The Acadians were settlers in Canada in the 1630s, primarily clustered around Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. They formed an alliance with the Mi’kmaq Indian tribes and were expelled from their homes in the Great Upheaval in 1755. Many were displaced and forced to settle in other locations around the world, including Louisiana, where they thrived and became known as Cajuns. Acadian descendants have a proud legacy from their many cultural influences, including contributions to Southern music, cuisine, and cultural practices.
The Acadians are an ethnic and cultural group that trace their lineage to settlers expelled from Canada in the mid-18th century. Although the group dispersed after their expulsion, large numbers formed an active community in southern Louisiana, eventually leading to Cajun ethnicity. Their name comes from the area of Canada where they settled, part of the Northeast Coast Maritime Provinces.
In the 1630s, French immigrants arrived in Acadia in large groups, recruited by the French government to colonize the land. Though scattered over a large region, the Acadians primarily clustered around Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Quite early on in their residency, the settlers forged a strong alliance with the Mi’kmaq Indian tribes, leading to frequent intermarriage between the two groups. Contrary to some reports, not all Acadian settlers were French. Some English and German families also joined the settlement and were widely accepted by the French majority.
Unfortunately, the Acadian provinces were in the midst of constant disputes between the French and the British over property. After nearly a century of conflict, the French and Indian War broke out in the 1750s, pitting France against Great Britain in the North American theater. British forces repeatedly assaulted Acadian cities throughout the war, putting those who refused to swear to the English crown on pain of treason. In 1755, thousands of non-sworn Acadians were expelled from their homes in what is known as the Great Upheaval.
The exile of 1755 was not the only one for the Acadian territory. Over the next decade, many more were expelled from the area as British power increased. By the time of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, thousands of Acadians had been displaced and forced to settle in other locations around the world.
The end of the French and Indian War left Louisiana under French control, leading to a large colony of Acadians settling along the Mississippi River in the Louisiana Territory. Though they had to survive severe climatic changes from their native home in Canada and the Spanish government’s takeover of the area, the population rapidly thrived. Although they intermarried with people of many other cultures, a large influx of settlers from France joined the Acadians in 1785, leading to a lasting French impact on culture and way of life. Eventually, the name was dialectically changed, leading to the modern term “Cajuns.”
Other Acadian exiles fled throughout the American colonies, deep into the French Canadian territories, or even into France. They also formed a large part of the French presence in the Caribbean islands, contributing to French involvement in the age of sail. In modern times, Acadian descendants have a proud legacy from their many cultural influences. In America, they are known for their contributions to Southern music, cuisine, and cultural practices. Through the freezing Canadian winters and devastating exile, the Acadian people demonstrated their tenacity and hardiness, something still valued by descendants today.
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