What did the English think about Louis Riel?

Answer 1

Depends on which English we are talking about. The English people and for that matter the Scottish and Irish including those who intermarried with aboriginals that found themselves included in Canada's purchase and acquisition of lands they live on were generally supportive. Riel found support among other groups with history in Western Canada, and met little or no resistance when setting up a provisional government.

If we are talking about the English who were new to Western Canada or were Canadians intending to take control of their new possession they did not like Riel at all. Some of these formed the Canadian Party Militia and hoped to attack Riel and his forces. The Canadian Party had little support among the local English and found themselves imprisoned in Fort Garry.

English Canadians liked Riel even less after he killed a member of the Canadian Party. English in Britain on the other hand knew and cared little about Riel or Western Canada.