Red River Rebellion

The Red River Rebellion of 1869 – 1870 is the term most often used to describe the actions of a provisional government established by Métis leader Louis Riel in 1869 at the Red River Settlement in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Background

During the late 1860s, the Red River Settlement was experiencing rapid change. The population had been historically composed mainly of Francophone Métis, along with a minority of English-speaking mixed-bloods known as the "Country born", and a small number of Presbyterian Scottish settlers. However, the colony was seeing a rapid influx of Anglophone Protestants from Ontario. These new settlers were largely insensitive to Métis culture and hostile to Roman Catholicism, and many were advocates of Canadian expansionism. There was also an influx at this time of Americans in favour of annexation by the United States.

Related Topics:
1860s - Francophone - Presbyterian - Scottish - Anglophone - Protestant - Ontario - Roman Catholicism - United States

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Against this backdrop of religious, nationalistic, and racial tension, there existed significant political uncertainty. Largely to forestall American expansionism, the British and 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 of 1868 authorizing the transfer, and the subsequent purchase by Canada in 1869. However, the terms under which political authority would be transferred remained unresolved.

Related Topics:
British - Canadian governments - Rupert's Land - Hudson's Bay Company - Rupert's Land Act - 1868 - 1869

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In anticipation of the transfer, the minister of public works, 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 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 land, which was in any case laid out according to the 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 was correctly perceived as a threat to the Métis way of life — they feared they could lose their farms, and that their language and Roman Catholic religion would face increasing marginalisation and discrimination.

Related Topics:
William McDougall - George-Étienne Cartier - John A. Macdonald - Bishop Taché - Anglican - Robert Machray - Assiniboia - William Mactavish - Colonel - John Stoughton Dennis - Fort Garry - August 20 - 1869 - Seigneurial system - English - Discrimination

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