Bourgault and his impassioned and fiery speeches contributed largely to the popularity of the RIN, and he is often wrongly believed to be the founder of the movement.

In 1963, Georges Schoeters, Raymond Villeneuve and Gabriel Hudon, ex-members of the RIN youth wing, left the party to form the underground revolutionary Front de Libération du Québec.

Their members and supporters were also present in the Montreal crowd and their symbols visible when French President Charles de Gaulle shouted his famed "Vive le Québec Libre" (Long live free Quebec).

Bourgault and D'Allemagne strongly believed that the forces for Quebec independence had to unite to challenge the "old parties" (Liberals and Union Nationale).

By 1968, the [Mouvement Souveraineté-Association had come to an agreement with the Ralliement National to form the Parti Québécois and deliberately excluded the RIN as an entity.