Causes of the Rebellion• Métis life threatened by the

disappearing Buffalo and failing crops.

• Canadians (Orange Order) moving into Red River.

• Land surveyors sent in and ignored the seigneurial system.

• Rupert’s Land sold with NO consultation.

Louis Riel• Born in Red River

Settlement

• Educated in Montreal

• A lawyer and fluent in both French & English

Louis Riel: Riel-ly Intense Guy

“He watches what’s happening around him with the intense eyes of an osprey, sees how more new Orange setters from Ontario arrive every month, how the Hudson’s Bay Company maneuvers in its approaching deal with the Canadians keeping vital information about the sale of land that many feel isn’t even theirs a secret from the Metis and the Indians.”

-- Joseph Boyden

Don’t write down the quote

Action!

Riel and a group of Métis stop surveyors.

Determined to force Gov. McDougall to negotiate a fair deal for the people of Red River.

No response from McDougall (or Macdonald)

Action!• Metis attack

Fort Garry.

• Symbolic and Strategic.

• No bloodshed.

“Crazy, ignorant, Half-Breeds” – John A Macdonald (yikes!)

• Riel forms Provisional Government (PG)

• Tries to work with Ottawa to negotiate terms…

• PG creates Métis List of Rights

Metis List of Rights• elect their own legislature & pass laws

• approve Canadian laws that impact them

• seats in the Canadian Parliament

• English and French as official languages

• Treaties between First Nationsand Canadian Gov.

The Canadian Party• Wanted Canadian rule of Red River

(were racist Orange Order types)

• Actively organized to bring down PG.

• Both Scott and Schultz were arrested, and escaped. Scott was recaptured …

Dr. Schultz

Thomas Scott

Scott was a racist, obnoxious prisoner.

Thomas Scott

• Tried for treason against the Metis Provisional Government for threats on Riel’s life.

• Found guilty and executed on March 4, 1870

Thomas ScottYou don’t have to write down the quote. Just the question at the bottom!

“Scott is one of those historical enigmas. Some believe he was a martyr while others call him the "skin-head" of his day. Scott is described by Lord Dufferin as being of "excitable temper and rough ways” -George Siamandis

• What are 2 different understandings of Thomas Scott?

Anti-Métis Feelings

• Schultz used Scott’s execution to rally support against the Métis in Ontario.

Fall OutSome Good

• April 1870 several points in the Métis List of Rights agreed on.

• Manitoba Act of May 2 1870 formed the Province of Manitoba.

• Riel met his goal of responsible government

Some Not So Good

• Riel exiled. Fled to the United States

• Troops sent to “keep the peace” by Macdonald were anti-Métis and violent.

• Anti-Metis feelings VERY strong in Ontario.