The North-West Rebellion 1885

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The North-West Rebellion 1885

• In 1884 Gabriel Dumont traveled to Montana to
  convince Louis Riel to return to Manitoba.
• When Riel first returned to the North-West he
  seemed to have no thought of an armed rebellion.
• Riel dreamed of bringing the Aboriginal peoples,
  the Metis and the settlers together. They would
  speak to Ottawa with one voice.
• A petition was drawn up and sent to Ottawa.
• The government promised to look into the
  problems, but no action was taken.

Louis Riel
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The North-West Rebellion 1885

• By 1885 , Riel was tired of waiting for Ottawa to
  take action.
• He once again set up his own government and armed
  his followers. Then he could pressure the
  Canadian government to provide a better deal for
  the citizens of the North-West.
• It was much riskier now that the North-West
  police existed and the railway could get the
  troops closer to Manitoba then before.
• Riels call to take up arms lost him the support
  of settlers. He also lost support of the Roman
  Catholic church when he encouraged the use of
  arms. Only French speaking Metis and some
  Aboriginal people continued to support him.
• Chiefs Big Bear and Poundmaker and their
  followers joined Riel.

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What They Wanted

• What the Metis wanted
• legal proof that they owned the small spaces of
  land where they lived.
• A voice in their own government.
• What the Aboriginal Peoples wanted
• food and more money in exchange for the use of
  their land many people were close to starvation
  with the buffalo almost wiped out.

• What the Settlers wanted
• lower prices for farm machinery and for moving
  goods on the railroad.
• Higher prices for their wheat.
• A stronger voice for the North-West in Ottawa.

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Ottawa Sends Troops

• After the Mounties were defeated at Duck Lake,
  the government sent troops immediately to put
  down the rebellion.
• But still sections of the railway were unfinished
  and the troops could not ride the rails to
  Manitoba.
• The railroad saw this as a good opportunity to
  use these events to get another loan to finish
  the tracks.
• The railway supplied sleighs for the troops, but
  it was still a terrible journey between the
  unlaid tracks.
• 5,000 troops and 50 mounted police were now in
  the West.

Troops get ready to leave to put down the Riel
Rebellion
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Story of a Rebellion

• Fish Creek April 24th, 1885
• General Middleton and 850 troops march towards
  Batoche.
• Gabriel Dumont and the Metis trap the army in a
  shallow ravine.
• Dumont slows down the army and give Riel time to
  gather a larger force.
• Batoche May 9th, 1885
• Middletons plan is to use the Hudsons Bay
  steamer Northcote. It was fitted as a gunboat.
• The Northcote arrives too early and the Metis set
  a trap.
• The Metis had sharpshooters hidding in pits.
• But after 3 days they run out of ammunition.

• Cut Knife Hill May 2nd, 1885
• Colonel Otter decides to pursue Poundmaker. He
  wants to stop Poundmaker and Big Bear from
  combining forces and helping Riel at Batoche.
• Otter wants to move forward at night and attack
  at daybreak. But the Cree are ready for the
  attack.
• Just before they are completely surrounded Otter
  orders a retreat to Battleford.

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Riel Surrenders May 15th, 1885

• After the defeat at Batoche, Riel writes a letter
  to Middleton. He offers to surrender if the
  Metis are allowed to go free.
• Dumont tries to persuade Riel to flee with him to
  the U.S.
• Riel refuses and Dumont slips between the
  military patrols and enters the U.S.
• After hearing of Reils surrender, Poundmaker
  surrenders 8 days later.
• On July 2nd, 1885 Big Bear surrenders to the
  North-West Mounted Police.
• The Rebellion is over after 100 days.

Drawing of Louis Riel on horseback
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Sharpshooters return to Ontario after the end of
the rebellion
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Trials in the North-West
After the rebellion he was sentenced to 3 years
in Stoney Mountain Penitentiary. After 2 years
he was released and died soon after.
After the rebellion he was also sentenced to 3
years in Stoney Mountain Penitentiary. After 2
years he was released but died a few months later.
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Louis Riel on Trial

• Riels trial was held in Regina. It has been
  called the most important trial in Canadian
  history. The outcome is still debated.
• Six settlers were chosen as his jury. All were
  English speaking and of the Protestant religion.
• Riels lawyers believed the only hope for him
  would be to plead insanity.
• Riel would not accept this plea. It would be a
  disgrace and would have made his fellow Metis
  look foolish for following and insane man.

A group of Metis supporters outside of Riels
Trial
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Louis Riel on Trial

• The lawyers for the Canadian government argued
  that Riel was sane.
• They argued that no insane person could lead 700
  people into a rebellion.
• They argued he had taken up arms against the
  government and was guilty of treason.
• The jury took only one hour and twenty minutes to
  find Riel guilty.
• He was sentenced to be hung by the neck until he
  was dead.

Riel addressing the court at his trial
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Riel is Executed

• Twice Riels execution was delayed.
• Sir John A. and his government were in a tough
  spot.
• If Riel were not hanged Ontario would be outraged
  and his party would lose votes.
• If Riel is hanged Quebec would be outraged and
  his party would lose votes.
• Finally, Macdonald decided to take his chances
  with losing support in Quebec.
• On November 16th, 1885, Louis Riel was hung at
  the Regina jail.

Riel stands outside his tent under guard during
his trial.
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Louis Riel 1844-1885
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Results of the Rebellion

• For the Aboriginal Peoples
• 1) The only Aboriginal rebellion in Canadian
  history was put down by force.
• 2) The Aboriginal peoples realized that the
  government was going to enforce the treaties.
  They had no other choice but to move onto the
  reserves.
• 3) Those who took part in the rebellion lost
  their annual government payments. Their horses
  and ammunition were taken.
• For the Metis
• 1) Many fled to the wilderness of northern
  Alberta.
• 2) Many took scrip worth 169-240, but once the
  money was gone they would have neither money nor
  land.
• 3) The Metis nation was broken up.
• For French-English Relations in Canada
• 1) The split was bitter. Neither side forgave the
  other for their views of Riel.
• 2) Hard feeling between Protestants and Catholics
  lasted long after the execution.

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Results of the Rebellion

• For Political Parties
• 1) Many in Quebec stopped voting Conservative.
• 2) Many in Quebec started voting for the Liberal
  party. Especially after the Liberals elected a
  French Canadian, Wilfrid Laurier as their leader.
• For Western Canada
• 1) The railroad was completed to bring troops
  west.
• 2) Settlers felt more secure moving west now that
  the rebellion had been put down.
• 3) Many of the soldiers stayed and settled in the
  west.

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Chapter 14 - Spreading the Word about Canada

• Advertising in Britain
• It was almost impossible to miss the signs and
  posters advertising Canada.
• Pamphlets, posters, slide shows and exhibitions
  vans all flooded the British with the advantages
  of moving to Canada.
• The government offered 65 ha of free land for
  homesteaders.
• Unfortunately, not all the advertising was true
  at the start. It is impossible to grow peaches
  in Saskatchewan.

• Advertising in the U.S.
• The government also wanted to attract American
  farmers.
• Clifford Sifton, the Minister of the Interior set
  up immigration agencies in Chicago, Kansas City,
  St. Paul and other large western cities.
• Lots of Americans came north because the land in
  the U.S. was more expensive.
• They received free land and had money left over
  to buy new machinery and horses. Plus the chance
  to expand their farms later on.,

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Siftons Immigration Policies

• Who should apply to immigrate to Canada
• Sifton wanted people like the Ukrainians, Poles
  and Germans. He believed they were solid farmers
  who could survive in the tough prairie
  environment.
• He arranged for agents of shipping companies to
  direct good settlers to Canada.
• They were paid 2 for each person and 5 for the
  head of each family they sent.
• The government set aside large areas of land so
  people from one country could settle.

• Who should not apply
• Orientals, Africans, Jewish, Italians and city
  dwellers were not encouraged to come.
• Sifton believed they would not make good farmers.
  
• This policy was known as selective immigration.

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Immigration to Canada
New arrivals going through health screeings
A pamphlet trying to entice settlers
U.S. immigrants arrive
Romanian immigrants
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Wilfrid Laurier

• Wilfrid Laurier was Canadas first French
  Canadian Prime Minister.
• At age 11 his father sent him to school in an
  English speaking settlement.
• He lived with a family of Scottish Protestants.
• As Prime Minister his knowledge of English
  speaking Canada was very useful.
• He was a lawyer by trade. In 1887 he became
  leader of the Liberal Party.

Prime Minister 1896-1911
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Sir Wilfrid Laurier
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Laurier House in Ottawa
Laurier statue on Parliament Hill