Expulsion of the Acadians
1755 - The Acadians were to remain neutral between the two super powers of the French and the British. At first the Acadians started off under French rule but were soon taken over by the British. The Acadians did not like this and wanted to remain under the French rule but were not allowed. Soon enough the Acadians were suspected of disloyalty to the British sovereign. Governor Lawrence believed that the Acadians were working with the natives, and this was not wanted by the British government. Because of this fear of the Acadians working with the natives Governor Lawrence made them sign an oath of allegiance to the British government. This was not enough apparently because in same year of 1755 Governor Lawrence ordered all of the French out of Acadia. On July 28, 1755 the Acadians were expelled in the hope that the British would completely take over the Atlantic Canada region. The Acadians were told to leave all Possession’s behind and get aboard the boats that would soon bring them all across the ocean and into British control over in Europe. Within the first year 6000 - 8000 people were expelled from Acadia, and in all five years of the expulsion a total of 10000 people were ordered to leave. On the way across the ocean on the boats most of the Acadians died of diseases and illness so they did not make it all the way across to Europe. Some Acadians returned after the war had been finished only to find out that the land they had once lived on was given away while they were away. The Acadians were forced down North America into area like Louisiana and the area surrounding it. Few Acadian descendants are left in Atlantic Canada with most living in the Louisiana region.