Transcript The Red River Rebellion - Trillium Lakelands District

Red River
And The Métis
The Events at Red River
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The Surveyors Arrive
National Committee of the Métis
The Lieutenant-Governor Arrives
Forming a Provisional Government
Negotiating
Trouble in Fort Gary
Trouble in Ottawa
The Province of Manitoba
Riel Leaves
Events leading up to Red River
• January 1869 Government of Canada
bought Rupert’s land from the Hudson’s
Bay company.
• The government was not allowed to take
over until December 1869, almost a year
later.
• No one from the government had spoken
to the people of the Red River Settlement.
Rupert’s Land
Red River
Red River Valley
The Surveyors Arrive
• In the summer of 1869 surveyors arrived
and started marking land into squares for
settlers.
• The problem was, the land that was being
surveyed was already claimed by Métis
families.
• The Métis became worried and angry.
• One man named Louis Riel who spoke for
the Métis told the surveyors to stop, they
did and left the area to avoid a fight.
National Committee of the Métis
• After the surveyors left the Métis from Red
River got together to discuss the situation
and they formed the National Committee
of the Métis.
• The Métis of Red River knew that the
surveyors would be back and would be
surveying the land for new settlers.
National Committee of the Métis
The Lieutenant-Governor Arrives
• October 1869, William McDougall, the new
Lieutenant Governor of the North West
Territories arrives in Red River.
• Canada had not taken over the territory yet.
• A group of Métis stopped McDougall from
entering Fort Garry, a key fort in the Red River
area.
• The Metis took over the fort and where able to
control the surrounding area.
William McDougall
Forming a Provisional Government
• The French and English speaking Métis in
the Red River realized that they needed to
form a government if they wanted to join
confederation and have the same rights as
other colonies.
• In December 1869 the Métis formed a
provisional government( a government
that takes over until a final government is
in place) and Louis Riel became the
leader.
Louis Riel
Negotiating
• John A. MacDonald decided it was better
to negotiate with the Métis provisional
government that to their land by force.
• MacDonald sent messengers to talk to the
Métis and the Métis in return sent three
delegates( Persons authorized to act as representative for others) to
Ottawa in February 1870.
• The delegates brought with them the Métis
Bill of Rights.
John A. MacDonald
Key Points of the Métis Bill of Rights
• The Métis would keep their culture,
including the use of both French and
English in education and law.
• The Métis would keep the right to their
land.
• The federal government would negotiate
treaties with First Nations in the area
Métis Traders
Fort Garry
Trouble in Fort Gary
• Not all of the settlers of Fort Garry agreed with
the provisional government.
• Some wanted the Red River to become a
English speaking Protestant province.
• During January 1870 these people planed to
attack the provisional government so Riel had
them thrown in jail.
• Riel agreed to release who promised to leave
the Red River settlement or obey the provisional
government.
Trouble in Fort Gary-Pt2
• Some men escaped and made plans to attack
Fort Garry again, but they were caught and
thrown back in jail.
• One of the men, named Thomas Scott said he
would escape and kill Louis Riel.
• Under traditional Métis law Scott’s actions were
serious offences so he was put on trail.
• Scott was found guilty and was executed by
firing squad on March 4th 1870.
Thomas Scott
Trouble in Ottawa
• When English speaking Protestants in Ottawa
found out about Thomas Scott’s execution they
became very angry. They wanted Louis Riel to
be punished.
• Because many Métis were French speaking, the
French supported Riel because they saw him as
defending French culture.
• John A. MacDonald decided not to arrest Riel so
that he would not loose the French voters in the
next election.
• MacDonald was also looking for a peaceful
solution.
Louis Riel and other Rebel Leaders
The Province of Manitoba
• MacDonald and the Métis worked out an
agreement-The Manitoba Act was created.
• The province of Manitoba was created on
the 15th of July 1870.
Manitoba in 1870
Key Point of the Manitoba Act
• Manitoba could send four members to the
House of Commons in Ottawa and two
members to the Canadian Senate.
• People in Manitoba could use either
French or English in schools and
government.
• Approximately 560000 hectors of land
was kept for Métis families.
Riel Leaves
• When Manitoba was created Riel was happy but he was
concerned that he would be charged with Thomas
Scott’s murder.
• MacDonald arranged to have Riel leave the country to let
things cool down, but Riel did not go.
• Riel did have to go into hiding because a militia was after
him and had decided to kill him. They did not succeed
• In 1874 Riel was elected to the house of commons but
was not allowed to take his seat. The new prime
minister, Alexander Mackenzie, agreed to grant Riel
amnesty if he left Canada for five years.
• Riel chose to leave this time.