Which of the following describes a key role of the North West Mounted Police in early western Canada?

• A. Maintained peace with First Nations so settlers could live safely and the railway could be built.
• B. Collected taxes from Indigenous communities.
• C. Led the Red River Resistance.
• D. Operated residential schools.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the North West Mounted Police were created to keep the peace as western Canada was settled and big projects like the railway were built. They patrolled frontier areas, helped enforce laws, and protected settlers, survey crews, and communities from violence or crime, creating a safer environment for people to live in and for the railway to be constructed. This protective policing role is why describing them as maintaining peace with First Nations so settlers could live safely and the railway could be built fits best. They did not collect taxes from Indigenous communities, did not lead the Red River Resistance, and did not operate residential schools.