Louis Riel: Victim or Criminal?

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Louis Riel, even today, remains one of the most controversial figures in Canadian history. He was a political and spiritual leader of the Métis of the Canadian Prairies who sought to preserve Métis rights and culture as their homelands came progressively under the Canadian influence. The circumstance of his death had lasting political ramifications in Canada and was opposed by many. His trial is arguably one of the most famous in Canadian history, and the question as to whether it was unjust is a topic of debate. Louis Riel Louis Riel was born on October 22, 1844 at the Red River Settlement, Rupert’s Land. He was the eldest of eleven children. He was educated in St. Boniface where his teachers thought of him as a promising student. He then continued on to Collège de Montréal to study priesthood, but withdrew after his father’s premature death in 1864. In 1865, he studied law and attempted to train as a lawyer with Rodolphe LaFlamme but never graduated. It is believed that he worked briefly in Chicago, Illinois and St. Paul, Minnesota before returning to the Red River Area in 1868. It was after his return that Louis Riel immersed himself into politics, emerging as a leader for the Métis. In 1869, Red River and the North West were to be transferred from the Hudson’s Bay Company to Canadian jurisdiction, so survey crews were sent to Red River. These crews were disrupted by a group of Métis including Riel, who then organized themselves as the “Métis National Committee” with Riel as secretary. This committee formed a provisional government in December 1869 and Louis Riel became its president. This government established a Bill of Rights for the Métis people. They were challenged by a group of English settlers known a... ... middle of paper ... ...artyr, Hero or Traitor? Retrieved on June 5, 2014 from http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Canada/Riel/riel.htm The Northwest Resistance. (n.d.). Louis Riel. Retrieved on June 4, 2014 from http://library.usask.ca/northwest/background/riel.htm Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. (April 26, 2014). Louis Riel. Retrieved on June 4, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. (April 8, 2014). Trial of Louis Riel. Retrieved on June 5, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_of_Louis_Riel Yahoo! Answers. (n.d.). Was Louis Riel a Hero or a Traitor? Retrieved on June 5, 2014 from https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090615212104AAZjjpH Yahoo! Answers. (n.d.). Do You Think Louis Riel was Innocent or Guilty? Retrieved on June 5, 2014 from https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101126200443AAiKtrD

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