Red River Rebellion: Difference between revisions
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The '''Red River Rebellion''' or '''Red River Resistance''' are names given to the events surrounding the actions of a [[provisional government]] established by [[Métis people (Canada)|Métis]] leader [[Louis Riel]] in 1869 at the [[Red River Settlement]] in what is now the [[Canadian province]] of [[Manitoba]]. |
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The Rebellion was the first crisis the [[1st Canadian Parliament|new government]] faced following [[Canadian Confederation]] in 1867. The [[Canadian government]] bought [[Rupert's Land]] from the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] in 1869 and appointed an [[Canadian English|English]]-speaking governor, [[William McDougall (politician)|William McDougall]]. He was opposed by the [[Canadian French|French]]-speaking, mostly Métis inhabitants of the settlement. McDougall sent out [[surveyor]]s before the land was officially transferred to Canada to have them plot the land according to the square [[township (Canada)|township]] system used in [[Ontario]]. The Métis, led by Riel, prevented McDougall from entering the territory. McDougall declared that the Hudson's Bay Company was no longer in control of the territory and that Canada had asked for the transfer of sovereignty to be postponed. The Métis created a provisional government and invited an equal number of anglophone representatives. Riel undertook to negotiate directly with the Canadian government to establish [[Assiniboia]] as a province. |
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Meanwhile, Riel's men had arrested members of a pro-Canadian faction that had resisted the provisional government, including an [[Orange Institution|Orangeman]] named [[Thomas Scott (Orangeman)|Thomas Scott]]. Riel had Scott put on [[trial (law)|trial]] and [[Execution (legal)|executed]] by [[Execution by firing squad|firing squad]] for offences usually considered non-[[capital crime|capital]]. Canada and the provisional government soon negotiated an agreement. In 1870, the legislature passed the [[Manitoba Act]], allowing the Red River settlement to enter [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] as the province of Manitoba. The Act also incorporated some of Riel's demands, such as [[separate school|separate]] French schools for Métis children and protection of [[Catholicism]]. |
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After the agreement was made, Canada sent a [[military]] expedition to Manitoba to enforce federal authority. Now known as the [[Wolseley Expedition]] (or Red River Expedition), it consisted Canadian [[Colonial Militia in Canada|Militia]] and British regular soldiers led by Colonel [[Garnet Wolseley]]. As the expedition headed west, outrage grew in Ontario over Scott's execution. Many Ontarians demanded that Wolseley's expedition be used to arrest Riel and suppress what they considered to be rebellion. Riel fled before the expedition reached Fort Garry, and the arrival of troops marked the end of the Rebellion. |
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== Background == |
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During the late 1860s the [[Red River Colony|Red River Settlement]] was experiencing rapid change. The population had been historically composed mainly of [[Francophone]] ([[Michif]]-speaking) Métis, along with a minority of English-speaking mixed-bloods known as the "country born" ([[Anglo-Métis]]), and a small number of [[Presbyterian]] Scottish settlers. A rapid influx of [[Anglophone]] [[Protestant]]s from [[Ontario]] had begun to enter the settlement. These new settlers were largely insensitive to Métis culture and hostile to [[Roman Catholicism]], and many were advocates of Canadian expansionism. At the same time, many Americans arrived who favoured annexation by the United States. |
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[[Image:UpperFortGarryEarly1870s.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Fort Garry circa 1872]] |
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Against this backdrop of religious, nationalistic, and racial tensions, there existed significant political uncertainty. To forestall American expansionism, the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British]] and [[Government of Canada|Canadian governments]] had been for some time negotiating the transfer of [[Rupert's Land]] from the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] to Canada. This resulted in the [[Rupert's Land Act 1868]] authorizing the transfer. On December 1, 1869 Canada purchased the territory. However, the terms under which political authority would be transferred remained unresolved. |
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In anticipation of the transfer, the minister of public works, [[William McDougall (politician)|William McDougall]], who along with [[George-Étienne Cartier]] had been instrumental in securing Rupert's Land for Canada, ordered a survey party to the Red River Settlement. This was undertaken despite warnings to the [[John A. Macdonald]] government from Roman Catholic [[Alexandre Taché|Bishop Taché]], the [[Anglican]] bishop of Rupert's land [[Robert Machray]], and the HBC governor of [[Assiniboia]] [[William Mactavish]], that any such survey would precipitate unrest. In the event, the survey party, headed by [[Colonel]] [[John Stoughton Dennis]] arrived at [[Fort Garry]] on August 20, 1869. This aroused significant anxiety among the Métis, as many did not possess clear title to their lands. The lots were laid out according to the [[Seigneurial system of New France|Seigneurial system]] with long, narrow lots fronting the river, rather than the square lots preferred by the English. The survey was an obvious harbinger of a coming wave of Canadian migration, and the Métis correctly perceived it as a threat to their way of life — they feared they could lose their farms. That fear was a symbol for the larger fear of losing their language, feeling pressure against the Roman Catholic religion, and facing increasing marginalisation and [[discrimination]] in what had been their home territory. |
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== Riel emerges as a leader == |
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[[Image:The Fight at Seven Oaks.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Battle of Seven Oaks]] |
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The Métis became more fearful when the Canadian government appointed the notoriously [[anti-French]] McDougall as the [[Lieutenant Governor]]-designate on September 28, 1869, in anticipation of a formal transfer to take effect on December 1. Emerging as a Métis leader, the educated [[Louis Riel]] denounced the survey in a speech delivered in late August from the steps of [[Saint-Boniface Cathedral]]. On October 11, 1869, the work of the survey was disrupted by a group of Métis including Riel. On October 16 this group organised itself as the "Métis National Committee" to represent Métis interests. It had Riel as secretary, [[John Bruce (Canada)|John Bruce]] as president, and two representatives from each parish. |
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The Hudson's Bay Company's [[Council of Assiniboia]] still asserted authority over the area, and its representatives summoned Riel on October 25 to explain the actions of the Committee. Riel declared that any attempt by McDougall to enter would be blocked unless the Canadians first negotiated terms with the Métis and with the general population of the settlement. |
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On November 2, under the command of [[Ambroise-Dydime Lépine]], Métis turned back McDougall's party near the American border and forced them to retreat to [[Pembina, North Dakota]]. The number of Riel's followers had grown rapidly, and on that same day a group of about 400 Métis followers led by Riel seized [[Fort Garry]] without bloodshed. |
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Considerable differences remained at the Red River Settlement over how to negotiate with Canada; in particular, no consensus had been reached between the French- and English-speaking inhabitants. In a conciliatory gesture, Riel on November 6 asked the anglophones to select delegates from each of their parishes to attend a convention alongside the Métis representatives. The first such meeting resulted in few accomplishments, and some of the anglophone delegates expressed displeasure at Riel's treatment of McDougall. |
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On November 16, the Council of Assiniboia made a final attempt to assert its authority when Governor Mactavish issued a proclamation demanding that the Métis lay down their arms. The Métis had no reason to believe that the council would safeguard their interests. On November 23 Riel proposed the formation of a [[provisional government]] to enter into direct negotiations with Canada, but the anglophone delegates requested adjournment to discuss matters. |
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On December 1, McDougall proclaimed that the Hudson's Bay Company was no longer in control of Rupert's Land, and that he was the new [[List of Northwest Territories lieutenant-governors|lieutenant-governor]]. This proclamation was to later prove problematic, as it effectively ended the authority of the Council, while failing to establish Canadian authority — unbeknownst to McDougall, the transfer had been postponed once news of the unrest reached Ottawa. |
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Near the middle of December 1869, Riel presented to the convention a list of fourteen rights that were demanded as a condition of union. The demands included representation in parliament, a bilingual legislature, a bilingual chief justice, and recognition of certain land claims. While the convention did not then adopt the list, the majority of anglophones accepted most of the demands as reasonable once the contents became generally known. |
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While much of the settlement was moving toward the Métis point of view, a passionately pro-Canadian minority was becoming more resistant. It was loosely organised as the [[Canadian Party]] and led by [[Medical Doctor|Dr.]] [[John Christian Schultz]] and [[Charles Mair]]. Colonel Dennis and [[Major]] [[Charles Boulton]] also supported it. |
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McDougall appointed Dennis to raise a contingent of armed men to arrest the Métis' occupying [[Upper Fort Garry]]. The anglophone settlers largely ignored this call to arms, and Dennis withdrew to [[Lower Fort Garry]]. Schultz, however, was emboldened to fortify his house and store, and attracted approximately fifty recruits. |
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Riel took the threat seriously and ordered Schultz's home surrounded. Quite outnumbered, the Canadians surrendered on December 7 and were imprisoned in Fort Garry. Given the unrest and absence of a clear authority, the Métis National Committee declared a provisional government on December 8. Having received notification of the delay in transfer, McDougall and Dennis departed for Ontario on December 18. Major Boulton fled to [[Portage la Prairie, Manitoba|Portage la Prairie]]. |
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== Provisional government == |
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[[Image:ProvisionalMetisGovernment.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Métis provisional government]] |
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Meanwhile in Ottawa, the [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar|Lord Lisgar]] had, at Macdonald's behest, proclaimed an amnesty on December 6 for all in Red River who would lay down their arms. He dispatched the [[Abbé]] [[Jean-Baptiste Thibault]] and [[Charles-René-Léonidas d’Irumberry de Salaberry|Charles-René d’Irumberry de Salaberry]] on a mission of reconciliation, but failed to give them authority to negotiate on behalf of the Government. Macdonald also appointed Hudson's Bay representative [[Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal|Donald Alexander Smith]] as special commissioner with greater authority to negotiate. |
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On December 27, John Bruce resigned as president of the provisional government, and Riel was elected president. On the same day Donald Smith arrived in the settlement, followed shortly by de Salaberry, joining Thibault, who had arrived on Christmas day. An inconclusive meeting occurred on January 5, 1870 between Riel, de Salaberry, and Thibault, followed by another between Riel and Smith the following day. At this time Smith concluded that negotiation with the committee would be fruitless. He maneuvered to bypass them and present the Canadian position at a public meeting. |
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Meetings were held on January 19 and January 20. With Riel acting as translator, Smith assured the large audiences of the Canadian government's goodwill, intention to grant representation, and willingness to extend concessions with respect to land claims. With the settlement now solidly behind him, Riel proposed the formation of a new convention of forty representatives, split evenly between French and English settlers, to consider Smith's instructions. This was accepted. Upon their recommendation, a committee of six outlined a more comprehensive list of rights, which the convention accepted on February 3. Following meetings on February 7 wherein the new list of rights were presented to Thibault, de Salaberry, and Smith, Smith proposed that a delegation be sent to Ottawa to engage in direct negotiations with Canada, a suggestion eagerly accepted by Riel. At this time Riel also proposed that the provisional government should be reformed so as to be more inclusive of both language groups. A constitution enshrining these goals was accepted by the convention on February 10, leading to the establishment of an elected assembly consisting of twelve representatives from anglophone parishes and 12 representatives from francophone parishes. |
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== Canadian resistance and the execution of Scott == |
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Despite the apparent progress on the political front and the inclusion of Anglophones within the provisional government, the Canadian contingent was not yet silenced, for on January 9 there was a mass escape from the prison at Fort Garry. Charles Mair, [[Thomas Scott (Orangeman)|Thomas Scott]], and ten others escaped. This was followed on January 23 by the escape of John Schultz. In any case, Riel had by February 15 freed the remaining prisoners after obtaining assurances that they would refrain from engaging in political agitation. However, Schultz, Mair, and Scott had every intention of fomenting civil war, if necessary, to depose the Métis from power. |
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[[Image:ShootingThomasScott.jpg|thumb|left|250px|An artist's depiction of the execution of Scott]] |
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Mair and Thomas proceeded to the Canadian settlements surrounding Portage la Prairie, where they met Boulton, while Schultz sought recruits in the Canadian parishes downstream. On February 12, Boulton led a party from Portage la Prairie that intended to rendezvous at [[Kildonan, Manitoba|Kildonan]] with Schultz's men for the express purpose of then overthrowing the provisional government. Boulton however had misgivings, and turned the party back. However, they were detected by Riel's forces, and on February 17 48 men including Boulton and Thomas Scott were apprehended near Fort Garry. On hearing this news, Schultz and Mair fled to Ontario. |
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Now acutely aware of the seriousness of the threat posed by this element, Riel demanded that an example be made of Boulton. He was tried and sentenced to death for his interference with the provisional government. Intercessions on his behalf by Donald Smith and others resulted in his pardon, but only after Riel obtained assurances from Smith that he would persuade the English parishes to elect provisional representatives. However, the prisoner Thomas Scott, an [[Orange Institution|Orangeman]], interpreted Boulton's pardon as weakness on the part of the Métis, whom he regarded with open contempt. After repeatedly quarrelling with his guards, they insisted that he be tried for insubordination. At his trial, which was overseen by [[Ambroise-Dydime Lépine]], he was found guilty of insulting the president, defying the authority of the provisional government, and fighting with his guards. He was sentenced to death despite the fact that these were not considered [[capital crime]]s at the time. Donald Smith and Major Boulton were among those who asked Riel to commute the sentence, but Donald Smith reported that Riel responded to his pleas by saying |
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:''"I have done three good things since I have commenced; I have spared Boulton's life at your instance, I pardoned Gaddy, and now I shall shoot Scott."'' |
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Riel may also have been told by Scott's jailers that they would kill Scott if the committee did not. Scott was executed by a firing squad on March 4, 1870. Riel's motivations for allowing the execution, described as his one great political blunder, have been the cause of much speculation. His own justification was that he felt it necessary to demonstrate to the Canadians that the Métis must be taken seriously. |
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== Creation of Manitoba == |
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Upon receiving news of the unrest, Bishop Taché was recalled from Rome. He arrived back in the colony on March 8, whereupon he conveyed to Riel his mistaken impression that the December amnesty would apply to both Riel and [[Ambroise-Dydime Lépine|Lépine]]. On March 15 he read to the elected assembly a telegram from [[Joseph Howe]] indicating that the government found the demands in the list of rights to be ''"in the main satisfactory"''. Following the preparation of a final list of rights that included new demands such as a general amnesty for all members of the provisional government and provisions for separate francophone schools, delegates Abbé [[Joseph-Noël Ritchot]], Judge [[John Black (judge)|John Black]] and [[Alfred Henry Scott (Canadian politician)|Alfred Henry Scott]] departed for Ottawa on March 23 and 24. |
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Shortly after this, Mair and Schultz arrived in [[Toronto, Ontario]], and with the assistance of [[George Taylor Denison III]] immediately set about inflaming anti-Métis and anti-Catholic sentiment over the execution of Scott in the editorial pages of the Ontario press. Nevertheless, Macdonald had decided before the provisional government was established that Canada must negotiate with the Métis. Although the delegates were arrested following their arrival in [[Ottawa]] on April 11 on charges of abetting murder, they were quickly released. They soon entered into direct talks with Macdonald and [[George-Étienne Cartier|Cartier]], wherein Ritchot emerged as an effective negotiator; an agreement enshrining many of the demands in the list of rights was soon reached. This formed the basis for the [[Manitoba Act]] of May 12, 1870, which admitted [[Manitoba]] into the [[Canadian confederation]] on July 15. Significantly however, Ritchot could not secure a clarification of the Governor General's amnesty — anger over Scott's execution was growing rapidly in Ontario, and any such guarantee was not politically expedient. The delegates returned to Manitoba with only a promise of a forthcoming amnesty. |
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== The Wolseley expedition == |
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{{main|Wolseley Expedition}} |
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[[Image:FAH Red River Expedition.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''The Red River Expedition at Kakabeka Falls'', by [[Frances Anne Hopkins]], 1877.]] |
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As a means of exercising Canadian authority in the settlement and dissuading the Minnesota expansionists, a Canadian military expedition under [[Colonel]] [[Garnet Wolseley]] was dispatched to the Red River. Ontarians especially looked on the purpose of the [[Wolseley Expedition]] as the suppression of rebellion, although the government described it as an ''"errand of peace"''. Learning that [[Colonial Militia in Canada|Canadian militia]] elements in the expedition meant to lynch him, Riel fled as the expedition approached the Red River on August 24. The arrival of the expedition marked the effective end of the Red River Rebellion. |
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== Legacy == |
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The Red River resistance was only described as a [[rebellion]] after [[sentiment]] grew in [[Ontario]] against the execution of [[Thomas Scott (Orangeman)|Thomas Scott]]. Historian A.G. Morice suggests that the phrase "Red River Rebellion" owes its persistence to [[alliteration]], a quality that made it attractive for publication in newspaper headlines (Critical History of The Red River Insurrection (1935)). The word "resistance", though decidedly less dramatic, retains the alliterative character of the earlier phrase and is generally preferred by the majority of contemporary academic historians, as it more accurately describes the particulars of the political situation at the time. |
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In 1875, Riel was formally [[exile]]d from Canada for five years. Under pressure from Quebec, the government of Sir [[John A. Macdonald]] took no more vigorous action. Riel was elected to the [[Canadian parliament]] three times while in exile, but never took his [[Office|seat]]. He returned to Canada in 1885 to lead the [[North-West Rebellion]] or North-West Resistance. |
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== References == |
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*[[Charles Arkoll Boulton|Boulton, Charles A.]] (1886) ''Reminiscences of the North-West Rebellions''. Toronto. [http://wsb.datapro.net/rebellions/index.html Online text] |
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* {{cite book | title = Riel: a life of revolution| author = [[Maggie Siggins|Siggins, Maggie]] | year = 1994 | publisher = [[HarperCollins]], Toronto | isbn = 0-00-215792-6}} |
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* {{cite book | title = Louis Riel| author = [[George Stanley|Stanley, George F.G.]] | year = 1963 | publisher = [[McGraw-Hill Ryerson]], Toronto | isbn = 0-07-092961-0}} |
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*[[George Stanley|Stanley, George F.G.]] (1989) ''Toil & Trouble: Military Expeditions to Red River.'' ISBN 1-55002-059-5 |
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== See also == |
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* [[North-West Rebellion]] |
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* [[Red River Settlement]] |
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* [[Métis people (Canada)]] |
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* [[Louis Riel]] |
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* [[Wolseley Expedition]] |
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== External links == |
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*[http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=39918 Biography of Riel from the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''] |
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[[Category:Red River Rebellion|*]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in Canada]] |
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[[Category:History of Manitoba]] |
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[[Category:History of Winnipeg]] |
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[[Category:Military history of Canada]] |
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[[Category:Métis people of Canada]] |
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[[Category:Rebellions in Canada]] |
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[[Category:Short-lived states]] |
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[[Category:Canadian folklore]] |
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[[de:Red-River-Rebellion]] |
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[[fr:Rébellion de la rivière Rouge]] |
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[[it:Ribellione di Red River]] |
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[[pl:Rebelia nad Rzeką Czerwoną]] |
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[[pt:Rebelião de Red River]] |
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[[fi:Redjoen kapina]] |
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Revision as of 12:38, 7 May 2009
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