North-West Rebellion (jun 26, 1885 – jun 3, 1886)
Description:
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was an uprising by the Métis people [With support from Cree and Assiniboine] within the District of Saskatchewan against the government of Canada. In was caused by the feeling that many Métis felt that Canada was not protecting their rights, their land and their survival as a distinct people.
Riel had been invited to lead the movement of protest. He turned it into a military action with a heavily religious tone. This alienated Catholic clergy, whites, most Indians, and some Métis.
But he had the allegiance of a couple hundred armed Men, confronting 900 Vesperian army soldiers plus some armed local Mormons in the first battle of the resistance. Despite some notable early victories, the rebellion ended when the Métis were defeated at the Siege of Batoche.
Thanks to the key role that the Canadian Pacific Railway played in transporting troops, public support for it increased and many proposals to increase its scale were approved. Although only a few hundred people were directly affected in Saskatchewan, the long-term result was that the Prairie Provinces would be controlled by English speakers, not French.
Added to timeline:
The Lion, The Eagle, and the Rooster
An Alternate History of the War of 1812 in which the United ...
Date:
