Essay/Term paper: Louis riel

Essay, term paper, research paper:  High School Essays

Louis Riel should not have been hung because he

represented those who couldn"t represent themselves.

Louis Riel was disappointed with the way the Métis were,

so he took it upon himself to represent the Métis and their

rights. Even though the actions that followed, such as

keeping the new governor out the colony, was illegal and

very wrong. Riel risked it for the rights of the Métis. As for

Thomas Scott, Riel has absolutely no legal right to have

him shot, but Riel himself never touched a gun for that

purpose. He had a firing squad shoot Scott. Although, Riel

may have ordered the squad to shoot, but the men could

have backed down, no matter how powerful Riel seemed.

After the rebellion, he was elected by Manitoba to sit in

the House of Commons. Riel went to Ottawa but was not

allowed to sit as a member in the House, for he was

threatened by many to be shot if he appeared in the

House. This was the mistake of the government. They

should have sopped the nonsense and threats. For Riel

was a man of ideas. He was a man who was knowledged in

the government. It was obvious since he formed his own

government. Riel would have been an asset to the

Canadian government.

In 1884, Gabriel Dumont rode to Montana and asked

Riel to defend the Métis once again. Riel returned to help

the natives once more. Riel was risking capture when he

returned. This was a very noble act on his part. Instead of

staying nice and safe in Montana, Riel gave up his safety

for the Métis. Riel decided to try an unviolent approach

this time instead of starting an all out rebellion. Riel and

the Métis drew up a petition and presented it to the

government. The petition, which demanded more food

and money for the natives, was looked over but not acted

upon. The petition was fair in all parts but the government

turned it down. It only demanded that what belonged to

the natives be returned.

In early 1885, Riel formed another provisional

government, and started another rebellion. His followers

killed many army troops, but once again it was not the

hand of Riel that killed so many. It was of people who had

their own thoughts and intuitions. They could have easily

said no to Riel instead of shooting. In which case Riel was

not fully responsible for the deaths. After a long rebellion

consisting of many battles, Riel gave himself up. It was his

actions that stopped the fighting and the killing. A lesser

man could not have done such a thing.

Riel was a prisoner of the Canadian government and

was brought to trial for his part in the rebellion. During his

trial, Riel"s lawyer thought the only way to get Riel out of

this mess was for him to plead insanity. Riel would not

plead insanity for he did not want his followers to look

foolish. It was said, "how could an insane person lead 700

people into a rebellion unless they were all insane?" Louis

was a truthful man and would not plead insane because he

was considerate as well. Riel believed he had an unfair

jury, as the jury consisted of six english speaking settlers

were chosen. Riel"s arguments were not listened to and he

died an innocent man. Not guilty of killing many people,

treason, forming a provisional government, and standing

up for the right of the natives.