The Expulsion of the Acadians

Acadia (Nova Scotia)

1713 War of Spanish Succession Ends The British are given control of Acadia Both Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island remain in control of the French

What’s the Problem? Acadia is now controlled by the British However, all of the people in Acadia are French, and have been living there peacefully for 200 years (Acadians) Living in peace with the Mi’kmaq

1719 Fortress Louisbourg is built in Cape Breton It is controlled by the French Largest Fortress in Canada Controls access to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence Cannot enter Canada by boat unless you pass by Fortress Louisbourg

1730 Acadians sign Oath of Allegiance to the British This means that they were now loyal to the British and would help the British fight against their enemies

The “Unconditional Oath” The Acadians however refused to sign the “Unconditional Oath” of Allegiance The Acadians were loyal to the British, but refused to French of Native Indians (Mi’kmaq) They were asked 6 more times but refused

Why?

Reasons Why Many Acadians did not like the British The King of England was the head of the Protestant Church of England. Acadians were Catholic Male Acadians would have to fight fellow Frenchman during wartime Mi’kmaq might see this as the Acadians acknowledging the British claim to Acadia and disrespecting the Mi’kmaq’s claim Mi’kmaq may attack the Acadians

1745 Fortress Louisbourg is taken over by the British

1748 Fort Louisbourg returned to the French Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle

1749 The British establish their first and largest colony in Acadia It was called Halifax

1750 10,000 Acadians in Acadia (Nova Scotia) Numerous British citizens Thousands of Mi’kmaq It was a peaceful region, and everyone managed to get along without issue Possibly one of the first “Multicultural” societies

1754 Conflict began between the French and the British Both countries wanted to expand their territory into the Ohio River Valley

1754 The result was the breakout of all-out war between the French and the British for control of North America This was the start of “French and Indian War” which lasted for 9

1754 Due to the start of the war, the British government DEMANDED that the Acadians take the “Unconditional Oath” of allegiance The vast majority of them refused (7th time)

1755 The British had had enough On July 28th, 1755, British Governor Charles Lawrence of Acadia made the decision to deport all of the Acadians

The Expulsion of the Acadians Governor Lawrence ordered that all Acadian men aged 10 and up were to go to the Grand-Pre church for an important message There, they were told that their Land, Possessions, Cattle, Livestock, and Money were forfeited to the British government The Acadians were told that they were going to be removed from Acadia

The Expulsion of the Acadians The British knew that they had to get rid of the Acadians quickly and with force They waited until Sunday morning, where the British army quickly surrounded all of the churches in Acadia They wanted to capture as many people as possible

The Expulsion of Acadians The breached the dykes Burned the houses Burned the barns Burned the crops If Acadian men refused to leave, then the British threatened their families with muskets and bayonets

The British were given specific orders to be harsh and ruthless, and to not listen to the Acadians

By the Fall of 1755 1,100 Acadians were aboard ships going to: South Carolina Georgia Pennsylvania Back to Europe

Some Acadians 1,500 Escaped to: Quebec Cape Breton PEI

Some Acadians Stayed in Acadia and resisted the British by conducting Guerilla style attacks They were periodically hunted by the British for the next 5 years, and killed off Joseph Beausoleil Brossard

1758 Fort Louisbourg was captured by the British This time, the British had no intention of giving it back As a result, 3,100 more Acadians were deported 1,649 died by drowning of disease

Between 1755 and 1763 Approximately 10,000 to 18,000 Acadians were forcibly removed from by the British Thousands were murdered by the British or died from disease or starvation aboard ships English Colonies, France, or Caribbean

Mi’kmaq Unlike the French who were treated with some dignity, the Mi’kmaq were not Many British saw then as inferior, and thousands were killed during the Acadian Expulsion (Many were friends with Acadians) In 1760, they did sign a treaty with the British

After the War 1764 Expulsion seen by British as “Mistake” Acadians were permitted to return Settled in mainland Nova Scotia However Original Homes all destroyed PEI New Brunswick Cape Breton Newfoundland Louisiana (USA)

Today Many Acadians and Mi’kmaq still exist, and live in Nova Scotia and throughout Canada Including Myself and my family on my Mother’s side