What caused the Red River Resistance?

• A. The HBC planned on selling Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory to the Dominion of Canada; federal government sending surveyors to Metis land; concern Metis would lose culture and land rights
• B. A drought
• C. A war with the US
• D. Gold discovery

Answer: (A)

The question tests why the Red River Resistance happened: it was sparked by Canada’s plan to acquire Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company and move settlers into the Red River area, with surveyors entering Metis land. This threatened Metis land rights and their culture, so they organized to demand guarantees before any transfer. Rupert’s Land covered vast territory with Metis communities who relied on established land rights and governance, and they feared losing both their lands and way of life as Canada expanded westward. The resistance led to a provisional Metis government under Louis Riel and ultimately the Manitoba Act, which created the province of Manitoba with protections for Metis rights. The other options don’t fit because drought, a war with the US, or a gold rush were not the immediate triggers for the resistance.