"THE GRAND DÉRANGEMENT (THE GREAT UPHEAVAL) - On the 28th of July 1755, the Council in Halifax ordered the deportation of the Acadians in Nova Scotia to the British-American colonies along the eastern seaboard. The first of the announcements and round-ups of Acadians occurred in August at Fort Cumberland, a month before a similar process was followed at Grand-Pré and Pisiquid.
The resistance
However, a group of Acadians stayed behind, under the leadership of Charles de Boishébert and Joseph Broussard known as Beausoleil, and resisted the British at Fort Cumberland. After several altercations, including one in the summer of 1755 at Village-des-Blanchard (now Hillsborough, N.B.) and another one in January 1759 at Bloody Bridge near the fort of Beauséjour, the Acadian partisans surrendered to the British authorities.
Times of hardship
The Acadian families who took refuge along the Miramichi River and Restigouche Bay faced enormous hardships. After living as fugitives in the woods for several years, many of them were obliged to give themselves up following a British attack in 1761. About 200 Acadian men, women and children were thus taken prisoner and transported to Fort Cumberland, Fort Edward (Windsor, N.S. ) and Halifax.
By 1764 there were about 73 Acadian families or 388 individuals living in makeshift huts in the vicinity of Fort Cumberland. These families were able to survive thanks to rations they received from the British authorities in exchange for menial work.
After 1764, the families were no longer under surveillance and were able to move away to found new villages in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. They were later joined by compatriots who were exiled to the Anglo-American colonies, Canada, France, and elsewhere. Gradually, the foundations were laid for a new Acadie.
Between October 1755 and until 1762, hundreds of Acadian families were forced onto ships and transported to these colonies and to England and France. Between 6,000 and 7,000 Acadians were removed from their homeland. About 1,100 individuals from the Beauséjour region were deported while another 2,000 escaped to Canada and Île Saint-Jean or took refuge along the Miramichi River in the course of the next few years." (
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"GEORGES ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA - Georges Island (named after George II of Great Britain) is a glacial drumlin and the largest island entirely within the harbour limits of Halifax Harbour. The Island is the location of Fort Charlotte - named after King George's wife Charlotte. Fort Charlotte was one of four forts where Acadians were imprisoned over the nine years of the Expulsion of the Acadians (the others were Fort Frederick, Saint John, NB, Fort Cumberland and Fort Edward). The island is now a National Historic Site of Canada. As of August 6, 2020, the island is open to public tours through Thanksgiving weekend." (
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The plaques, in French and English, read:
"LE GRAND DÉRANGEMENT -
L’Acadie, fondée par la France en 1604 et convoitée pour sa situation stratégique, est cédée à l’Angleterre en 1713 et rebaptisée Nouvelle-Écosse. La fondation de Halifax, en 1749, entraîne l’exode d’une partie de la population acadienne vers les territories français. Les Acadiens qui restent son perçus comme un menace par les autorités britannique qui, en 1755, commencent leur expulsion systématique, fragmentant familles et communautés, confisquant terres et bien.
C’est la Grand Dérangement. Près de 10 000 hommes, femmes et enfants son entassés à bord de navires et déportés dans les colonies anglo-américaines, en Angleterre et en France. D’autres échappent aux déportations, fuyant en territoire français et formant une résistance. En dix ans, près de la moitié du peuple acadien périt en mer ou succombe à la maladie et à la famine. La Nouvelle-Écosse compte à peine 1 600 rescapés en 1765, leur terres fertiles désormais occupées par des colons venus d’ailleurs.
Certaines familles acadiennes reprendront le chemin du retour, mais la plupart ne reverront jamais l’Acadie. Plusieurs feront souche au Québec et en France, alors que la Louisiane sera le foyer d’une nouvelle communauté qui donnera naissance à la riche culture canadienne. Cependant, le Grand Dérangement n’aura pas réussi à effacer la présence acadienne de sa terre d’origine. Au Canada atlantique, l’Acadie est bien vivante, parle le français et propose au monde une culture fière et dynamique."
"ÎLE GEORGES – HALIFAX
C’est à Halifax le 28 juillet 1755 que le Conseil de la Nouvelle-Écosse prend la décision d’expulser la population acadienne de la colonie. Au cours de la décennie suivante, l’île Georges (petite île dans le havre) sert de prison pour des centaines d’Acadiens à la fois. Les représentants de la population acadienne ayant plaidé la cause des leurs devant le Conseil en juillet 1755 en sont les premiers prisonniers.
Le lieutenant-gouverneur Lawrence décrit l’île comme « le lieu le plus sûr » et il n’est pas rare que des partisans acadiens ayant pris part à la résistance s’y retrouvent. Les installations de l’île sont inadéquates et les conditions de détention terribles. Lors de la dernière tentative de déportation massive en 1762, plus de 600 prisonniers sont transportés à Boston. Le Massachusetts refuse de les accepter et les navires doivent remettre le cap sur Halifax.
La politique de la Déportation prend fin en 1764 et le gouvernement fait en sorte que le peuple acadien revenant s’établir en Nouvelle-Écosse soit éparpillé sur le territoire. En Nouvelle-Écosse, la nouvelle Acadie se retrouve, bien vivante, dans des communautés comme Clare, Argyle, Chéticamp, Isle-Madame, Pomquet."
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"THE GRAND DÉRANGEMENT -
L’Acadie, established by France in 1604, was a strategically located and highly coveted colony. In 1713, it was handed over to England and renamed Nova Scotia. The foundation of Halifax, in 1749, led part of the Acadian population to move to French territory. The remaining Acadians were still perceived as a threat, and in 1755, the British authorities launched their systematic deportation, splitting up families and communities, seizing all lands and possessions.
This was the Grand Dérangement or Great Upheaval. Nearly 10,000 men, women, and children were piled into ships and deported to Anglo-American colonies, to England and to France. Others escaped the deportation, seeking refuge in French territory and forming a resistance. Over the next ten years, almost half of the Acadian nation was lost at sea or died from disease and famine. By 1765, a mere 1,600 survivors remained in Nova Scotia, their fertile land now occupied by settles from other areas.
Some Acadian families returned to their former home, but most never again set eyes on Acadie. Many took root in Quebec and France, while in Louisiana they gave rise to a new community that produced the rich Cajun culture. Yet, the Grand Dérangement was unable to wipe out the Acadian presence on its native soil. L’Acadie lives on in Atlantic Canada, speaking French and offering to the world its proud and dynamic culture. L'Acadie lives on in Atlantic Canada, speaking French and offering to the world its proud and dynamic culture."
"GEORGES ISLAND - HALIFAX
It was in Halifax on July 28th, 1755 that the Nova Scotia Council made the decision to remove every Acadian from the colony. Over the next decade, Georges Island was used as a prison for hundreds of Acadians at a time. The first prisoners were the deputies who pleaded the Acadian cause before the Nova Scotia Council in July 1755.
Lieutenant-governor Lawrence described the Island as "the place of most security," so Acadian partisans who took part in the resistance often ended up there. The facilities on the Island were inadequate and living conditions were terrible. The last attempted mass deportation came in 1762 when more that 600 prisoners were shipped to Boston. Massachusetts refused to accept them and the ships returned to Halifax.
The Deportation policy ended in 1764 and the government made sure that the Acadians who resettled Nova Scotia did so in scattered communities. In Nova Scotia, a vibrant, New Acadia lives on in communities such as Clare, Argyle, Chéticamp, Isle Madame, Pomquet."
Note: The Grand Dérangement monument placed by The Acadian Odyssey Commission along the Halifax waterfront boardwalk, is one of many planned monuments to The Grand Dérangement. Since 2005, a total of 16 monuments have been erected, including 5 in New Brunswick, 3 in Nova Scotia, 1 in Prince Edward Island, 1 in Newfoundland and Labrador, 4 in Quebec, 1 in Louisiana, and 1 on Miquelon Island (France)