Expulsion of the Acadian's (jan 1, 1755 – jan 1, 1762)
Description:
The Acadian's lived in the Nova Scotia Territory for a considerable amount of time (since Port Royal was built in 1604). The Acadian's were independent minded as they were ignored by the French, and British alike. However, in the 1730's the British crown pressured the Acadian's to swear allegiance if not neutrality if an Anglo-French war broke out. The Acadian's eventually agreed to swear neutrality. The British, and French then built forts along Nova Scotia to balance each others power. When a war did break out, the British found several Acadian's as militia in the French fortress. To the British this was a violation to their neutrality. In 1755 British Governor Charles Lawrence met with representatives with the Acadian population. He pressured the Acadian's into an unqualified oath to the British Crown. They Acadian's refused. Upon being refused Lawrence ordered the Acadian's to be expelled from Nova Scotia. Approxiatmetely 7000 Acadian's were expelled in 1755 alone. These expulsions continued until 1762 when the policy was ended. In between that time had exiled another estimated 3000 Acadian's. This expulsion completely destroyed Acadian's society. It tore families apart, and culture apart. Many fled to nearby New France, PEI, or Louisiana (Cajun). The British would eventually welcome the Acadian's back to Nova Scotia, but the damge was already done.
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History Assignment
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