Louis Riel ( the Canadian Rebellion of 1885)

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Louis Riel, Canadian Rebellion, 1885

Résumé du document

1885 was not the first Métis rebellion, the Métis had already rebelled in Red River in 1869.The Métis were against the sale to Canada of territories held by the Hudson's Bay Company Historically the Métis were separated into two groups. The first one was composed of French speaking Métis who were the descendants of fur traders from Quebec. Most were Roman Catholics. On the other hand, the second group was English speaking. They were the descendants of English and Scottish traders and were often protestant. Their fight had led to the creation of the province of Manitoba. The new province was self -governing. They had received special guarantees for the French language and the Catholic religion. They had even formed a provisional government.

Soon clashes appeared mostly after the execution of Thomas Scott; an Orangeman who had helped organize an armed opposition against the Métis.The reason for this execution can be explained by Riel's own words « we must make Canada respect us » . Louis Riel had to flee the province, a general amnesty was only proclaimed in 1875. The problem was that it was a qualified amnesty; Riel had to remain in exile for five years .

Extraits

[...] Louis Riel (the Canadian Rebellion of 1885) The North-West of Canada was at first inhabited by very few fur traders, Native Americans tribes and the so called Métis. The Métis were the descendants of fur traders and Native women. The Métis got famous when they rebelled at the end of the nineteenth century against the Canadian federal government. Though, the 1885 rebellion was unsuccessful and ended tragically, it had a huge impact.Their leader, Louis Riel has become one of the most popular, most publicised and most controversial man in Canadian history[1]. [...]

[...] They had left the United States since they did not want to surrender to the American troops. Almost 2000 families were living near the border, thus preventing an eventual migration from the few surviving buffalo toward the North West territories[13]. Natives and Métis did not realize that the buffalo would not come back as numerous as they used to be. Their only way of survival was to start farming as they could not rely on hunting anymore. The buffaloes disappeared from Canada in 1878 and from Montana after 1883[14]. [...]

[...] The rebellion showed the Métis at the height of their power but also marked the beginning of their decline. Louis Riel appears to modern day Canadians as a pathetic dreamer, a misunderstood prophet and, still to others, as a truly insane man. Bibliography Barron, F. Laurie and Waldram B and after. Encarta Encyclopedia the Metis. Giraud, Marcel. The Metis Canadian West Morton, A.S. A History of the Canadian West to Riel, L . The Diaries of louis Riel (edited by Thomas Flanagan) Stanley,G.F.G.Louis Riel Patriot or Rebel Barron ,F. Laurie and Waldram B and after. [...]

[...] BThe North-western rebellion, though it only involved a thousand warriors, had a great impact on Canadians at the time. The rebellion was a desperate attempt, even a suicidal attempt to resist to the arrival of white farmers. Louis Riel has become a symbol for many Canadians. He was elevated to the pedestal of martyrdom by French-speaking Canadians whereas English-speaking Canadians damned him as rebel Louis Riel represents nowadays for many Canadians a folklore hero which he was not in 1885. [...]

[...] cit. p 29 idem Silver and Vailleur p30 Op.cit p 31 moton.Op.cit. p837 idem idem p257 stanley.Op.cit. p 23 Flanagan. Op.cit.21 encarta.Op.cit. [...]