 |
|
History
Many trade "forts or posts" sprung up, scattered about the southern Canadian plains. Primarily, these forts were used for only one or two seasons and then burnt down, so were little more than stockade cabins. Established in 1869 as a base for trade with the Indians, one of the earliest and most notorious of the "whiskey forts" built by Americans on Canadian soil was Fort Hamilton. It was supplied by T. C. Power Company out of Fort Benton, Montana and was operated by John J. Healy, his brother Thomas and Alfred B. Hamilton (the Fort's namesake). Likely for reasons of its trade, it later became known as Fort Whoop-Up and was one of the largest and most profitable of all of the trading forts.
During 1869–74, the traders dealing in contraband liquor and firearms so demoralized the Indians that violence and disorder resulted. Lawless conditions here, as well as in other areas, hastened the formation of the North West Mounted Police in 1873 to assure the maintenance of law and order in Western Canada |
|
 |
