Riel And The Metis example essay topic

Riel, a controversial character in Canadian history, played a significant role in separating the English and French Canadians. Riel succeeded in separating the two sides with his many rebellious acts. He was always supported in Quebec and by all French Protestants. Riel had a very interesting background, which drove his beliefs.

Riel was Metis, which is half-French and half Aboriginal. Louis Riel was born on October 22, 1844 in St. Boniface. Riel's home that he grew up in was very religious. Riel's mother wanted to be a nun but her parents thought it would be better if she were to marry. So she hoped that her son could live her dream and become a priest. Riel grew up on the east side of the Red River, which is the side that all the Metis lived.

The Metis are a mixed breed of Aboriginal descent and of another race, usually French. The Metis lived in the Western part of Canada and lived off of Buffalo, because they were hunters. Riel's family was very religious. At the age of thirteen Riel and three other boys were sent to go to school in Quebec, where they would study at Catholic colleges. They were sent to be priests so that they would be able to return to Red River and be leaders as Louis' father said before he left. "Yes, my son.

The Metis will need educated men to lead them in the times ahead when all the world is changing. If you become a priest, then you will serve both God and your People". There, Riel had a chance to live up to his mother's dream. The dream came to a crashing end when he was in his seventh year when he got news that his father had died. From finishing in the top five in his class he dropped significantly.

He soon would quit school and take a job as a clerk in a law office hoping to one day become a lawyer. During this time his debating skills were flourishing. He had asked a French girl by the name of Marie to marry him, but her father would not allow her to marry a Metis. Marie's father said, "You-you-you think you can marry my daughter. You, a Metis, a savage, a man without a job, without a penny, a man who ran away from school. You have nothing.

You are nothing. I have sent Marie away and you will not see her again". After this incident Riel had decided to return to Red River and help his people. Under the command of Riel a patrol was sent out to deny William McDougall entrance into the Red River.

McDougall was to become lieutenant governor of the Northwest even though an agreement for the transfer of the land to Canada had not taken place yet. McDougall was going to enter Red River but he encountered a group of Metis right at the border that told him not to enter Red River. He ignored this warning and kept on advancing until he got to the first Hudson's Bay post across the border where he was held at gunpoint by Ambrose Lepine. Lepine was a Metis that was the leader of the patrol that intercepted McDougall. Lepine said, "Canada has no rights in this country yet, and by the same token, neither have you. We have come to see that you return to the United States immediately- in whatever condition you prefer.

Go now, or accept the consequences". There, McDougall had no choice but to retreat. The Metis were not against being under the control of the Canadian government but they would not let McDougall in without permission from the Metis National Committee. Riel would only let them enter as long as they had a meeting first. As a result of this the Protestant Canadians in Red River were quite angry with the Metis' actions. After that the Metis were worried that the Canadians would take over Fort Garry and take control over Red River as well.

The Metis decided to take matters into their own hands, and took over Fort Garry overnight. Taking forty-eight Canadians as prisoners and declared a provisional government. Riel said, "If we are rebels, we are rebels against the company that sold us and is ready to hand us over, and against Canada that wants to buy us. We do not rebel against Britain.

We are protecting our native land against the dangers that threaten us. We want the people of Red River to be a free people. Let us help one another". Riel's reason for this hostile takeover was to capture the attention of the Canadian government so they could meet and discuss the terms between Red River becoming a part of Canada, so that they may keep their native land and traditions. This action made the tense situation even tenser. The Canadians were furious with the Metis and their actions.

One of the forty-eight Canadian prisoners held against their own will was Thomas Scott. Thomas Scott was being very uncooperative and was therefor executed under the orders of Riel. Riel said, "There is a crime among the Metis on the hunt; it is called insubordination. You are certainly guilty of that".

Riel charged Scott with insubordination, which means being disobedient, which was punishable by death. After the execution of Scott the government of Ontario placed a $5000 reward for the capture of Louis Riel. In Ontario it was said that Scott was killed because he was a Protestant and a Canadian. In Quebec it was said that the English Protestants placed a warrant for Riel because he was a Catholic and a Frenchman. The Protestants wanted revenge and the Catholics saw it as an attack against all French Catholics. As a result of this the tension grew even greater at this point.

On May 12, 1870, Red River became a full province of Canada. If it weren't for the actions of Louis Riel they would have been denied their own rights when becoming a province of Canada. Riel was elected to represent his people in the House of Commons, but was unable to attend the meetings because there was still a warrant for him in Ontario. He was soon forced to forfeit his position because he was unable to attend any of the meetings. The situation at that time was very bad between the English Protestants and the French Catholics. Macdonald who was the Prime Minister at the time didn't really do much to help the situation.

He stayed mostly neutral so he wouldn't upset either side. Riel was offered amnesty if he stayed out of Canada for 5 years. By granting Riel amnesty this brought silence in Canada until his return. Ten years after he was exiled some Metis from Canada had come to the United States pleading for their leader to come back and help them back in Canada.

The Metis wanted to have acceptance of their language, which was French. They were starving because the buffalo herd had disappeared and they weren't given enough rations. What really bothered the Metis was that they had tried every single possibility to gain the government's attention such as; petitions, requests, telegrams, and letters, but they would not listen. The only alternative left was rebellion and who better to lead them other than Louis Riel. On March 18, 1885, Riel took government officials hostage, seized a church, and cut telegraph lines to Prince Albert. These actions were very similar to the actions in the Red River Rebellion.

Riel asked the North West Mounted Police to surrender Fort Carlton or else there would be an attack, which would trigger a war. All of these actions angered the English Protestants in the area, which then leads to the North-West Rebellion. The Metis won the first battle but lost the rebellion. The Metis lost for two reasons.

The first reason is that the Metis ran out of ammunition and had to use nails. The second reason is because Riel didn't listen to the advice that Dumont gave him, which was, "We must harass them, make them uneasy, make them lose heart. They are not used to the West and they will give way easily. Do not give them time to sleep, make them worry, upset them. Riel's answer to Dumont's advice was", I have prayed to God, and I have been told that I must wait until the soldiers attack us. Then, with God's help, we will win".

What was even worse their defeat was that their leader, Riel, was captured and imprisoned awaiting a trial. Now that the battle on the plains was over, the battle of the courts was just beginning. With Riel in jail waiting to be charged with treason and sentenced to death, by the court, the tension in Quebec was worse than ever. Quebec had gotten ready a defense team to defend Riel.

The jury did not have at least one Metis or Frenchman. Riel was sentenced to be executed. Riel's execution was delayed twice due to extreme arguments and rallies. Many French Catholics complained that Riel was only sentenced to death because he was a Frenchman and a Catholic, and that a Protestant would never have been sentenced to death. Through the uprisings Riel succeeded in driving a wedge between English and French relations. His religious background probably led him to his death, and caused the loss of the rebellion.

Through his uprisings Quebec and the French Protestants always supported Riel and the Metis. Riel had also succeeded in getting proper rights for the Metis in Manitoba. Riel was truly a prime factor in separating the English and French.