FREE ESSAY ON LOUIS RIEL- HERO OR VILLIAN

LOUIS RIEL- HERO OR VILLIAN

Louis Riel… Hero or Villain 
The story of Louis Riel began on October 28th 1844. He was born in a log cabin beside
Seine Lake. The same priest who married his parents one year earlier baptized Louis on
his day of birth. Many people view Louis Riel as the biggest pioneer of Metis in Canadian
history. They base their decision on the fortresses he took and his position in Metis
organizations. Others call him a joke and despise him. They base this on him being taken
to trial for treason and eventually convicted and sentenced to death. As well as him
betraying his country and fleeing when the land's owners were switched ruining a chance
for a rebellion and having the nerve to return and restart a rebellion only before being
arrested tried and hung. Everybody has his or her own view as what to make of Louis Riel.
What's yours…? Hero or Villain?
If you think Louis Riel was a Hero. You need to assess his accomplishments and what they
did for the Metis history. In this life time Riel was named the Secretary for the
National Committee of the Red River Metis and people came to him for advice instead of
the president. Riel was well aware of about McDougall's approach to the boundary at
Pembina. On November 2nd, Riel and 120-armed Metis marched through the open gate at Fort
Garry and took power of the ambulant storage of food and the fortress itself. Riel also
claimed other fortresses for the Metis and eventually the president of the National
Committee of the Red River Metis resigned and gave the position of president to Louis
Riel. These are some of the many reasons that society today sees Louis Riel as a hero in
Canadian history and they admire him. Although as you read you will see the reasons that
society thinks of this man as an embarrassment in our history.
If you think of Louis Riel was a Villain. You must look at all the crooked things he did
while he was alive. He tried to lead Native Americans and Metis in the Red River
settlements in Manitoba to rebel. Although the land was transferred from the Hudson Bay
company to the Canadian Government, and the rebellion collapsed. Riel ran away and
returned to Canada in 1844. He led rebels attempting to secure land titles in
Saskatchewan at the engagement at Batoche in 1885. Riel was eventually captured, tried,
and hung. During his trial he gave two speeches thinking he could persuade the jury to
take his side. He plead insanity at his trial thinking that no matter what he did; if it
turned out benefiting him in the long run, he could get away with anything he wanted. In
the end, he was wrong. The courts had no symphony for him and he was found guilty of
treason and was hung on November 16th 1885.
If you were a Metis then you would have entire different views on him. The Metis think of
him as a God. Riel led them to many rebellions and the Metis seized many fortresses under
his command. Riel ran away when the rebellion collapsed and while he was gone he was
given the title "outlaw". Although while he was gone the government set aside a piece of
land for the Metis, thus established the province Manitoba. Other Metis may view Louis
Riel as a traitor because they are very proud of their heritage and being represented by
a person who betrayed them is something that they would not want to admit to. No matter
what your race. Society today and the Metis all have different views on this man named
Louis Riel
In conclusion there are many different views on what Louis Riel was. He believed he was a
full-blooded Metis. He didn't really show it in his actions. Calling him a hero would be
correct because he did take over numerous fortresses as well as work his way up to become
the president of the National Committee of the Red River Metis. Calling him a villain
would also be correct as well. He betrayed his country when his rebellion failed and he
was an outlaw until he returned to Canada and tried to start another rebellion when he
was captured and taken to trial for treason and sentenced to death. Before he died he
said, "When I die, Metis dies with me." He is saying that if he has to go then the whole
Metis must go with him. This was a cocky move and it lacked moral. Louis Riel died on
November 16th 1885 and according to him, the Metis died with him, or did it?
Bibliography
1) World Book 
1995 Edition
-Riel, Louis
2)http://library.usask.ca/northwest/background/riel.htm 
3)http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/10985.html