The North-West Mounted Police
By Habib, Mohammed, Simon and Omar
Introduction to the NWMP- North West Mounted Police
The NWMP was a Canadian police force, appointed by the Prime Minister. On May,3 1873 John A Macdonald introduced a bill to the House of Commons. The bill passed on May 23 1873 which led to the creation of a 300 member mounted force, the NWMP. The first prime minister, John A Macdonald valued having a police force as he said : " The most important matter of the future is the preservation of order in the North west"
Responsibilities and duties of the NWMP
The NWMP has three basic responsibilities:
- To control the American whiskey traders operating among the natives
- To collect customs duties on goods that enter Canadian Territories from the U.S.
- To prevent any disorder among the Native people which has escalated with the appearance of the American-Canadian survey parties.
Who were the North-West Mounted Police (N.W.M.P)
The North-West Mounted Police was a police force stationed in Canada west, Created to bring law, order and authority to North West territories. Established in the Year 1873 and later changed to The Royal Northwest Mounted Police in 1909, The Royal Northwest Mounted Police and the Dominion Police merged to become the current Royal Canadian Mounted Police.The Prime Minister first announced the force as the north west mounted rifles later changed.
When was The Great March? What was The Great March?
The Great Marched happened on July 8, 1874 it was a March to bring law, order and Canadian authority to the North West Territories. 275 officers were departed from fort dufferin Manitoba. They wanted to deal with any unrest that had to do with the American whiskey traders at Southern Alberta. The NWMP established troops in Southern Alberta and brought law and authority
why were the NWMP sent West? where were they stationed in the west?
The North West Mounted Police were sent west because American Whiskey traders were operating among the aboriginal people. At the time, the North west Territories took up most of Canada. The west was full of American whiskey traders and criminals that were taking advantage of the land and people. They were stationed in Fort dufferin, Mantoba
Sam Steele
Sam Steele was the best known member of the NWMP, he was a NWMP officer as well as an army officer. Sam Steele was born January 5, 1849, Died January 30, 1919. most known for being head of the Yukon detachment during the Gold Rush
James Macleod
He joined the NWMP in 1873 and was number 3 in seniority.The following year, he was appointed assistant commissioner of the force. He led his troops to establish the post named after him Fort Macleod. In 1875 he left the force to become one of three stipendiary magistrates for the North West territories
Wilfrid Laurier
In 1896 Wilfrid Laurier was a newly elected prime minister. At the time (1885) the force had grown to 1000 men. He decided to reduce and eventually eliminate the police force. Laurier failed to do so , because of the support they had. They went on to patrol the klondike gold rush
Recap of Main events
- In May 1873 the parliament of Canada made a central police force. One hundred and fifty men were sent to Manitoba and eventually called the North West Mounted Police
- In July 1874, 275 officers (all of them) went west for southern Alberta, where American whiskey traders were operating among the native people.
- In 1896 Wilfrid Laurier was a newly elected prime minister. At the time (1885) the force had grown to 1000 men. He decided to reduce and eventually eliminate the police force. Laurier failed to do so , because of the support they had and went on to patrol the klondike gold rush
- From 1905-1916 the police force worked in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The ended soon after due to the provinces wanting their own police forces
Word Wall
- The Great March:The Great Marched happened on July 8, 1874 it was a March to bring law, order and Canadian authority to the North West Territories. 275 officers were departed from fort dufferin Manitoba. They wanted to deal with any unrest that had to do with the American whiskey traders at Southern Alberta. The NWMP established troops in Southern Alberta and brought law and authority
- Troops:groups of soldiers
- Aboriginal: first to settle in the land
- Gold rush: many people go to a place where gold has been discovered and hope to become rich
- Whiskey traders: American whiskey traders who were operating among the natives
- Unrest: Many people in the country are angry