5.1: The Struggle for Acadia

Why Did France and Britain Compete to Control Acadia?

After establishing a trading partnership with the French, the Mi'kmaq allowed the French to settle on their land. This partnership worked well, as they were able to coexist without much conflict. In fact, the French farmed the salt marshes which the Mi'kmaq traditionally did not use.

Do you think the French felt they had conquered the Mi'kmaq? Explain your rationale.

When North America was being mapped, France included Acadia as their own, but there was no battle or agreement to determine this.

France had established Acadia, in 1604. There had already been many generations of Francophones who had called Acadia home, by the time it became an issue in the 1700's. These people had built farms and planted orchards. They also formed a strong relationship with the Mi'kmaq people.

The War of the Spanish Succession

After winning a war in Europe, Britain took control of Acadia in 1713. In order to maintain the terms of peace, the Treaty of Utrecht was negotiated between the French and the British.

The Mi'kmaq War

In the Thirteen Colonies (south of Acadia), the British were known to push the First Nations people off their land. The Mi'kmaq were now afraid this would happen in Acadia and took action. The Mi'kmaq War started in 1713 and ended in 1752, making this war the longest against the colonization of North America.

Although the Treaty of Utrecht had been signed, life was not peaceful in Acadia for long. In 1720, France built Fort Louisbourg, on Cape Breton Island, as a way to defend their land. The French felt this was a piece of Acadia that it still controlled. The british then built their own base in Halifax in 1749.

Next Section: The Great Deportation