RED RIVER REBELLION !!!!!!!!!
BY: AUSTIN
Goverment surveyors
The Canadian government decided to send survey crews to Rupert's land to divide the land into large squares similar to the block system used by the people in Ontario. The people of the red river settlement, both the settlers and the metis, were surprised to see the surveyors. The metis began to try to stop the surveying by taking away the chains that were being used by the surveyors for measuring. The surveyors gave up and left. The government of Canada made the decision to appoint William Mcdougall as lieutenant- governor of the north-west territories.
Louis Riel
Louis Riel is one of the most controversial figures in Canadian history. To the Métis he is a hero, a powerful spokesman for their hope. In the Canadian west in 1885 most of the settlers looked at him as a villain; today he is seen there as the founder of those movements which have protested central Canadian political and economic power. French Canadians have always thought him a victim of Ontario religious and racial unfairness, and by no means deserving of the death penalty. Biographers and historians over the years since Riel’s death have been motivated by one or other of these perspectives . He remains a mysterious figure in death as in life.
Upper Fort Garry Seized
The metis national committee seized upper fort Garry ( The Headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in red river) without firing a shot. The fort contained cannons, guns, and enough pemmican to feed a large group for the winter. The approaching winter would prevent outside military forces from reaching the settlement for at least six moths. These two factors meant that the metis were able to negotiate from a position of military strength.
Provisional Government
It was important for all groups in the red river settlement to united front to the Canadian Government. On November 16 at fort Garry, Riel met with a convention of 12 French-speaking and 12 English-speaking representatives from the red river settlement. They discussed the possibility of forming a provisional Government. A provisional Government is a temporary government set up until a more permanent one can be established. At this time Riel had the support of the majority of both English-speaking and french-speaking people in the community. MacDonald did not want the red river settlement to become part of Canada until calm has been restored. The Hudson's Bay Company officials did not want to step in because they were no longer in authority. As a result, there was no official government in the North West.