1. The Expulsion of the Acadians

3. Acadia (Nova Scotia)

4. 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

7. 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

8. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Why?

15. 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

16. 1745
Fortress Louisbourg is taken over by the British

17. 1748
Fort Louisbourg returned to the French
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle

18. 1749 The British establish their first and largest colony in Acadia
It was called Halifax

19. 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

20. 1754 Conflict began between the French and the British
Both countries wanted to expand their territory into the Ohio River Valley

22. 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

23. 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)

24. 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

25. 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

27. 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

29. 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

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

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

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

35. 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

36. 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

38. 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

41. 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

44. 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)

46. 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