Grade 8 History

Red River Resistance1869Rupert’s Land (North Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, South Alberta, NWT, Nunavut) sold by HBC to Canadian government for $ 1 500 000.00PM John A Macdonald appointed William McDougall lieutenant-governor: sent to establish new government in Red River

Rupert’s Land

Who was affected?

No one consulted residents of areaWho were residents of area?

Metis predicted that:

traditional way of life destroyedland would be divided into lots, sold to settlers, farms, fencesbison hunt?

Louis Rielleader of Métis at age 25, provisional government“Metis List of Demands”prevented McDougall from entering territory, executed ScottManitoba became a province - “Manitoba Act”What were similarities/differences between “Metis List of Demands” and “Manitoba Act”?

Division of Land

Metis land traditionally divided like seigneuries, like in New France: long, narrow lots, access to neighbours, waterCanadian government preferred British grid systemDivided existing properties

Seigneuries

Grid System

Land Use Conflicts

Native view of land: Great Spirit give to them to care for, take what’s needed for survivalSettlers’ view of land: own plots of land, fence, farm, use for own purposes

TreatiesFirst Nations gave up landGovernment provided:

reservesfish/hunt on reservesannual compensationsupply farming tools/seeds/livestock/farming educationschools

Problems with Treaties

Treaties not written in Natives’ languagestaken as sacred agreementsthreat to end up with nothingWere both sides treated fairly in creating treaties?

Life for Natives

Winter of 1883-1884, 10% of Native population on Prairies died of starvationCauses?

Indian Act1876full-bloodedreserveswards of state, no voting, no alcohol (led to residential schools)women married and lost status, men married and gained statusselling timberCanadian, not traditional courtCanadian citizenship OR Indian Status

Art from 1995

Was the Indian Act fair?

seen as less than human?1985 - keep status when married2003 - recognized Metis2008 - apologies for residential schools

Increasing the Population in the West

1870s, 6% of Canada’s populationCPRImmigration ActDominion Lands Act

Canadian Pacific Railway

expansion of settlement to Prairiesefficient transportation, supplies in, farm products outsymbol of Canadian unity

CPR ScandalMacdonald offered free land, financial help Sir Hugh Allan contract to build railway - donation to Macdonald’s Conservative election campaign ($360 000)Bribe?Macdonald lost election 2 years later to Alexander Mackenzie

Immigration Act

1869keep contagious disease outquarantinelimits to numbers on shipsmust have passenger list

Dominion Lands Act1872townships of 36 sections

2 HBC2 school16 railway construction rental/sales16 homesteads

Homesteads

$10 per familyfarm in 3 years

Homesteading wasn’t for everyone

Metis (equipment)government gave away landsquatting on own property“Road Allowance People”

National Policy1878 “National Policy”, Macdonald wins again (and three following elections)

higher taxes for manufactured imported goodslower tax on imported raw materials (jobs in factories)1990s - Free Trade

Railway Back in Action

No more Hugh Allan5 summers to build (completed in 1885)William Van Horne appointed General Manager, supervisedtransportation of goodsvisible symbol of separation from US

Chinese Railway Workers

dangerous, nitroglycerine accidents, falling rockscrowded living conditionspoor dietlack of medical careweatherwhite workers $1.50-2.50/day, Chinese workers $1/daygovernment sent them back, “Head Tax”

North West RebellionMetis in Saskatchewan, bison disappearing, starvationsent petitions to Ottawa - secure title for land, agricultural aid, schools, local policeOttawa ignoredRiel comes back, forms second provisional government

Macdonald’s Advantages

fight right awayNorth West Mounted Police formed, officers readyCPR almost complete - mobilization of troops

Riel appointed Gabriel Dumont as military commanderguerrilla tactics - ambush, surprise attack

Events of the NW Rebellion

miniature re-enactments in groups of 2-3