Chapter 2 Lesson 10 Inquiry
Completion requirements
Inquiry
Why Were the Acadians Deported?
The British wanted to stop the Acadians from suppying food and military help to the Louisbourg fort. They asked the Acadians to sign an oath (make a promise) to support the British monarchs.
To the British this was a reasonable request, especially during war. The Acadians had participated in war on the British for over seventy-five years. The British wanted the war to end and for peace to be established. Even today, new Canadians immigrants still take this oath of Allegiance to the Queen. The Acadians who took an oath would join British Canada and live peacefully.
Making the promise did not seem simple to Acadians at the time. There were a number of reasons the Acadians would not make a promise to serve the British monarch.
One, their religion was very important to them and they did not want a Protestant king or queen to head the Catholic church.
Two, they wanted to remain neutral and live peaceful lives. They did not want to fight for Britain against France.
Three, they were allied with the Mi'kmaq.
In the Grand Dérangement (the Great Upheaval) from 1755-1764, The British destroyed around 6,000 Acadian houses. More than 12,000 Acadians (three-fourths of the Acadian population in Nova Scotia) were moved to the United States. They were dropped off without supplies on the United States coast between Massachusetts and Georgia. Families were separated in the confusion.
Population transfers occur in troubled areas to keep the peace. Or, they occur because of racism or religious conflict. In the modern world, 2 million Greeks and Turkish people were exchanged between Turkey and Greece in 1923 after WWI.
Another large exchange was 14.5 million people who crossed the borders between India and Pakistan in 1947. Many people died and were hurt in these population transfers.
To the British this was a reasonable request, especially during war. The Acadians had participated in war on the British for over seventy-five years. The British wanted the war to end and for peace to be established. Even today, new Canadians immigrants still take this oath of Allegiance to the Queen. The Acadians who took an oath would join British Canada and live peacefully.
Making the promise did not seem simple to Acadians at the time. There were a number of reasons the Acadians would not make a promise to serve the British monarch.
One, their religion was very important to them and they did not want a Protestant king or queen to head the Catholic church.
Two, they wanted to remain neutral and live peaceful lives. They did not want to fight for Britain against France.
Three, they were allied with the Mi'kmaq.
In the Grand Dérangement (the Great Upheaval) from 1755-1764, The British destroyed around 6,000 Acadian houses. More than 12,000 Acadians (three-fourths of the Acadian population in Nova Scotia) were moved to the United States. They were dropped off without supplies on the United States coast between Massachusetts and Georgia. Families were separated in the confusion.
Population transfers occur in troubled areas to keep the peace. Or, they occur because of racism or religious conflict. In the modern world, 2 million Greeks and Turkish people were exchanged between Turkey and Greece in 1923 after WWI.
Another large exchange was 14.5 million people who crossed the borders between India and Pakistan in 1947. Many people died and were hurt in these population transfers.
Resources for Inquiry
Resources for Inquiry
- Textbook
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Review the information on pages 49 and 50.
- Think about why the Acadians were deported.
- Remember to think about multiple perspectives: How did the Acadians feel about it? How did the British feel about it? How might the Mi'kmaq have felt about it (Remember the Acadians were their friends in the war against the British)?
