Louis Riel

Manitoba

Becomes a

Province

Prime Minister Macdonald looks to the West

1. The west was purchased by

Canada from the Hudson Bay Company for L300,000

a. It still controlled 45,000 acres of land

b. It was granted 1/20 of all future land

surveyed for settlement

2. The transfer was set for Dec 1, 1869

3. Set up a provisional government to

administer the territory

4. People of the west were never consulted

The Red River Resistance of 18691. The Red River (Selkirk)

settlement is located in the area

around present day Winnipeg

2. By 1869, it had 12,000 people

a. 10,000 French Metis

b. 2,000 American, British, immigrants

from Ontario

c. Dr. Schultz, editor of the

Nor’Wester & member of the

Canadian Party pushed for union

with Canada (he wanted the west to

be English and Protestant)

3. Surveyors arrive to survey the land for the

Dawson Road (a road from Lake of the Woods

to Ft. Garry)

a. They were to survey the

land in the British Free

Market System (Square

Grids)

b. This system is different

than the long narrow river

lots (French System)

4. The settlers turn to

Louis Riel for help

a. Educated

b. Young (25 years old)

c. Fluent in French and

English

d. Wanted the Federal

Government to

respect the traditions

of the Red River

Settlement

1. Hunting & trapping

2. River lots

3. Language & religion

Riel Homestead, Manitoba

The Resistance Intensifies

1. October 11, 1869,

Riel stops the

government

surveyors from

entering the Red

River Area

2. October 21, 1869,

the National Metis

Committee stopped

Lt.-Gov. McDougall

from entering the

Red River

3. November 2, 1869, the Metis seize Fort

Garry

4. December 8, 1869, Riel establishes a

provisional government

a. set up an elected legislature

b. write a Bill of Rights

c. send petitions to Ottawa

d. arrest Orangeman who are causing

troubles

Thomas Scott is Arrested

1. Thomas Scott,

Orangeman from

Ontario, is arrested

and charged with

treason

2. He is given a jury

trial

3. Found guilty

4. executed

Execution

Manitoba Becomes 5th Province

1. Macdonald accepts Riel and his delegation to

negotiate Manitoba’s entry into confederation

2. May 12, 1870, the Federal government passes

the Manitoba Act creating the 5th province

effective July 15, 1870

a. Settlers given rights to land

b. French and English official languages

c. Catholic and Public schools accepted

d. Annual subsidy of $0.80/person until population

reaches 400,000 people

3. Riel was elected the MP for the area

a. the Conservative government refused

to accept him because they felt he was a criminal for his part in the execution of Thomas Scott