The document summarizes key events in the formation of Canada as a country, including the purchase of Alaska from Russia, the Hudson's Bay Company selling Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory to Canada, the resistance led by Louis Riel and the Metis people in the Red River Settlement, the creation of Manitoba, and British Columbia joining confederation. Key figures mentioned include William Seward, Louis Riel, John A. Macdonald, and George-Etienne Cartier.

1. The Dominion of
Canada
Canada’s National Motto: “From sea to sea.”

2. Gee, thanks Russia.
On March 30, 1867, the - Russia feared British
day after Queen Victoria annexation of Alaska with
signed the British North the rapidly expanding
America Act, the British Columbia to the
Americans purchased south of the territory.
Alaska from the Russians
for 7.2 million dollars. - After the Crimean War
with the British Russia
- William Seward had no desire to sell their
American secretary of territory to their enemy.
state who bought the
colony said, “It is very
well, you are building an
excellent states to
hereafter be admitted to
the American Union.”

3. Hudson’s Bay Company
- It was the biggest
real-estate purchase in
human history at the
time.
- In 1869 The Hudsons
Bay company agreed
to sell Rupert’s Land
and the North Western
territory to Canada for
$1.5 million.
(What a deal! Just look
at the square footage!)

4. Omission as a Hegemonic
Strategy
- No one consulted or - Hegemony: The
even notified the First leadership or
Nations, Inuit, and dominance especially
Metis people who by one country or
happened to be living social group over
in Rupert’s Land and others.
the North Western
Territory. - By withholding
information from the
people living on the
land; the Canadian
government used
omission as a
hegemonic strategy.

5. Riel’s Red River
Resistance
- The Red River frontier, - More than half the
in the area of present-day population was made up
Winnipeg, had developed of Metis (a mix of First
into a crossroads culture. Nations and generally
French background).
- The Red River region
was made up of First - The Metis lifestyle
Nations, French, centered around the
American and Scottish annual buffalo hunt.
settlers with a population
of 12 000. - When news of HBC’s
sale of Rupert's land to
Canada surfaced the Red
River was angry and
defiant.

6. Louis Riel
- The Metis called upon - American
a young man named annexationists began
Louis Riel to be their calling on the Metis to
leader. ditch Canada for the
U.S.
- Canada sent
surveyors before the - John A. Macdonald
land transfer was saw his dream of a
official. nation from sea to sea
slipping away.
- Riel literally put his
foot down on the
survey chain declaring,
“you shall go no
further!”

7. “This is horrible! This is
cold blooded murder!”
Thomas Scotts last - Thomas Scott was a
words. hot-tempered, anti-
catholic Irishman who
- He belonged to a was thrown into jail for
group entitled: plotting a counter
“Canada Firsters,” a rebellion.
nationalistic,
expansionist group - On March 4, 1870
calling for a Thomas Scott was put
counterstrike against to trail and killed by
the Metis whom they firing squad.
referred to as, “the
treacherous half- “We must make
breeds” at Fort Garry. Canada respect us!” –
Louis Riel.

8. The Manitoba Act 1870
- Outplayed by Louis
Riel, John A.
Macdonald accepts
almost all of the Metis
demands. (ie: French
language rights, and
the protection of the
catholic church).
- On July 15, 1870 the
transfer of Rupert’s
Land and the North-
Western territory finally
went through. And as
agreed on the same
day Manitoba was
born.

9. Riel on the Run
- Riel, “the father of - Riel was later elected
Manitoba,” was forced to Parliament by
to flee to America as a Manitoba voters even
military expedition though, as a fugitive,
under Colonel Garnet he would never be able
Wolseley was on its to take his seat.
way.
- He was elected three
Wolseley: “Had we times into the House of
caught him, he would Commons.
have had no mercy.”

10. B.C. Joins the Club
- British loyalty was
strong in British Columbia
and a delegation travelled
to Ottawa to negotiate.
- George-Etienne Cartier
(Prime Minister
Macdonald’s right hand
man) offered them a full-
scale transcontinental
railway in ten years.
- It did the trick, and B.C.
joined confederation in
1871.