President Spence

Sources

Hill, Robert B. Manitoba: History of its Early Settlement, Development and Resources. Toronto: William Briggs, 1890.

Nault, Derrick M. “A Misleading Portrait: The Provisional Government of Assiniboia and the Creation of Manitoba.” Prairie History no 3, Fall 2020.

Hargrave, Joseph James. Red River. Montreal: John Lovell, 1871.

Bruce Peel, “SPENCE, THOMAS (1832-1900),” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 12, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003.

Michener, Roland. “The Republican Monarchy of Manitobah.” MHS Transactions

The New Nation

Manitoba Free Press

Winnipeg Daily Sun

Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.

MacEwan, Grant. Fifty Mighty Men. Saskatoon: Modern Press, 1958.

Thomas Spence Fonds, Library and Archives Canada

Thomas Spence saw a problem: Portage la Prairie, isolated, lawless. He offered a solution: himself, as President. Thus was born the Republic of Manitoba, a short-lived and ill-advised attempt at creating a regional government. Join us as we fill in the details of this colourful episode in Manitoba history with surprise appearances from Louis Riel, John Christian Schultz, and “Dutch George” Emmerling.

Listen to the full episode :

Thank you to the NFB for allowing us to use the audio of their classic vignette! You can watch it complete with animations below:

The approximate proposed boundaries of the Republic of Manitoba 

An image of Louis Riel often described as being with "his councillors." Per Derrick Nault's article (see sources), more likely Riel with a group of men at the Red Saloon. Thomas Spence is on the far right, in profile. University of Manitoba Archives and Special Collections. C. 1870.