Louis Riel Manitoba and Rebellion

Rupert’s Land purchased from the HBC 1.5 million official date for the transfer was to be December 1, 1869 citizens were not consulted… population was about Metis English-Canadians from Ontario a few Americans most people lived along the Red River

oh boy… Metis were worried that the Canadians would take their land and culture away their fears were realized when surveyors began to plan rectangular townships when the sale was finalized, the Canadians at the settlement welcomed t hoping for an influx of settlers from Ontario the Metis felt that this would lead to a destruction of their culture Louis Riel to the rescue… ?

Louis Riel believed in the Metis cause spoke fluent English and French was Metis (half French/half Native) he was a well-educated, twenty-five year old young lad

Oh No They Didn’t… Ottawa new tensions were growing along the Red River but were not concerned October 11, Riel and his men stopped a government survey near the Red River a more serious challenge took place on October 21

Oh, ya, They Totally Did! Lieutenant-Governor of newly purchased Rupert’s Land, William MacDougal, was denied entry to the Red River Colony from the United States Riel seized Fort Garry (Winnipeg) and began planning negotiations with the Canadian government MacDougal wrongly declared that the HBC was no longer in control of the territory the Canadian government asked for the transfer of sovereignty to be postponed so, the Metis created a provisional government

A What? A Provisional Government a government established when a previous government collapses or is no longer able to rule Riel took MacDonald’s hesitation in transferring ownership as a void in leadership so, Riel took over ruling the Red River Settlement

Riel’s Government Riel negotiated directly with the Canadian government to establish Assiniboia (Manitoba) as a province, until…. THOMAS SCOTT he had resisted the provisional government he was imprisoned there, he abused guards and threatened to kill Riel he was put on trial, was found guilty and was executed

Reactions Quebec was sympathetic Riel was seen as a patriot standing up for French- Canadians Ontario Orangemen (English protestants) worked against the privileges sought by the Metis Prime Minister Macdonald refused to recognize the provisional government he sent negotiators to deal with the Legislative assembly - to which Riel was made President

Still Reacting… Macdonald was pressured to order troops into the Red River to end the rebellion eventually he did the journey took over ninety days - they marched the whole way

The Manitoba Act May 12, 1870 province of Manitoba was created separate Protestant and Catholic schools French and English were both official languages a bicameral legislature $ yearly subsidy and 80 cent per capita grant until the population reached