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War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a war between the United States and Great Britain, its North American colonies, and its North American Aboriginal Allies. In the end, the United States lost the war. The US attempted to take over Canada but in the end failed. -
Thomas Douglas (5th Earl of Selkirk)
Thomas Douglas was born on St Mary's Isle, Scotland 20 June 1771 and died at Pau, France 8 Apr 1820. In 1799, he unexpectedly became the next in line to be Earl of Selkirk after his father's death. He founded several Scottish colonies in Canada. The reason why he is significant in this timeline is because he founded the Selkirk colony in the Red River Valley. -
Miles Macdonell and Scottish Colonists Reach the Red River Colony
On August 29, 1812, Miles Macdonell arrived at the Red River with Scottish colonists to establish the Selkirk Colony. A second group arrived in October. The year they came it was too late to plant crops. The second year they were there the crops turned out to be very unsuccessful and many of the people were starving. If only he could find a food that kept a long time and could be supplied for the colonists. This is important because Miles and the colonists found the Selkirk Colony. -
Miles Macdonell
Miles Macdonell was born 1767 in Inverness-shire, Scotland; and died 28 June 1828 in Pointe-Fortune, Upper Canada. In 1811, he was appointed the first governor of Assiniboia, and in 1812 led the initial party of settlers to the Red River Valley. In 1814 he issued the Pemmican Proclamation. The reason why Miles is in this timeline is because he led the party of settlers to the Red River Valley and issued the Pemmican Proclamation, both of which were important events in the Red River Valley. -
Pemmican Proclaimation
Miles Macdonell tells Metis that they cannot sell or export pemmican from Red River Valley for one year. This was meant to protect the colonists from starvation, but was a serious blow to the Metis in the area, who made a living from the pemmican trade. The Metis were mad. The NWC relied on pemmican to supply its fur traders and were outraged as well. This is part of the reason why the Metis did not like the English. -
NWC strikes back
The North West Company sent two of its employees, Alexander Macdonell and Duncan Cameron, to drive the British colonists away. Alexander Macdonell saw that acting against the Red River colonists, the Metis were inspired to recognize their rights and fight for their land. This had an effect on the Metis and inspired them to fight for their rights several times more in the future. -
Birth of John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald was born on January 11, 1815 in Glasgow, Scotland and died on June 6, 1891 in Ottawa. He became the first prime minister in Canada. The reason he is significant on this timeline in because of what he did during the Northwest Uprising and for ordering the execution of Louis Riel. -
Battle of Seve Oaks
Robert Semple and 28 men rode out to confront the Metis at Seven Oaks. The Metis surrounded Semple and his men. Cuthbert Grant, leader of the Metis group, made an attempt at parley but failed. Angry words were exchanged and a colonist fired at the Metis. A gunfight began, and in 15 minutes it was over. Semple and 20 of his men were killed and one Metis died. This was a defining moment in Metis history. -
Cuthbert Grant
Was born at Fort de la Rivière Tremblante, Saskatchewan in 1793 and died at White Horse Plains [St-François-Xavier, Manitoba] on the 15th of July, 1854. Went to Montreal for an education and came back as a trader for the NWC and led the Metis in the Battle of Seven Oaks. Later he became sheriff of Assiniboia. He is significant in this timeline for being a great leader of the Metis during the Battle of Seven Oaks. -
HBC and NWC Merge Together
The Hudson Bay and the North West Company merged together under the name of the Hudson Bay Company with 100 shares. 55 shares went to NWC partners and 45 shares went to the HBC directors. The British Parliament gave the company control over Rupert's Land. The new HBC controlled over 7 million square kilometers. The Metis did not like the HBC much and the merging of the two upset them. -
Birth of Lawrence Clarke
Lawrence Clarke was born June 26, 1832 in Fermoy, Ireland and died October 5, 1890 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. In the Northwest Rebellion, he worked as the government's informant on the Metis. He tricked the Metis into thinking he sympathized them. Then he fooled them into thinking that 500 North West Mounted Police were coming to arrest Riel. It was because of him that the Battle of Duck Lake occurred. In a way, he started the Northwest Uprisings by tricking them in this way. -
Birth of Gabriel Dumont
Gabriel Dumont was born on the 1st of December 1837 at Red River Settlement and died on the 19th of May 1906 at Bellevue, Saskatchewan. He was a great hunter and became known as a Metis hero for his efforts in ensuring they got their rights and his assistance in the Red River Resistance and Northwest Rebellion. He is significant for bringing Louis Riel from exile and his leadership in the Northwest Rebellion. -
Birth of Sir John Christian Schultz
John Schultz was born in Amherstburg, Upper Canada and died at Monterey, Mexico on April 13, 1896. He practiced medicine and ran the Nor'Wester newspaper in the Red River Colony. He became leader of a small Canadian party demanding annexation to Canada. Later he became an MP, then a senator, and then he became governor of Manitoba. He is significant in this timeline for going to Ontario causing conflict around the execution of Thomas Scott making Riel look like a murderer and disliking Metis. -
Birth of Louis Riel
Louis Riel was born on October 22, 1844 in Saint-Boniface, Red River Settlement and died on November 16 1885 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He went to Quebec at an early age to get an education and years later returned. Later he became leader of the National Metis Committee and then led the Metis again in the Northwest Resistance. He is well known as a hero to the Metis for his leadership skills in the Red River Resistance and Northwest Uprising. He is also known for his trial and execution. -
Fraser River Gold Rush
The first wave of miners arrived in Victoria on their way to the Fraser River Gold Rush. The Gold Rush caused a decline in the native population and unified British Columbia politically. -
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American Civil War
The American Civil war started on April12, 1861 and ended on April 9, 1865. It was a war between the north Union and the south Confederate States of America. In the end, the Union defeated the Confederate States. The American Civil war was a defining moment in American history. -
USA Purchases Alaska
On March 30 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from the Russians. Why did Russia sell Alaska? Well, they had too much land to protect so they sold the land to the US. The US would not have Alaska to this day if they had not purchased it from the Russians making this a very important event in the 19th century. -
Canadian Confederation
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Suez Canal Completed
The French finish building the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal was built between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It made trade much easier for European countries with Asian countries. They would no longer have to travel all the way around Africa to go to Asia or visit East African countries. -
Lieutenant-Governor William McDougall Arrives
McDougall crossed the US border and proclaimed himself governor of the NWT then quickly crossed the border into the US. Copies of his proclamation were circulated in the Red River Settlement. Authority of HBC ceased after his proclamation, but since McDougall was in the US, Riels provincial government became the legal government of the area, with sovereign rights and the right to negotiate with the Canadian government. The Metis would not have received their rights. -
Canada Buys Rupert's Land
The Hudson Bay Company sold Rupert's Land to the Dominion Canada for $1.5, not even considering the people already living there. They sold the land so they could colonize it. Colonizing the land was very important because they feared that the US would pursue their idea of Manifest Destiny and take the land before Canada control it. The Metis were upset that the Canadian government didn't even think about the fact that people were already living in the area. -
Louis Riels Provisional Government
On December 8, 1869, Louis Riel established a provisional government. He was leader of the provisional government. When Canada bought up Rupert’s Land from the Hudson Bay Company, Louis Riel's provisional government became the legal government of the area with the right to negotiate with the Canadian government. -
Thomas Scott is Executed
While he was held in Fort Garry, Thomas Scott continually insulted the guards and threatened to shoot Riel if he was ever freed. With Thomas Scott Riel overreacted and appointed a military tribunal to try the prisoner for treason. Then on March 4 he was executed by a shooting squad in the courtyard of Fort Pembina. Later, John Schultz went to Ontario and spread rumors about Louis Riel shooting Scott himself and made him out to be a killer. This is why Riel went into exile. -
Louis Riel Flees to the United States
After the Red River Resistance was over Louis Riel left to the United States. The reason he did so was because he had Thomas Scott executed, and as a result, a bounty was put on his head. If Louis Riel had not fled to the US, he could have been killed. Also, Gabriel Dumont would not have needed to go bring Louis out of exile in the first place. -
Riel Returns From Exile
On July 4, 1884, Louis Riel returned to Canada to fight on behalf of the Metis. Gabriel Dumont went to bring Riel back from exile because the Metis looked up to him and saw him as the hero during the Red River Resistance. Riel played one of the most important roles during the Northwest Rebellion. He became leader of the Metis. -
Metis Send Petitions to the Government
Louis Riel and William Henry Jackson, a representative of the European local farmers, collaborated on the Metis Bill of rights. They both hoped this document would address the problems the Metis were facing. It also included the concerns of non-Metis people living in the North-West Territories. It was far more detailed than the previous Metis Bill of Rights. On December 16, 1884, they sent the document to Ottawa. -
Provisional Government of Saskatchewan Proclaimed By Meis
In Batoche, a provisional government for the North-West was proclaimed by the Metis, with Louis Riel as president and Gabriel Dumont as his adjutant-general. They would try to negotiate with the government for Metis rights as well as the rights of the other people living in the area. If the government sold the prairie land, there could be a profit of 70 million dollars. The Canadian government would not let a few Metis stand in their way of that much money. -
Battle of Duck Lake
The Metis moved to Fort Carlton in order to seize supplies. On March 26, 1885 Crozier and North West Mounted Police rode out to meet the Metis force at Duck Lake. Angry words were exchanged and two Metis negotiators were shot. Both sides then opened fire. During the battle 12 NWMP officers were shot and 25 wounded. Crozier evacuated Fort Carlton the next day. It was at this point that the Northwest Uprising had begun. -
Battle at Fish Creek
Gabriel Dumont, who had convinced Riel that the Canadian troops should be attacked before they arrived at Batoche, ambushed General Middleton and his forces. On April 24 the Metis ambushed Middleton's force at Fish Creek. Less than 300 Metis stopped the advance of 1600 militia soldiers. The Metis attempted to stop the Canadian forces from reaching Batoche. This was one of the most significant and major battles during the uprising. -
Battle at Cut Knife
The battle took place on May 2, 1885 above Cut Knife Reserve. Otter and his men attacked the Cree camp. The natives fired back from cover. Otter and his men had artillery and fired from range. The artillery were effective at first, but broke down and the Gatling Guns range was too short to be effective and since none of the natives would come into the open was difficult to use. Otter realizing the exposed and hopelessness of his position retreated. This was a victory for the Cree people. -
Battle at Batoche
On May 9, Batoche was attacked by the Canadian troops. Gabriel Dumont concealed his men in rifle pits where they could fire from cover. Middleton had surrounded the town and was blocking supplies from reaching the Metis. He had cannons and a Gatling gun and got them to fire from long range at the Metis. The Canadian forces had cut of the supplies and after 3 days of fighting the metis were out of ammo and had to surrender or flee. Louis Riel surrendered on May 15. -
Louis Riel is Hanged
Louis Riel went on trial in Regina Saskatchewan. He was given 2 lawyers. His lawyers told him to plead insanity but Riel would not. The jury voted that Riel was guilty of treason but should not be killed. The government thought differently and ordered his execution on November 16, 1885. This marked the end of the Northwest Rebellion. His death was significant because he fought for Metis rights and because of the role he played in the Northwest Rebellion.
