Red River Rebellion

1
Red River Rebellion

• Métis, Louis Riel, Rebellion, Results of the
  Rebellion

2
Expanding on to Métis Land- why were they worried?

• The population of the Red River settlement was
  mainly French-speaking Catholic- the inaugural
  government of Canada was English and had ties to
  Britain still.
• Although the Métis had been on the land for
  generations, they had no proof from the
  government that the land they were farming on
  belonged to them.
• Before confederation, how did the Métis people
  agree and verify their treaties?

3
Métis List of Rights- what they wanted from the
Government

• Provincial status for Ruperts Land and the
  North-West.
• A Legislative Assembly for the province.
• Recognition of both French and English as
  official languages.
• The right to sign treaties with the First
  Nations.
• Does anyone know why the Métis would want these
  rights?

4
Causes of the Red River Rebellion

• Without permission from the Métis, the Canadian
  Government sent surveyors to the settlement to
  divide the land similar to the land in Ontario.
• Louis Riel created a National Committee to decide
  the future of the Métis and they created the list
  rights the wanted.

5
Causes of the Red River Rebellion- continued

• The rebellion officially started when Prime
  Minister Macdonald sent William McDougall to be
  the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West but
  when McDougall arrived at the settlement he was
  denied entry because they wanted their land
  claims resolved first
• The Federal government did not want to meet with
  the Métis and solve their issues.
• As a result, the Métis took over Fort Garry which
  was a center for the Fur Trade in the Red River
  area

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December 7th, 1869

• Louis Riel and his group of Métis supporters took
  over a store owned at the time by Dr. Charles
  Schultz (who was a leader of the English
  Protestants living on the settlement).
• Once they had control, Riel jailed 40 Schultzs
  guard at Fort Garry.
• Dec 8th- the Métis established their own
  government.

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Ending the Rebellion- Mid December 1869

• A representative from Ottawa was sent to Fort
  Garry to stop the rebellion. He told the Métis
  that the government would recognize their land
  rights.
• Riel was made the head of Council that included
  English and French speaking people on the Red
  River settlement. The council made changes to
  the Métis list of rights (a Roman Catholic school
  system separate from the Protestant system).

8
Whats Happening in Ontario?

• Many civilians were unhappy with the proceedings
  on the settlement.
• February, 1870- a group of 600 men set out to
  attack Fort Garry and free the prisoners of Dr.
  Shultzs store.
• Riel responded by sending Métis horsemen to stop
  the attack.
• What do you think happened?
• The Métis captured 48 new prisoners.

9
One Prisoner- Thomas Scott

• Thomas Scott was one of those 48 who were
  captured and vowed to kill Louis Riel when he was
  set free.
• Scott tried to escape but was recaptured and
  executed.
  

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Reaction from Ontario and Quebec

• The English-speaking people of Ontario were angry
  about the execution and want Prime Minister
  Macdonald to send army troops.
• The French-speaking people of Quebec did not feel
  the same way and believed Scott deserved to die.
• Riel was hero to the French because he stood up
  for their culture even though he was thousands of
  miles away.

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March 1870

• Prime Minister Macdonald did not want anger
  Ontario or Quebec.
• As a result, Ottawa reached an agreement with the
  Métis representatives and the rebellion was over.

12
Results of the Rebellion

• The Métis were granted most of the land they
  asked for in their List of Rights.
• July 15th, 1870- Manitoba became the 5th
  province.
• Macdonald sent an army to Red River to restore
  order. When the army reached Fort Garry, all
  Métis who tool part in the rebellion were not
  criminally charged.
• However, Riel and two other leaders were charged.
• This forced Riel to run away. Does anyone know
  where?

13
Task- questions

• Should Thomas Scott be executed? Why?
• If you were the Prime Minister, what would your
  decision have been keeping in mind the
  differences between English Ontario and French
  Quebec?
• Should Louis Riel be arrested? Why
• If you were Riel, what would you do? Why?