Louis Riel and the uprising of the Red River Colony

Lead up to Rebellion1869- arrival of land

speculatorsOriginal Metis settlers

angry with HBC for pursuing the sale of the land with their consultation

Surveyors also laying out square townshipsUnlike traditional strip lots of

Metis

Begin to wonder if Canadian Government is trying to take away their land

Lead up cont’d.Metis, under Louis Riel,

decide to confront the surveyors

Metis National Committee formed to confront Governor William McDougall

Told McDougall to go back to Ottawa as the Metis intended to govern themselves

The Stakes are raisedSeveral Metis under Riel’s command occupy Fort Garry and seize its munitions.

The Red River Rebellion had begun.

What they really wantedRiel and followers never wanted a rebellion

Only wanted to ensure that their people would keep their land and their rights after the land was transferred to Canadian authority

Riel set up a Provisional Government to negotiate

Drew up a list of rights (p.159)

Tensions riseThe Canadian Party, under McDougall’s

leadership was armed and ready to attack the Metis

Riel took the initiative and to seized the headquarters of the Canadian partyTook several people hostage and declared he

was ready to negotiate

Prime Minister John. A. Macdonald refused to recognize Riel or negotiate with him

ExecutionSchultz, leader of the Canadian

party, escapes from Fort GarryAnother prisoner, Thomas

Scott, threatens to kill Riel, verbally and physically abuses the guards.

On March 4, he was executed by firing squad by Riel’s provisional government

On March 9, Riel formally declares the the crisis had passed

Off to OttawaAfter the execution of Scott, a delegation of

Metis set off to Ottawa to negotiate the creation of the province of Manitoba

Prior to their arrival, Schultz, who had escaped, arrived in Ontario

He begins to make a martyr out of Scott so by the time the Metis arrive, they had a hard time getting recognition from Macdonald’s government

A new provinceThe Metis’ case is

finally heard in AprilMacdonald allows

200000 hectares of land to be given to the Metis.

On May 2, legislation is passed confirming Manitoba’s creation

VengeanceAs cries for retribution over Scott’s

death rose from the white protestants, Macdonald had to do something

He sends 1200 troops to arrest Riel and keep the peace until the transfer of power to a new provincial gov’t could be done

Riel fled the area fearing for his life to the United States and was banned from Canada for five years

He would spend the next 15 years in the U.S.

Other members of the provisional gov’t were granted amnesty