The Northwest Territories has been through a number of distinct changes in how the territory is governed and how government has been selected. These changes have coincided with several major boundary changes since the Government of Canada acquired the territory in 1870. From 1869 to 1876 the Northwest Territories was run by an interim government, first led by lieutenant-governor William McDougall, and a council appointed by Ottawa. This council was governed under the "Temporary Government of Rupert's Land Act, 1869" and the "Manitoba Act, 1870" The council itself sat in Manitoba and was made up of Members of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.