Definitions • Acadian: A Francophone citizen of Acadia.
The Acadians • In the mid-1700s, the Acadians were the descendents of the French colonists who had farmed the shores of the Bay of Fundy. • By 1710, most of Acadia was under British control. • By 1750, over 10 000 Acadians lived on small farms and villages along the Bay of Fundy. • Many had intermarried with their Mikmaq trading partners. • They were mainly French speaking Catholics.
Caught in the Middle • Britain always wanted English speaking people to live in Acadia. • As tensions between France and Britain grew, the governor, Charles Lawrence became worried that the Acadians might side with the French.
Caught in the Middle • The Mi’kmaq and Maliseet were allies with the Acadians, and over the years had captured many British ships. • The Acadians refused to swear loyalty to Britain.
Caught in the Middle • In 1755, Governor Lawrence gave the Acadians a choice: swear your loyalty to Britain or lose you land. What choice would you make? Why?
Caught in the Middle • The Acadians did not want to fight, but they also didn’t want to have choose sides - They wanted to remain neutral. • They promised not to take up arms against the English, but they refused to take an oath.
Caught in the Middle • Governor Lawrence was convinced that the British would not be safe with the Acadians living in Nova Scotia. • He found his proof when British troops captured Fort Beauséjour from the French in 1755.
Caught in the Middle • British troops found 300 Acadians defending the French fort. To Lawrence, this proved they were disloyal.
Caught in the Middle If you were Governor Lawrence what would you do? • Let the Acadians stay on their land. • Force the Acadians to sign an oath. • Punish the Acadians by destroying their villages and taking their resources. • Deport them - kick them off British land.
The Acadians British Governor Charles Lawrence and the Nova Scotia Council decided on July 28, 1755 to deport the Acadians. The Deportation Order by Claude T. Picard
Le Grand Dérangement – The Great Deportation • Lawrence gave orders: “The French inhabitants of the province shall be removed out of the country as soon as possible.”
Le Grand Dérangement – The Great Deportation • British soldiers rounded up people at gunpoint. • They broke up families and made them board ships for separate countries. • They burned homes and churches. • They destroyed farms and drove off animals.
Le Grand Dérangement – The Great Deportation The Grand Dérangement displaced from 10,000 to 18,000 Acadians. Thousands more were killed. Ships Take Acadians Into Exile by Claude T. Picard
Le Grand Dérangement – The Great Deportation • The Acadians were sent all over the world. Many ended up in the Caribbean, France, England, and Louisiana. • Many others were able to escape to the woods. • Many Acadians didn’t survive the deportation dying of disease, starvation or drowning.
Le Grand Dérangement – The Great Deportation British authorities in 1764 allowed Acadians to return in small isolated groups. They returned slowly, settling in various locations on mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Migrations and Return by Claude T. Picard
Questions 3. What three specific events lead to Governor Lawrence (the English) expelling the Acadians from their land in Nova Scotia? (3 pts) (pg 106-107) 4. Governor Lawrence abused the Acadian people’s rights through the Grand Dérangement. Pg 106-107 a) Explain how he did this, using specific examples from the text. (3 pts) b) In your own point of view, do you think Lawrence had to abuse people’s human rights? (2 pts)