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North-West Rebellion

North-West Rebellion. Gabriel Dumont The Return of Riel Battle of Duck Lake Battle of Batoche Execution of Riel. The North-West Rebellion. The promise of a French-Canadian home in Manitoba was already at an end New settlers had arrived pushing the Metis out

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North-West Rebellion

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  1. North-West Rebellion Gabriel Dumont The Return of Riel Battle of Duck Lake Battle of Batoche Execution of Riel

  2. The North-West Rebellion • The promise of a French-Canadian home in Manitoba was already at an end • New settlers had arrived pushing the Metis out • The Metis had gone to Saskatchewan as the buffalo were disappearing • The Metis had no clear title to the land they settled and the surveyors had moved in • The Plains People were also suffering the Cree, Blackfoot and the Sioux

  3. The Return of Louis Riel • The other settlers were angry • The harvest was poor and the prices low • Most settlers had taken land along the northern rail route • The railway had taken the southern route • By 1884 the North-West was ripe for rebellion • “Only one man can help us now Riel!” • Gabriel Dumont was sent to get Riel

  4. Riel is in Montana • Gabriel Dumont legendary hunter and master sharpshooter led the Metis to find Riel • Dumont was an expert horseman who spoke 6 different native languages as well as French and some English • With the buffalo gone Dumont had settled in Batoche he operated a ferry and ran a general store • It was Dumont who asked Riel to return

  5. Why not have Dumont lead? • Dumont was an excellent military leader and well-respected hunter but he was not the educated, fiery representative that the Metis needed

  6. Lead his People to Freedom • Louis Riel - teaching in Montana • 15 years since the Red River Rebellion but the Metis remember • Riel - not the same person, had suffered a series of emotional breakdowns and had spent several years in asylums • Louis Riel was convinced he was the “prophet of the grasslands” • Riel returned to the North-West with hope of a peaceful resolution • To others – his return signalled that another rebellion was possible

  7. What did the people want? • The Metis: • A voice in government • Recognition of ownership of land • Aboriginals: • Money and food in exchange for their land • Settlers: • Higher price for wheat, lower cost for rail and stronger voice in government

  8. Louis and John • Riel sent Macdonald a petition on behalf of the residents of the region asking for provincial status • An elected government and control of natural resources • Macdonald delayed • Riel and the Metis grew impatient • Louis Riel declared a provisional government in the village of Batoch • On March 19, 1885 the North-West Rebellion began

  9. Changes • Many changes since the Red River Rebellion • North West Mounted Police were well established • Railway was in place – allowed for the quick movement of troops • Once Riel took up arms, he lost the support of the settlers and the Catholic church

  10. Battle of Duck Lake – March 26th, 1885 • At Duck Lake the NWMP and the Metis under command of Dumont clashed • Dumont won battle sending the Mounties into retreat - 12 officers and men died • Dumont wanted to pursue and kill them all but Riel would not let him • “If you are going to give them the advantage like that, we cannot win!” Dumont • By this time Riel’s religious delusions had resurfaced

  11. Poundmaker • 2 breakaway bands of Cree warriors along with some Sioux and Assiniboine did join the rebellion • Big Bear - had earlier resisted the call to the reserves and Poundmaker lead the revolt • Big Bear’s warriors attacked the settlement at Frog Lake and killed 9 settlers • Poundmaker attacked Battleford, the settlers fled

  12. Big Bear • With the buffalo gone, the nomadic Cree were starving • The Cree warriors and the Metis did not co-ordinate their attacks • In effect there were 2 rebellions: 1 Metis and 1 Cree • Big Bear wanted no part of the violence, but with his people starving he could not stop events

  13. CPR to the Rescue! • The reaction to the rebellion was quick • In 1870 it had taken the army 3 months to get to Manitoba • In 1885 the CPR had reached the plains • Within 10 days the first troops had arrived. Within the month, more than 5000 soldiers were in place • The army Mounties and militia were under the command of General Frederick Middleton • Louis Riel saved John A’s CPR

  14. General Middleton • Before the rebellion the railway had been next to bankruptcy • With the outbreak of the rebellion parliament gave the extra money and the troops moved westward • General Middleton divided his forces into 3 columns and used the main line of the CPR as their base • Column 1 under Major-General Thomas Strange moved north from Calgary against Big Bear • Column 3 under General Middleton left Qu’Appelle and headed for Batoche

  15. Battle of Batoche • Column 2 under Colonel William Otter moved north from Swift Current to relieve Battleford and capture Poundermaker • The Metis and the Cree were now on the defensive • At Fish Creek south of Batoche General Middleton marched his troops into an ambush (April 24) • A small force of Metis under Gabriel Dumont fought Middleton to a standstill • However, the odds were against the Metis

  16. Middleton had more men and supplies and the latest in warfare technology, an American Gatling gun • Middleton and his men attacked the village of Batoche on May 9, 1885 • The fighting lasted for 4 days • When the army finally stormed the defenses Gabriel Dumont almost single-handedly held them off for an hour so the others could escape • 21 Metis died at Batoche

  17. Death of a Rebellion • Dumont and Riel became separated in the escape • On May 15, 1885 Louis Riel the “prophet of the grasslands” surrendered to the Canadian Army • 11 days later Poundermaker also surrendered • Big Bear held out for another month and a half before he too surrendered • Gabriel Dumont escaped to the United States were he joined “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show”as “the Hero of the Half-Breed Rebellion”

  18. The Trial of the Century • Poundermaker and Big Bear were sent to prison • 8 Cree warriors were sentenced to public hangings • Riel refused to plead insanity • He was tried in Regina and found guilty of treason • The jury recommended mercy, Quebec warned that if Riel was executed it was “a declaration of war against Quebec” • John A. MacDonald refused to intervene

  19. Riel Must Die! • John A. refused to pardon Riel as he did lead an armed rebellion against the government that caused the death of more than 200 people • At this time the penalty for such crimes was death • Macdonald had built his political career on an alliance between English and French-Canadians

  20. Like Macdonald, Louis Riel has become all things to all people, “a prophet, a traitor, a madman, a hero” • Nov 7, 1885 Donald Smith drove home the last spike for the CPR • Nov 17, 1885 Louis Riel climbed the steps to the gallows • 1891 - Macdonald fought his last campaign and won • June 6, 1891 Macdonald died

  21. Riel’s hanging caused political problems for MacDonald and the Conservatives in Quebec • Sparked controversy between English and French Canadians • Government attitudes towards the Metis and Aboriginals became less sympathetic • Government attempted to systemically destroy Aboriginal culture

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