Rebellions Worksheet Answers- Assignment 23
Good work answering these questions that demonstrate your ability to describe the events of the
Red River and Northwest Territories. Your justifications and responses are thorough and show
your depth of understanding!
1. What factors led to the Red River Rebellion? Almost... the conflict was between the
Canadians (White Protestant European Settlers, Members of the racist "Orange Order") and the
Metis over land use in the Red River Valley. (John Schulz/Canadian Party/ Orange Order=
violently Anti French, Anti-Catholic, Anti-Metis in Red River).
2. What factors led to the Northwest Rebellion? Having been forced out of the Red River and
Manitoba by MacDonald's "peace keepers" the Metis attempted to re-create their pattern of
settlement from the Red River in the Northwest (strip farms on the river, Catholic churches at the
core) Their economy was based on subsistence farming, buffalo hunting, and working for the
HBC. As the bison began to disappear, the HBC promoted racist manager Clarke who treated the
Metis as poorly as possible (temp contracts, little pay, payment in goods rather than money,
imprisonment for complaining/strikes). Clarke vs Dumont. The Metis were struggling to survive,
deprived of the right to make their own laws and conserve their livelihood.Treaty process:
compared to the lands originally held by the Native peoples, the reserves set aside for them were
tiny (and the Canadian government had no intention of loving up to their end of the treaty that
promised farm equipment, supplies, and training to the natives). The standard of living for
Native peoples declined rapidly. The government never considered the cultural destruction they
were implementing. In order to build the CPR MacDonald cut the budget to support the Native
peoples who had been moved onto reserves. Native peoples were now dependent on the
Canadian government to supply them with food. The government made it clear that they would
only provide food if the Native peoples "did not cause trouble". By 1884 many aboriginal people
were facing starvation. The Metis (led by Dumont) were compelled to assist the starving Native
peoples (their "relatives") because the Canadian government was not. Dumont sent for Riel (in
exile in Montana) to come help the Metis petition the government of Canada for real aid. As
soon as Riel was in the picture the Canadian government was suspicious of rebellion (which was
never the intention of the Metis or Riel who simply wanted justice). In 1884 Riel created a Metis
Bill of Rights which listed their grievances and called for the government of Canada to live up to
its end of the arrangement made in the Manitoba Act and North-West Territories. MacDonald
got ready to send troops and banned the sale of munitions so the Metis would have no supplies. It
was clear that peaceful resolution was impossible.
3. What was the motivation of those involved in the Red River Rebellion? (cause?) Good. Be
more specific. The Metis wanted their right (to their land, they developed a Charter of Rights and
Freedoms and wanted to JOIN Confederation).
4. What was the motivation of those involved in the Northwest Rebellion? (cause?) They were
seeking justice for the starving aboriginal groups who were being neglected by the Canadian
government. They wanted the Canadian government to follow through on the promises they
made in the treaty process and Manitoba act.
5. What were the key events in the Red River Rebellion? (the Act?) HBC sold Rupert's Land to
Canada and never consulted those already living in Red River. As Canada West had already been
settled in the 1850s Canadians started moving West looking for new lands to settle and
farm. Land surveyors from the East tried to divide the Red River Valley into squares (instead of
the traditional strip farms they were accustomed to). Riel created the National Committee to
stand up for Metis rights. Riel met Governor of the NWT McDougall and sent him back to
Ottawa explaining the Metis were planning to self-govern. The Metis occupied Fort Garry and
seized munitions (the plan was never to actually rebel, but rather to ensure the people of the Red
River would RETAIN their rights and traditions once a part of Canada). Riel created a
provisional government to negotiate with Canada about entering the Red River into
Confederation as the new province of Manitoba and to maintain order in the Red River.
"Canadian PArty" led by John Schulz was armed and ready to attack the Metis, Riel pro-actively
attacked Schulz's home and 49 Canadian Party members were taken by the Metis to Fort Garry.
Prime Minister John A MacDonald was a member of the Orange Order and was biased against
the Metis, he refused to negotiate with Riel. Schulz escaped from Fort Garry and plotted to raid
and release the rest of the Canadian Party being held. The Metis arrested Thomas Scott
(Canadian party member who had physically and verbally abused the Metis) and executed him.
Schulz fled to Ontario and publicly shared his view of Riel and the Metis influencing Canadians
against the Metis and demanding "justice" in Red River. John A MacDonald never fully
recognized Riel but did give the Metis 200,000 hectares of land in recognition of their aboriginal
title. May 2 1870 Manitoba enters the Confederation of Canada.MacDonald sent 1200 military
men to Winnipeg to "keep the peace" as transfer of power to a new provincial government could
be made. MacDonald did not consider Riel a legitimate government and banished Riel from
Canada for 5 years (as punishment for killing Scott).
6. What were the key events in the Northwest Rebellion? (the Act?) Attempted negotiation #1:
Duck Lake/Batoche= 2 Metis were shot, noth sides began firing, in 30 mins 12 NWMP officers
were dead and 25 more injured. 5000 Canadian troops sent to contain the rebellion. #2: Fish
Creek= 1600 troops vs less than 60 Metis held them out of Batoche. #3: Batoche 725 troops vs
175 Metis= 3 days and final defeat of the Metis.
7. What happened immediately after the Red River Rebellion? (the result of the Act?) (# of
deaths or casualties or type of damage) The troops sent by MacDonald to "keep the peace"
brutalized the Metis (many died from beatings). In order to gain title to the land set aside for
them in Manitoba Metis needed a piece of paper called "scrip" which ($160 or 160 acres) but
they did not understand the meaning or value of scrip (they had never used money or deeds) and
land surveyors from the east came and bought the scrip from the Metis for far less than it was
worth leaving the Metis homeless and poor. The government of Manitoba often threatened to
imprison the Metis if they did not turn their scrip over to surveyors. For this reason many Metis
left Manitoba in the early 1870s and moved into the Northwest.
8. What happened immediately after the Northwest Rebellion? (the result of the Act?) (# of
deaths or casualties or type of damage) Riel was captured, Dumont escaped to the US, any
aboriginal leaders involved in the rebllion were tracked down, arrested and either pardoned or
imprisoned for a short time (the Canadian government view the Native people as "wayward
children" who had been led astray by Riel, rather than people driven to desperate actions because
of the neglect of the government itself.) Riel was charged with high treason and hanged.
9. What, if any, were the long-term outcomes of the Red River Rebellion? Creation of province
of Manitoba, negotiation of treaties with First Peoples in Manitoba, spreading of the Metis north
and west, First nations people forced into farming/living on reserves/beginning of dependency on
government/residential schools.
10. What, if any, were the long-term outcomes of the Northwest Rebellion? Ended Metis
national unity. English-French and Protestant-Catholic tensions were increased throughout
Canada, increased prejudice against Native peoples. Canada is still living with the legacy of
these events.
11. Did the end justify the means in the Red River Rebellion? (Did the outcome make the act
okay? Why?) Opinion and explanation.
12. Do you believe the Red River Rebellion was an act of terrorism or a fight for freedom?
(Why?) Opinion and explanation.
13. Do you believe the Northwest Rebellion was an act of terrorism or a fight for freedom?
(Why?) Opinion and explanation.
14. Was Louis Riel a “terrorist” OR a “freedom fighter”? Why? Opinion and explanation.