The province of Manitoba, because of its central location, has historically been affected by railway building activity. The surveyers and builders of North America's first transcontinental railroad sparked the North West rebellion in 1869 by the Metis. The rebellion ultimately led to the formation and naming of "Manitoba" and its inclusion into the Canadian Confederacy in 1870. This was followed by almost explosive growth as it was expected to become the central distribution point for rail traffic to all parts of North America and a maintenence facility.