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Manitoba Quizzes, Trivia

Manitoba History Trivia

Manitoba History Trivia Quizzes

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8 Manitoba History quizzes and 80 Manitoba History trivia questions.
1.
  History of Winnipeg    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Winnipeg is the capital city of Manitoba. Although it is a younger city but world history standards, it has vibrant and often tumultuous past.
Average, 10 Qns, Joepetz, Apr 28 23
Average
Joepetz gold member
Apr 28 23
184 plays
2.
  Louis Riel's Rebellion    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Louis Riel is considered by some to be one of the fathers of confederation even though he was executed by the Canadian government for treason, but that was after he went insane.
Average, 10 Qns, dimdim777, Sep 14 12
Average
dimdim777
486 plays
3.
  A History of Manitoba (1950-1975)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I imagine that a lot of people who lived through the sixties won't remember much from this quarter-century, but give the quiz a shot anyway.
Tough, 10 Qns, reedy, Mar 07 03
Tough
reedy gold member
966 plays
4.
  A History of Manitoba (1900-1925)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
It was a time of incredible growth for Manitoba, both in population and industry. Come see how Manitoba entered the 20th century.
Tough, 10 Qns, reedy, Feb 23 10
Tough
reedy gold member
871 plays
5.
  A History of Manitoba (1975-2000)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
After taking a long hiatus from Funtrivia, I have finally returned to complete my epic quiz series on Manitoba's glorious history. Sorry to make all of my rabid fans wait so long. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, reedy, Nov 09 10
Average
reedy gold member
462 plays
6.
  A History of Manitoba (till 1870)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Manitoba is in the geographical heart of Canada and its history and people embody what it means to be Canadian. Enjoy.
Tough, 10 Qns, reedy, Apr 14 10
Tough
reedy gold member
819 plays
7.
  A History of Manitoba (1870-1900)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Manitoba was the 5th province to join Confederation, and the first from Western Canada. Join me in looking at the first 30 years of Manitoba as a part of Canada.
Difficult, 10 Qns, reedy, Feb 22 21
Difficult
reedy gold member
Feb 22 21
872 plays
8.
  A History of Manitoba (1925-1950)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Roaring 20's, the Dirty 30's, World War II and the Baby Boom. Do you know how my home province pulled through?
Tough, 10 Qns, reedy, Jun 08 05
Tough
reedy gold member
731 plays
trivia question Quick Question
How was Riel executed?

From Quiz "Louis Riel's Rebellion"




Related Topics
  Manitoba [Geography] (10 quizzes)


Manitoba History Trivia Questions
1. Winnipeg was first settled by First Nations people at the meeting place of the Red and Assiniboine River at a location commonly referred to as what?

From Quiz History of Winnipeg

Answer: The Forks

The Forks was the area where the two rivers met and was a heavily populated area for millennia. It was a popular stop on canoe trading routes. The Forks provided access to a number of other native tribes and other rivers beyond just the Red and Assiniboine. Today, the Forks is part of downtown Winnipeg and serves much the same function as it did thousands of years ago. It is a popular meeting place full of markets, stores and restaurants. There are also a number of museums, parks and ice skating rinks in and around the Forks.

2. Which Canadian province did Louis Riel found?

From Quiz Louis Riel's Rebellion

Answer: Manitoba

Louis Riel formed a provisional government and presented Canada with a Bill of Rights that on May 12, 1870 became the Manitoba Act. Riel's provisional government approved it on June 24 and the act came into effect on July 15. He is considered the 'Father of Manitoba'.

3. In 1950, for the first time in Manitoba's history, agriculture was surpassed as the primary source of income for the province. Which industry took the number one position?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1950-1975)

Answer: Manufacturing

World War II had created a large demand for cattle, wheat, wood, and metals.

4. With its entry into Confederation on July 15, 1870, Manitoba received a nickname related to its physical dimensions. What was it?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1870-1900)

Answer: The postage stamp province

The initial size of the province of Manitoba was 33,280 square kilometers (1/18th of present day area) around the Red River Settlement.

5. Who was the first white man to see the place that would one day become the Red River Settlement and later Winnipeg?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (till 1870)

Answer: Pierre de La Verendrye

Born in Québec in 1685, La Verendrye began his expedition to Western Canada in 1731, and reached the prairies in 1732. The first white man to see Manitoba was Sir Thomas Button, who wintered at the mouth of the Nelson River in 1612.

6. The founding of the Selkirk Settlement as an agricultural center sparked an early 19th century conflict between powerhouses in what other industry?

From Quiz History of Winnipeg

Answer: Fur

The Selkirk Settlement (also called Red River Colony) was founded in 1811 in and around the area that is now Winnipeg. However at this time, the main industry was fur and fur trading. Since much of the land had been converted into agricultural purposes, this severely limited the area the Hudson Bay Company and its rival the North West Company had for the fur trading. This sparked a series of conflict between the two businesses which escalated into burning down forts and several murders.

7. This resource was discovered near Virden in 1951 - can you name it?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1950-1975)

Answer: Oil

Virden is located on the Trans-Canada Highway halfway between Winnipeg and Regina.

8. In 1906, with population growth in the three prairie provinces at an explosive rate, the Canadian government conducted a special census for just these three provinces. What was the population of Winnipeg at the time?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1900-1925)

Answer: 90,153

Much of Winnipeg's population at the time was due to its use as a transfer point for destinations further west. In comparison, Calgary had a population of 11,967, Edmonton had 11,167, and Brandon (in Manitoba) was almost as large as these with a population of 10,408. Regina was somewhat lower at 6,169.

9. The word "Manitoba" comes from "Manitou bou," which translates as "the narrows of the Great Spirit" from which Native language?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1870-1900)

Answer: Ojibwe

The first inhabitants of the "Postage Stamp Province" were the Assiniboine Indians, the nomadic Cree Indians, the Métis, and the settlers that had come from the east. In addition to the Ojibwe 'Manitou Bou' (meaning 'the narrows of the Great Spirit)', another likely candidate for the origin of 'Manitoba' comes from the Cree 'manitowapow', which has the same meaning as 'Manitou Bou', with both terms referring to the place that is called the 'Lake Manitoba Narrows' today.

10. The development of the fur trade in Western Canada led to the intermixing of the French traders and the aboriginal people living there. The Métis were called something that reflected their unique status in the land. What was it?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (till 1870)

Answer: Freemen & Free Men & Gens libres

Being of mixed ancestry, the Métis were bound by neither Indian custom nor fur trade company laws. Thus, they were called freemen or, in French, gens libres. There were many insulting terms though, which don't warrant mentioning here. The Métis call themselves 'The Forgotten People'.

11. What was the name of the illegal trade routes that sprouted up in the early 19th century, between the Red River Colony and the U.S. state of Minnesota?

From Quiz History of Winnipeg

Answer: Red River Trails

The Red River Trails were fur trading routes that allowed the Metis people and others in the Red River Colony bypass the Hudson Bay's Company monopoly on fur and trade with settlers in Minnesota. While the Red River Trails were not as contentious as other routes, there was some tension between Britain and the United States as both nations feared the constant crossing of international borders and the Mississippi River would cause boundary disputes.

12. How many rebellions did Riel take part in?

From Quiz Louis Riel's Rebellion

Answer: 2

Riel led two rebellions to preserve Métis rights and culture.

13. The year 1979 also saw the National Hockey League expand by four teams: The Edmonton Oilers, the Québec Nordiques, the Hartford Whalers, and the Winnipeg Jets. From which league did these teams come?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1975-2000)

Answer: WHA & W H A & World Hockey Association

The Winnipeg Jets were formed in 1972, joining the WHA and proceeding to have a successful 7 seasons, winning the Avco Cup in 1976, '78, and '79. The most prominent team member during this time was Bobby Hull (The Golden Jet).

14. At the time of Manitoba's creation, what was the population of the fledgling province?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1870-1900)

Answer: 12,000

In 1870, of Manitoba's approximately 12,000 inhabitants, only 600 were of British or Canadian descent. By the 1880's, most Manitobans were of British origin.

15. In what year did the Métis begin a settlement at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (till 1870)

Answer: 1801

Because of their French-Canadian heritage, the Métis farmed the land in long, narrow river lots in the style of the habitants of Québec.

16. What is the name of the Metis leader who set up his own provisional government in what is now Manitoba, leading to the Red River Rebellion in 1869?

From Quiz History of Winnipeg

Answer: Louis Riel

The newly independent Canada purchased Rupert's Land (which included the area that is now Manitoba) from the Hudson Bay's Company. When surveyors were sent to divvy up the land, the Metis people, led by Louis Riel, resisted. Riel set up his own government and arrested those who resisted him. One of these prisoners, Thomas Scott, was executed which led to the Canadian Government sending an expedition to Manitoba to secure the land and prevent the Americans from expanding northward. Although Riel secured an agreement that Manitoba would be admitted into the Canadian Confederation as its own province, he fled the country when he learned Canadian militiamen intended to kill him.

17. What was the name of the first rebellion led by Riel?

From Quiz Louis Riel's Rebellion

Answer: The Red River Rebellion

The Red River Rebellion was initiated to preserve Metis' and First Nations' rights and culture from an influx of English-speaking protestant settlers from Ontario.

18. In 1912, the final expansion to Manitoba's borders was granted through legislation in the federal parliament. Which territorial district lost some of its area to Manitoba's expansion?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1900-1925)

Answer: Keewatin

The expansion also included the parts of the districts of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, and Athabasca that had not been granted to the newly formed province of Saskatchewan in 1905.

19. In what year, with a population of 1,869, was Winnipeg incorporated as a city?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1870-1900)

Answer: 1873

"Winnipeg" is also originally from the Cree "win nipee" meaning "muddy water". A very apt name for a city astride the Red River.

20. When did the first settlers come to the region from the east?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (till 1870)

Answer: 1812

In 1812, the 'Selkirk Settlers' (primarily Scottish Highlanders) also settled at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Lord Selkirk is regarded as the founder of agriculture in Western Canada.

21. After experiencing significant growth in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century, what caused a decline in Winnipeg's popularity as a trading hub?

From Quiz History of Winnipeg

Answer: The Panama Canal

The construction of the railway system saw Winnipeg become the hub of international trade within Canada and North America, as it was the only major city in the prairies to have a major system of railways pass through it at the time. However, the construction of the Panama Canal in 1914 caused Winnipeg to decline. Ships could easily sail through the canal and up the Pacific Coast of North America to Vancouver without having to dock on Canada's east coast, unpack the cargo onto trains and travel by rail across Canada.

22. What was the name of the second rebellion led by Riel?

From Quiz Louis Riel's Rebellion

Answer: The North-West Rebellion

After the Red River Rebellion, the Metis travelled west and settled in Saskatchewan. Again Riel championed the rights of the Metis after they almost starved due to the lack of buffalo. This was exacerbated by a reduction in government assistance in 1883, and by a general failure of Ottawa to live up to its treaty obligations. The Metis were likewise obliged to give up hunting and take up agriculture, which also caused land claim problems with the European settlers.

23. In 1956, large nickel deposits were discovered in the Moak Lake-Mystery Lake area. Since then, the town that was built to develop that mine has become one of the largest nickel-producing centres in the world. Which town is it?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1950-1975)

Answer: Thompson

Thompson is Manitoba's third largest city and has the motto "Hub of the North".

24. In just over 10 years from its inception, Manitoba's population expanded greatly. By 1881, approximately how many inhabitants of the province were there?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1870-1900)

Answer: 66,000

The influx of settlers from the east coupled with disappearing bison prompted the relocation of the bulk of the Métis to Batoche, near present-day Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

25. The settlers from the east had received a land grant from the Hudson's Bay Company for how many square miles of land as a source of agricultural support for the fur trade?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (till 1870)

Answer: 116,000

Having staked a claim for the land, the fur trading companies had legal right to grant land to settlers. Of course, none of this took into account the 'rights' of the free Métis or the Natives.

26. Debuting in 1918, what is "Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise"?

From Quiz History of Winnipeg

Answer: The Golden Boy

"Eternal Youth and the Spirit of Enterprise" is the true name of the Golden Boy statue that stands atop the Capitol Building in Winnipeg. Since its debut in 1918, the Golden Boy has been a symbol of the city. It is of the Roman God Mercury carrying a bundle of wheat to symbolize Winnipeg's place in Canada's history as a hub of trade and labor.

27. Who administered the Red River Settlement?

From Quiz Louis Riel's Rebellion

Answer: The Hudson's Bay Company

The Hudson's Bay Company was created by an English royal charter in 1670 as 'The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay' and functioned as the government of parts of North America before European states and the United States laid claim to those territories.

28. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Manitoba's Canadian Football League franchise, won the Grey Cup in 1990. Who did they defeat to claim the title?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1975-2000)

Answer: The Edmonton Eskimos

The 78th Grey Cup was held at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, and the final score was Winnipeg 50, Edmonton 11. However, the Bombers did not win the cup again in the following 20 years.

29. In 1963, the first laboratories went into operation at the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment, and two years later, a nuclear reactor was up and running. Near which town is it located?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1950-1975)

Answer: Pinawa

The nuclear reactor was a 60 MW (thermal) WR-1 research reactor. It was used as a test reactor for the proposed organic-cooled CANDU reactors. The WR-1 reactor was shut down in 1985.

30. Christmas of 1941 was a dark time for Winnipegers in World War II. When the Japanese took Hong Kong, they captured or killed nearly every member of two Canadian Battalions. One of the battalions was a unit from Winnipeg. What were they called?

From Quiz A History of Manitoba (1925-1950)

Answer: The Winnipeg Grenadiers

Even those that surrendered were treated abominably. Many had their ears and tongues cut off, and Red Cross nurses were raped. The Winnipeg prisoners of war were held for many years.

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