Socials Chapter 4 Short Answer

1. The Metis tried to recreate the Red River settlement by doing multiple things.
To begin, they laid out their farms in traditional matter. The traditional matter was “10 chains across and 2 chains deep.” Moreover, they attempted to recreate the seigniorial system. Furthermore, they put the Catholic Church always at the center of the community.

2. Lawrence Clark and the Bison Hunt of 1875 were both big factors that led to the laws of St. Laurent and Metis independence. Lawrence Clark lowered the standard of living of the Metis, which led them to rely on the government for everything. He only offered part time work, and paid them as little as possible, and all the bison was eliminated so they could not make pemmican to survive. This led to the hunt of 1875, when a group of Metis began hunting before the St. Laurent begun. Now, the Metis cannot make their own laws or conserve livelihood, therefore the laws of the St. Laurent and Metis Independence came forth.

3. The government wanted to open prairies to the Canadian and European settlement but that could only occur if the land title was settled in 1870, almost all of the Northwest was occupied with the Natives. In August 1871, Simpson concluded treaties with the Natives, who wanted a good deal for their future. Simpson ordered to conclude treaties that ended Native land titles. The impact on the Natives was that their land was being taken away, so they had no title, and now have to rely on the government for everything.

4. In late 1884, the Metis Bill of Rights was established. The Metis hoped that it would address grievances of the Native people and form a new government in the Northwest. This Bill of Rights reflected the Metis desire to be treated as equals. This Bill of Rights reflected the Declaration of Independence. They were complaining that they had no food, hadn’t received their 240 acres of land, and they were charged for timber. It reflected the Metis views on how much more it reflected the Metis views on how they are being mistreated and how it’s unfair.

5. Louis Riel feels that the cause of the Northwest Rebellion was the fault of the Canadian government. Riel believed that the Northwest Territories would have been constitutional if the Canadian government didn’t attack. He also believes that the government is outrageously irresponsible and that they never were able to satisfy the people of the land. He also believed that the government never tried to negotiate with the Metis, and only sent police when there were petitions towards the government.