Changes: The Red Changes: The Red River Settlement River Settlement between 1860- 1870between 1860- 1870SS 10 SS 10 NAULTNAULTHorizons textHorizons textPages 155- 162Pages 155- 162

Lots of changes in the Lots of changes in the 1860’s…1860’s…

Many people immigrated Many people immigrated to the Northwestto the Northwest

Canada became a Canada became a dominion (a country that dominion (a country that rules itself)rules itself)

The HBC started to The HBC started to declinedecline

Many Canadians moved Many Canadians moved West to find available West to find available farm landfarm land

The Orange OrderThe Orange Order

Many of the new Canadian settlers were Many of the new Canadian settlers were Protestants and members of the Orange Protestants and members of the Orange Order:Order: A violently anti- French, anti- Catholic A violently anti- French, anti- Catholic

movementmovement

They were prejudiced against the Metis They were prejudiced against the Metis (surprise!) because they were French, (surprise!) because they were French, Catholic, and of mixed heritage…Catholic, and of mixed heritage…

The Orange OrderThe Orange Order

Although they were small in number, the Although they were small in number, the presence of the Protestants increased tensions presence of the Protestants increased tensions in the Red River a lot.in the Red River a lot.

One of the first immigrants was Dr. John One of the first immigrants was Dr. John Schultz, he opened a general store, took over Schultz, he opened a general store, took over the newspaper “The NorWester”the newspaper “The NorWester”

By the end of the 1860’s he had organized a By the end of the 1860’s he had organized a small group called the Canadian Party which small group called the Canadian Party which hoped to gain control of the settlement.hoped to gain control of the settlement.

Dr. John

Schultz

Economic problems…Economic problems…

Economic problems in the Red River Economic problems in the Red River contributed to rising tensions…contributed to rising tensions… Crop failuresCrop failures Decrease in bison Decrease in bison Less investment by the HBCLess investment by the HBC

Land ownership issues…Land ownership issues…

Added to this was the fact that:Added to this was the fact that: The Metis never made legal claim to their The Metis never made legal claim to their

territory although they had farmed it for territory although they had farmed it for yearsyears

According to HBC policy, all HBC employees According to HBC policy, all HBC employees were entitled to their farmland if they lived on were entitled to their farmland if they lived on it for 3 yearsit for 3 years

PROBLEM: The Metis believed that if a PROBLEM: The Metis believed that if a person cleared the land and farmed it, they person cleared the land and farmed it, they had the right to it.had the right to it.

Canada Purchases Canada Purchases Rupert’s LandRupert’s Land

John A Macdonald and D’Arcy McGee John A Macdonald and D’Arcy McGee wanted to create a country stretching wanted to create a country stretching from sea to seafrom sea to sea

The HBC wanted to sell Rupert’s Land The HBC wanted to sell Rupert’s Land because the fur trade was declining and because the fur trade was declining and they were finding it difficult to maintain they were finding it difficult to maintain control over such a large territorycontrol over such a large territory

The negotiations begin…The negotiations begin…

The HBC and the Canadian government began The HBC and the Canadian government began negotiations to transfer control of Rupert’s negotiations to transfer control of Rupert’s LandLand

No one bothered to consult the people who No one bothered to consult the people who lived in the Red River Settlementlived in the Red River Settlement

They reached an agreement in November They reached an agreement in November 1869- Rupert’s Land joined the North-Western 1869- Rupert’s Land joined the North-Western Territory and the entire area was renamed Territory and the entire area was renamed “The North- West Territories” (see pg 157)“The North- West Territories” (see pg 157)

The New CanadaThe New Canada

After this deal, Canada doubled in size.After this deal, Canada doubled in size. The HBC received $1.5 million from the The HBC received $1.5 million from the

government, and 2.8 million hectares of government, and 2.8 million hectares of prairie farmlandprairie farmland

Before the deal was finalized, land Before the deal was finalized, land surveyors arrived in the Red River surveyors arrived in the Red River settlement and started laying out grids for settlement and started laying out grids for the townships…the townships…

Problems brewing…Problems brewing…

The land surveyors assumed that the The land surveyors assumed that the people who lived on the land did NOT people who lived on the land did NOT own it and had no right to claim it…own it and had no right to claim it…

THAT SAME YEAR, THAT SAME YEAR, LOUIS RIEL RETURNED LOUIS RIEL RETURNED TO THE RED RIVER…TO THE RED RIVER…

Louis RielLouis Riel Born in 1844, he was the son of Louis Born in 1844, he was the son of Louis

Riel Sr. who was the Metis leader for Riel Sr. who was the Metis leader for many years.many years.

He was a literate, well- educated lawyerHe was a literate, well- educated lawyer He was fluent in both English and FrenchHe was fluent in both English and French He was an excellent speakerHe was an excellent speaker He was only 24 years old when he He was only 24 years old when he

returned to the Red Riverreturned to the Red River(Film: Louis Riel: (Film: Louis Riel: The Red River Rebellion)The Red River Rebellion)

The Red River RebellionThe Red River Rebellion

In 1869, the tensions in the red River In 1869, the tensions in the red River were very highwere very high

Settlers were angry at the HBC and at Settlers were angry at the HBC and at the land surveyorsthe land surveyors

Riel formed the Metis National Riel formed the Metis National Committee to fight for Metis rightsCommittee to fight for Metis rights

Tensions rise…Tensions rise…

That summer, the Metis confronted the That summer, the Metis confronted the surveyors and told them to go back to Ottawa surveyors and told them to go back to Ottawa because they intended to govern themselvesbecause they intended to govern themselves

Then, several Metis (under Riel’s command) Then, several Metis (under Riel’s command) seized Fort Garry and stole the munitionsseized Fort Garry and stole the munitions

THE RED RIVER REBELLION HAD BEGUN!THE RED RIVER REBELLION HAD BEGUN!

Goal of the RebellionGoal of the Rebellion

Riel and supporters simply wanted to Riel and supporters simply wanted to ensure that the people of Red River ensure that the people of Red River would retain their rights and traditions would retain their rights and traditions when it came under Canadian when it came under Canadian government rule.government rule.

They did not want to rebel against They did not want to rebel against Canada…Canada…

The The Provisional GovernmentProvisional Government

Riel set up a Riel set up a Provisional gov’tProvisional gov’t

They wanted the Red They wanted the Red River Settlement to River Settlement to join Canada as it’s join Canada as it’s own province- own province- ManitobaManitoba

Riel’s Provisional Government

The The Provisional GovernmentProvisional GovernmentWhy did Riel want a Why did Riel want a

new province?new province?

- He feared that if - He feared that if McDougall took McDougall took charge of the area, charge of the area, the Metis would be the Metis would be ignored and would ignored and would lose their rightslose their rights

Metis List of RightsMetis List of Rights

(see page 159)(see page 159)

What do you think of these rights?What do you think of these rights? Are they fair?Are they fair?

Civil War?Civil War?

Riel feared that a civil war would begin Riel feared that a civil war would begin because the Canadian Party was armed because the Canadian Party was armed and ready to attack the Metisand ready to attack the Metis

To stop this from happening…To stop this from happening… Riel led a party of armed Metis to Schulz’s Riel led a party of armed Metis to Schulz’s

home (headquarters of Canadian Party)home (headquarters of Canadian Party) They took 48 of Schulz’s followers to Fort They took 48 of Schulz’s followers to Fort

GarryGarry

Riel and MacdonaldRiel and Macdonald

After this, Riel declared that he was After this, Riel declared that he was ready to negotiate with the Canadian ready to negotiate with the Canadian governmentgovernment

Macdonald refused to recognize Riel and Macdonald refused to recognize Riel and would not negotiate with himwould not negotiate with him

THE METIS DID NOT GIVE UP!THE METIS DID NOT GIVE UP!

Escape from Fort GarryEscape from Fort Garry

Schultz escaped Fort Garry and plotted Schultz escaped Fort Garry and plotted to free the other prisonersto free the other prisoners

However, the Metis arrested them again However, the Metis arrested them again shortly after they escapedshortly after they escaped

One of the prisoners was a member of One of the prisoners was a member of the Canadian Party named: the Canadian Party named:

Thomas ScottThomas Scott

Thomas ScottThomas Scott

Scott was a particularly Scott was a particularly out spoken and out spoken and belligerent member of belligerent member of the Canadian Partythe Canadian Party

He was strongly anti- He was strongly anti- Metis and was verbally Metis and was verbally and physically abusive to and physically abusive to the guards in jailthe guards in jail

He also threatened Louis He also threatened Louis Riel’s lifeRiel’s life

Thomas ScottThomas Scott

In response to his behaviour, Riel and his In response to his behaviour, Riel and his provisional government decided to provisional government decided to execute him in March execute him in March

Although all six members of the firing Although all six members of the firing squad took aim together, they did not kill squad took aim together, they did not kill Scott immediatelyScott immediately The squad director had to shoot him again to The squad director had to shoot him again to

kill himkill him

OUTRAGE!OUTRAGE!

Schultz and the Orange Order made Schultz and the Orange Order made Thomas Scott into a Protestant martyr Thomas Scott into a Protestant martyr who had been cruelly murdered by the who had been cruelly murdered by the MetisMetis

Cries for justice and retaliation soon Cries for justice and retaliation soon reached the government officials in reached the government officials in OttawaOttawa

(Looking for bias in Thomas Scott articles)(Looking for bias in Thomas Scott articles)

A Compromise…A Compromise…

In April, Macdonald finally offered a In April, Macdonald finally offered a compromise to the Metis:compromise to the Metis: He did not allow provincial control of public He did not allow provincial control of public

landslands

BUTBUT He did give the Metis 200 000 hectares of He did give the Metis 200 000 hectares of

land to recognize their aboriginal titleland to recognize their aboriginal title

Manitoba becomes a Manitoba becomes a province…province…

On May 2On May 2ndnd,,

legislation legislation

confirmed thatconfirmed that

Manitoba would Manitoba would

be included into be included into CanadaCanada

Riel flees into exileRiel flees into exile

When government troops arrived in the Red When government troops arrived in the Red River in August, River in August, RIEL WAS GONE…RIEL WAS GONE…

He (wisely) had fled to the USA…He (wisely) had fled to the USA…

All of the member of the provisional government were All of the member of the provisional government were granted Amnesty- except Riel-granted Amnesty- except Riel-

HE WAS BANISHED FROM CANADA FOR 5 YEARSHE WAS BANISHED FROM CANADA FOR 5 YEARS

Riel in ExileRiel in Exile

Riel would spend the next 15 years in Riel would spend the next 15 years in exile in the United States…exile in the United States…

HOWEVER,HOWEVER,

He would later return to He would later return to

take up a new cause…take up a new cause…