2.2 Expansion into the West and the Creation of Manitoba

The Red River Resistance of 1869-1870 sparked conflict between the Métis and the Canadian government over land rights in the newly acquired Rupert's Land. Led by Louis Riel, the Métis established a provisional government to negotiate with Canada, resulting in the Manitoba Act and the creation of Manitoba.

Western expansion continued with the transfer of Rupert's Land to Canada and the implementation of the Dominion Lands Act. This homestead system encouraged settlement through land grants, while immigration policies aimed to populate the west with European settlers, transforming the region's demographics and economy.

Red River Resistance and the Creation of Manitoba

Conflict in the Red River Colony

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  Métis camp with Red River cart / Campement métis et charre… | Flickr View original

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  Red-River-Rebellion – Wikipedia View original

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  The Historical Memory of Louis Riel: A Long-Standing Canadian Debate – Active History View original

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  Métis camp with Red River cart / Campement métis et charre… | Flickr View original

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• Red River Resistance (1869-1870) led by the Métis people in response to the Canadian government's acquisition of Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company without consulting the local population
• Métis, people of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, feared losing their land rights and cultural identity under the new Canadian administration
• Louis Riel emerged as a key leader of the Métis during the resistance, advocating for the protection of Métis rights and the creation of a new province

Establishment of a Provisional Government

• Riel and the Métis established a provisional government in the Red River Colony to negotiate with the Canadian government
• The provisional government sought to secure political and land rights for the Métis people before agreeing to join the Canadian Confederation
• Negotiations between the provisional government and the Canadian government led to the drafting of the Manitoba Act

Manitoba Act and the Creation of a New Province

• Manitoba Act (1870) created the province of Manitoba, the first province established in the Canadian Prairies
• The act guaranteed certain rights for the Métis, including land grants, language rights (French and English), and religious freedoms
• However, the implementation of the Manitoba Act was slow and often inadequate, leading to further tensions between the Métis and the Canadian government
• The creation of Manitoba set the stage for further westward expansion and the incorporation of new provinces into the Canadian Confederation

Western Expansion and Land Policies

Transfer of Rupert's Land to the Dominion of Canada

• Hudson's Bay Company agreed to transfer its vast territory, known as Rupert's Land, to the Dominion of Canada in 1869
• The transfer included present-day Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and parts of Ontario, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories
• The acquisition of Rupert's Land allowed the Canadian government to pursue its vision of westward expansion and nation-building

Dominion Lands Act and the Homestead System

• Dominion Lands Act (1872) introduced a system for distributing land in the newly acquired western territories to settlers
• The act divided the land into townships, sections, and quarter-sections, with each quarter-section (160 acres) available for homesteading
• Homestead system allowed settlers to acquire land for a small registration fee and by fulfilling certain conditions, such as living on the land for at least three years and making improvements (clearing land, building structures)
• The Dominion Lands Act and homestead system aimed to encourage settlement and agricultural development in the west

Immigration Policies to Populate the West

• Canadian government actively promoted immigration to populate the western territories and support agricultural growth
• Immigration policies targeted settlers from Europe, particularly from the British Isles, the United States, and Eastern Europe (Ukrainians, Poles, Germans)
• The government offered incentives, such as free land grants and assistance with transportation, to attract immigrants
• Immigration policies also aimed to create a culturally homogeneous society based on British and European values, often at the expense of Indigenous peoples and other minority groups
• The influx of settlers and the development of agriculture in the west transformed the region's demographic, economic, and political landscape