The Story of AcadiaPowerpoint & Notes Lesson: Have

notebook out, title “The Story of Acadia” and the date on your fresh page.It’s a bit of a sad historical story today…

Where was Acadia?

Where? East coast, today’s Nova Scotia

Group Activity – 6min

• In groups of four (nearest to you), do the following with your black and white painting:1. State the Obvious (what is in the picture, no

guesses at this point, just looking at the picture and pointing out different parts of it)

2. Make Inferences (guess what is happening in that painting, who are these people, what actions are occurring, how do the people feel, where are they, etc.)

Group share inferences…

Life in Acadia• French-speaking Roman Catholics• Unique culture (different from other French

colonists who lived along St. Lawrence)• Farming, hunting and fishing• Dykes – farmers built these to manage the

tides in Bay of Fundy• Friendly terms with Mi’kmaq First Nations

British, French & Acadians

• Acadian land shared by British & French• Both allowed Acadians to live in peace• BUT war loomed between French & British,

Acadians caught in the middle• British Governor Lawrence of Nova Scotia

told Acadians they would have to swear an oath of loyalty to the British king

• Acadian settlers wanted to remain neutral

• Governor Lawrence decided to act – he announced that Acadians would be forcibly removed from Nova Scotia, if refused to swear loyalty

• Acadians still refused, wanting to be neutral.

Group share inferences…

Group share inferences…

• The British became angry.• Finally, the British tricked the Acadians into

unknowingly signing a document that said they were to be DEPORTED immediately! (kicked out of their land)

Group share inferences…

The Great Deportation

• British soldiers moved into Acadian villages• Acadian men, women and children were

herded to British ships, taking only what they could carry with them

• Families were separated• Houses and barns were burned to the ground• Total # deported = 10 000 Acadians• Also known as the expulsion

Group share inferences…

Group share inferences…

Where did they go?

• Ships carrying Acadians went to other British colonies, to assimilate the Acadians

• Ended up living in misery and poverty• Some fled to the woods and made their way

to Cape Breton (owned by French)• Some went south to Louisiana, descendants

now known as “Cajun”• Some ended up in France or Quebec

Summary Video:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnpW5IVyWtU