The West By lucywilliams Dec 7, 1857 Gold was discovered in the Cariboo gold fields Dec 7, 1867 the USA purchased Alaska USA from Russia Dec 7, 1868 Hudson's Bay Company agreed to sell its land to Canada Dec 7, 1870 Manitoba Act was passed Nov 7, 1885 Canadian Pacific Railroad was completed Nov 16, 1885 Riel was sentenced to hang and was executed Dec 7, 1885 The North-West Territories Act gave the Territories its own lieutenant-governor to be stationed at Battleford Dec 7, 1888 The Territories were given an elected assembly, but not responsible government Dec 7, 1905 The population in the West increased from 98,967 in 1890 to 417,960 Apr 7, 1999 North-West Territories was divided into two territories