Red River Rebellion
Métis, Louis Riel, Rebellion, Resultsof the Rebellion
Expanding on to Métis Land- why werethey worried?
•The population of the Red River settlement wasmainly French-speaking Catholic- the inauguralgovernment of Canada was English and had ties toBritain still.
•Although the Métis had been on the land forgenerations, they had no proof from the governmentthat the land they were farming on belonged tothem.
•Before confederation, how did the Métis peopleagree and verify their treaties?
Métis List of Rights- what they wantedfrom the Government
•Provincial status for Rupert’s Land and theNorth-West.
•A Legislative Assembly for the province.
•Recognition of both French and English asofficial languages.
•The right to sign treaties with the FirstNations.
•Does anyone know why the Métis would wantthese rights?
Causes of the Red River Rebellion
•Without permission from the Métis, theCanadian Government sent surveyors to thesettlement to divide the land similar to theland in Ontario.
•Louis Riel created a National Committee todecide the future of the Métis and theycreated the list rights the wanted.
Causes of the Red River Rebellion-continued
•The rebellion officially started when PrimeMinister Macdonald sent William McDougall tobe the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Westbut when McDougall arrived at the settlement hewas denied entry because they wanted their landclaims resolved first
•The Federal government did not want to meetwith the Métis and solve their issues.
•As a result, the Métis took over Fort Garry whichwas a center for the Fur Trade in the Red Riverarea
December 7th, 1869
•Louis Riel and his group of Métis supporterstook over a store owned at the time by Dr.Charles Schultz (who was a leader of theEnglish Protestants living on the settlement).
•Once they had control, Riel jailed 40 Schultz’sguard at Fort Garry.
•Dec 8th- the Métis established their owngovernment.
Ending the Rebellion- Mid December1869
•A representative from Ottawa was sent to FortGarry to stop the rebellion. He told the Métisthat the government would recognize their landrights.
•Riel was made the head of Council that includedEnglish and French speaking people on the RedRiver settlement. The council made changes tothe Métis list of rights (a Roman Catholic schoolsystem separate from the Protestant system).
What’s Happening in Ontario?
•Many civilians were unhappy with theproceedings on the settlement.
•February, 1870- a group of 600 men set out toattack Fort Garry and free the prisoners of Dr.Shultz’s store.
•Riel responded by sending Métis horsemen tostop the attack.
•What do you think happened?
•The Métis captured 48 new prisoners.
One Prisoner- Thomas Scott
•Thomas Scott was one of those 48 who werecaptured and vowed to kill Louis Riel when hewas set free.
•Scott tried to escape but was recaptured andexecuted.
Reaction from Ontario and Quebec
•The English-speaking people of Ontario wereangry about the execution and want PrimeMinister Macdonald to send army troops.
•The French-speaking people of Quebec didnot feel the same way and believed Scottdeserved to die.
•Riel was hero to the French because he stoodup for their culture even though he wasthousands of miles away.
March 1870
•Prime Minister Macdonald did not want angerOntario or Quebec.
•As a result, Ottawa reached an agreementwith the Métis representatives and therebellion was over.
Results of the Rebellion
•The Métis were granted most of the land they askedfor in their List of Rights.
•July 15th, 1870- Manitoba became the 5th province.
•Macdonald sent an army to Red River to restoreorder. When the army reached Fort Garry, all Métiswho tool part in the rebellion were not criminallycharged.
•However, Riel and two other leaders were charged.
•This forced Riel to run away. Does anyone knowwhere?
Task- questions
•Should Thomas Scott be executed? Why?
•If you were the Prime Minister, what wouldyour decision have been keeping in mind thedifferences between English Ontario andFrench Quebec?
•Should Louis Riel be arrested? Why
•If you were Riel, what would you do? Why?