Focus Questions for this Chapter
1. How did competition between Britain and France to control North America shape Canada?
2. What challenges of coexistence among British, Canadien and First Nations people did it lead to?
3. How did people meet those challenges?
The British Conquest of North America
Before we continue in this chapter, lets look at what and where Acadia is?
Key Points about the Acadians:
History
French settlement established in 1604.
Many of these settlers came from Poitou and Anjou, France.
Possible history behind the name:
Giovanni da Verrazzano (Italian explorer) came to the New World and gave it the name "Archadia". Archadia means a country side that is believed to be perfect.
Mi'kmaq word for camp or "Algatig"
Acadians culture was adapted over many years as they lived in their new environment.
The Acadian culture was distinctly different from the French settlers who came to North America after the Acadians had arrived and established their lives here.
During the era of the Great Deportation, many Acadians moved to Louisiana. The name Acadian prounounced in French is les Acadiens (the s is silent). Some people dropped the "A" making the word le Cadiens. Many Americans could not pronounce Acadien or Cadien, but used the word Cajun.
Today
Acadia is located in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, with small pockets of communities found in Maine and Québec.
Many people who are part of this proud culture continue to fly their flag today.