Questions and Answers
What was the main purpose of creating the North West Mounted Police (NWMP)?
To maintain law and order on the frontier
Why did the NWMP officers wear bright red uniforms?
To distinguish themselves from the US cavalry officers
What was one of the first challenges faced by the NWMP officers?
Controlling the illegal whisky trade
Who was Reverend John McDougall and what role did he play?
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What was the significance of the announcement that the CPR would be routed through Winnipeg?
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What was the purpose of the coupons, called scrip, given to Métis families?
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What change occurred in Winnipeg after it was incorporated in 1873?
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What attracted people to Winnipeg after word leaked out about the CPR route?
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What happened to the majority of the scrips handed to the Métis?
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How did the arrival of the railway impact the value of land in the Prairies?
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What was the primary reason for the rapid growth of Portage la Prairie after 1880?
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What effect did railway access have on homesteads in the Prairies?
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Study Notes
Law and Order in the Prairies
- The main purpose of creating the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) was to maintain law and order in the Prairies.
Uniforms of the NWMP
- NWMP officers wore bright red uniforms to make them easily recognizable and to intimidate any potential troublemakers.
Early Challenges of the NWMP
- One of the first challenges faced by the NWMP officers was the harsh climate and geography of the Prairies.
Reverend John McDougall
- Reverend John McDougall was a missionary who played a key role in persuading the government to establish the NWMP to maintain peace in the region.
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)
- The announcement that the CPR would be routed through Winnipeg sparked significant growth and development in the region.
Scrip and the Métis
- Coupons, called scrip, were given to Métis families in exchange for their land, allowing them to purchase land elsewhere.
- However, the majority of the scrips handed to the Métis were sold to speculators, cheating them out of their rightful land ownership.
Growth of Winnipeg
- After Winnipeg was incorporated in 1873, the city experienced rapid growth, attracting people from all over due to its strategic location.
- The news of the CPR route going through Winnipeg attracted more people, leading to a population boom.
Impact of the Railway
- The arrival of the railway led to a significant increase in land value in the Prairies.
- Railway access improved the accessibility and value of homesteads in the Prairies.
Portage la Prairie
- The primary reason for the rapid growth of Portage la Prairie after 1880 was its strategic location as a major railway stop.
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