New Brunswick And The Acadians Essay, Research Paper

New Brunswick, a maritime province located on the eastern seaboard of North America. Located southern to Quebec and northern to Maine USA. The capital of New Brunswick is Fredericton that is also the largest city in the province. New Brunswick, with an area of 73,440 sq. km (28,355 sq. mi.), is the eighth largest province in Canada. It’s population approximately 723 900 66% of which is anglophone and 34% is francophone..

The province is named after the German duchy of Brunswick-L neburg. New Brunswick became a colony in 1784, and joined the confederation in July 1, 1867. It was part of the 4 original provinces who joined the confederation from the beginning because of the economical advantages and the railroad.

One of the most unique and fascinating properties of New Brunswick’s history are the Acadians and Acadia their homeland in this project we try to find out more about these fascinating people.

Acadia

Acadia (in French, Acadie) is a region of present-day Canada that was a province or colony of New France.

Acadia was part of today’s Maritime Provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) and a part of Maine.

Acadia was first founded in 1605 by the Sieur de Monts.

Given very little economic support by France and finding itself a pawn in the colonial power struggle among France, Holland, and Britain, the colony had to become self-sufficient. It lived off agriculture, fishing, and trade–the last often illicit in France’s eyes.

The Acadians, Who were they ?

The Acadians were peaceful people. They made their living out of farming, fishing and trading with both the Indians and the Old World nations (English and French people). They spoke special dialect of French. However despite their French descent and commercial ties to Britain and France they did not feel loyal to either of the nations.

Like many people isolated by circumstances, the Acadians had a strong sense of community and performed many tasks together.

When a young couple married. The whole village would gather to help clear land and to build a house for them. It became an occasion for work, fun, food and celebration. Music on these occasions was often provided by fiddles and harps.

Acadians Nowdays

The Acadians have not perished and today they are 250 000 Acadian descendants in Canada alone, most are located in the Maritime Provinces. Nova Scotia’s only French-language University (Universit Sainte-Anne) is in the heart of Nova Scotia’s “French Shore”, a region along the “Bay of Fundy” populated by descendants of Acadians forced into exile centuries ago. The Acadians who remained in Louisiana also became successful, and today are known as Cajuns (say “Acadian” really quick and pronounce the “dian” as “jun” and you’ll see were the name came “Cajun” came from).

The Acadians changed the Maritime life as well as the life throughout Canada. The Acadians were the prime example of Canadian independence As they did not pick one side. They considered themselves as an independent people not a colony of France or loyal vassals to Britain. And that to my opinion played a major role in Canadian struggle for independence.