Timeline of Acadian Timeline of Acadian EventsEvents

• 1605 - Acadians leave France for the New 1605 - Acadians leave France for the New World (present day Nova Scotia, Canada)World (present day Nova Scotia, Canada)

• 1755 - the British (now in control of the 1755 - the British (now in control of the land) start expelling the Acadians to land) start expelling the Acadians to their American colonies, the French West their American colonies, the French West Indies, and even back to FranceIndies, and even back to France

• 1765 - Acadians hear about Louisiana 1765 - Acadians hear about Louisiana and start accepting Spanish land grantsand start accepting Spanish land grants

Wetland SettlementsWetland Settlements• Lived on swamp levees like Lived on swamp levees like

in the Atachafalaya River in the Atachafalaya River basinbasin

• Made a living by hunting Made a living by hunting and fishing; eventually lived and fishing; eventually lived on house boatson house boats

• In the marshes Acadians In the marshes Acadians realized they could graze realized they could graze cattle in the winter monthscattle in the winter months

Prairie SettlementsPrairie Settlements• Developed in two areas differentlyDeveloped in two areas differently• Eastern Lifestyle - the rich soil supported Eastern Lifestyle - the rich soil supported

crops (cotton was the main cash crop) and the crops (cotton was the main cash crop) and the area quickly became densely settledarea quickly became densely settled

• Western Lifestyle - was at first characterized Western Lifestyle - was at first characterized by small towns and cattle ranchesby small towns and cattle ranches

• Life changed in the western prairies with the Life changed in the western prairies with the introduction of the railroad, rice farming, the introduction of the railroad, rice farming, the discovery of oil, and agricultural discovery of oil, and agricultural mechanizationmechanization

River/Bayou SettlementsRiver/Bayou Settlements• Spanish land grants along the Spanish land grants along the

Mississippi River were the first Mississippi River were the first settlements for the Acadians in settlements for the Acadians in LouisianaLouisiana

• Later Acadian arrivals were Later Acadian arrivals were given land on Bayou Lafourche given land on Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Techeand Bayou Teche

• These Acadians used the rich soil These Acadians used the rich soil for farming cotton as a cash cropfor farming cotton as a cash crop

Creole ReviewCreole Review

Creole ReviewCreole Review

How can you tell a Creole How can you tell a Creole from an Acadian?from an Acadian?

• The Acadian Cottages look more rough or The Acadian Cottages look more rough or primitive, and are generally smaller, than primitive, and are generally smaller, than those built by prosperous persons.those built by prosperous persons.

• Acadian Cottages sometimes have gallery Acadian Cottages sometimes have gallery staircases leading to their attics, which they staircases leading to their attics, which they used as sleeping lofts.used as sleeping lofts.

• Generally, Acadian Cottages have fewer Generally, Acadian Cottages have fewer decorative elements than do the homes of the decorative elements than do the homes of the Creoles.Creoles.

How can you tell a Creole How can you tell a Creole from an Acadian?from an Acadian?

How can you tell a Creole How can you tell a Creole from an Acadian?from an Acadian?

How can you tell a Creole How can you tell a Creole from an Acadian?from an Acadian?

The Story of The Story of EvangelineEvangeline

• Poem by Henry Wadsworh Poem by Henry Wadsworh LongfellowLongfellow

• Two Acadian lovers Two Acadian lovers Evangeline and Gabriel, Evangeline and Gabriel, separated by the British on separated by the British on their wedding night.their wedding night.

• Evangeline finally finds Evangeline finally finds Gabriel, but he is on his Gabriel, but he is on his death bed.death bed.