This story about Germans begins with a story about
the Acadians. Long ago in the seventeenth-century,
sixty hearty French families settled in a territory later
to be called Acadia, an area spanning from the
Canadian Maritime provinces to the state of Maine.
These industrious settlers brought with them pre-
fabricated homes from France as well as engineering
techniques such as dike construction so as to reclaim
farmland from the sea.
the Acadians. Long ago in the seventeenth-century,
sixty hearty French families settled in a territory later
to be called Acadia, an area spanning from the
Canadian Maritime provinces to the state of Maine.
These industrious settlers brought with them pre-
fabricated homes from France as well as engineering
techniques such as dike construction so as to reclaim
farmland from the sea.
| The Cajun Connection |
They managed to maintain healthy, friendly relations with the local Indians, and the Acadian
settlements in Canada did very well and had a rapidly growing population.
settlements in Canada did very well and had a rapidly growing population.
In 1713, France ceded the portion of Acadia (now Nova Scotia minus Cape Breton Island) to the
British. This changed the lives of the Acadians forever. Since they lived between French and British
territories, the Acadians found themselves in a precarious position and consequently refused to take
up arms for either side. The British feared that these French settlers might rebel and join the French
side instead of remaining neutral and decided to force them to pledge allegiance, deporting anyone
who refused to other French colonies or even to France. In 1730, the Acadians signed an oath, but
stipulating that they would never take up arms against the French or the Indians.
British. This changed the lives of the Acadians forever. Since they lived between French and British
territories, the Acadians found themselves in a precarious position and consequently refused to take
up arms for either side. The British feared that these French settlers might rebel and join the French
side instead of remaining neutral and decided to force them to pledge allegiance, deporting anyone
who refused to other French colonies or even to France. In 1730, the Acadians signed an oath, but
stipulating that they would never take up arms against the French or the Indians.
When hostilities erupted between France and Britain during the Seven Years' War, the British
demanded that the Acadians take an absolute oath of allegiance to the British monarch, which would
require their to take up arms. Many Acadians, being a fiesty lot and not wishing to take up arms
against family members in French territory, refused. Colonel Charles Lawrence ordered the mass
deportation of the Acadians, an action which would turn out to be a classic case of ethnic cleansing.
demanded that the Acadians take an absolute oath of allegiance to the British monarch, which would
require their to take up arms. Many Acadians, being a fiesty lot and not wishing to take up arms
against family members in French territory, refused. Colonel Charles Lawrence ordered the mass
deportation of the Acadians, an action which would turn out to be a classic case of ethnic cleansing.
The horror of these events is reflected in actions taken in the area of Grand-Pré where Colonel John
Winslow was put in charge of the deportation, He decided to make a surprise move upon the
unsuspecting Acadians. On a September day of 1755, the British stormed the village with a force of
2,500 men and dragged the surprised Acadians away from their homes, allowing them to take only
what they could carry. They tossed them onto prepared transport boats, and set them off to alien, far
away places. Almost the whole town of Grand-Pré was deported. One boat heading to Louisiana
from there encountered a storm and had to stop in Boston, where some Acadians managed to stay
and wait for an eventual return to Canada.
Winslow was put in charge of the deportation, He decided to make a surprise move upon the
unsuspecting Acadians. On a September day of 1755, the British stormed the village with a force of
2,500 men and dragged the surprised Acadians away from their homes, allowing them to take only
what they could carry. They tossed them onto prepared transport boats, and set them off to alien, far
away places. Almost the whole town of Grand-Pré was deported. One boat heading to Louisiana
from there encountered a storm and had to stop in Boston, where some Acadians managed to stay
and wait for an eventual return to Canada.
In the "Great Expulsion (le Grand Dérangement" of 1755-1763, more than 14,000 Acadians, three-
quarters of the Acadian population of Nova Scotia, were expelled. The British burned their farms and
homes and confiscated their hard won lands, breaking up families and tearing apart friends and whole
communities. The Acadians were dispersed throughout the British lands in North America, and
thousands were sent back to France, which was totally foreign to them at that point. Others later
returned to British North America and settled in northern New Brunswick and Maine. Their story
gave Longfellow his inspiration for the poem "Evangeline". Many went to Louisiana.
quarters of the Acadian population of Nova Scotia, were expelled. The British burned their farms and
homes and confiscated their hard won lands, breaking up families and tearing apart friends and whole
communities. The Acadians were dispersed throughout the British lands in North America, and
thousands were sent back to France, which was totally foreign to them at that point. Others later
returned to British North America and settled in northern New Brunswick and Maine. Their story
gave Longfellow his inspiration for the poem "Evangeline". Many went to Louisiana.
| The Acadians meet the Germans |
When the first Acadians headed for Louisiana, they would be arriving
in Spanish territory. Up until the time of the Acadian settlement,
Louisiana had been inhabited by Europeans since the beginning of the
18th century, but mostly by the military and traders. The only attempt
at actually colonizing the area was from a group of Germans who
became the first Europeans to establish themselves along their shores
on the Mississippi River above New Orleans. John Law of the
Company of the Indies cooked up a plan to settle Louisiana and
circulated thousands of pamphlets throughout the Rhineland region of
Germany where thousands of Germans signed up. A few hundred of
them made it to America, and in 1721, those Germans settled along
the Mississippi River in present-day St. Charles and St. John the
Baptist Parish, known as Lac des Allemands or Carlstein, "The
German Coast". After the Company of the Indies disbanded in 1731,
the Germans were freed from their obligation and became
independant land-owners.
in Spanish territory. Up until the time of the Acadian settlement,
Louisiana had been inhabited by Europeans since the beginning of the
18th century, but mostly by the military and traders. The only attempt
at actually colonizing the area was from a group of Germans who
became the first Europeans to establish themselves along their shores
on the Mississippi River above New Orleans. John Law of the
Company of the Indies cooked up a plan to settle Louisiana and
circulated thousands of pamphlets throughout the Rhineland region of
Germany where thousands of Germans signed up. A few hundred of
them made it to America, and in 1721, those Germans settled along
the Mississippi River in present-day St. Charles and St. John the
Baptist Parish, known as Lac des Allemands or Carlstein, "The
German Coast". After the Company of the Indies disbanded in 1731,
the Germans were freed from their obligation and became
independant land-owners.
They withstood floods, epidemics and hurricanes, making successful settlements whose tidy farms
provided food for early New Orleans. Meanwhile, other scattered Acadians who had heard from
relatives and friends in Louisiana, traveled there to reunite. Together, the Germans and the Acadians
from the Cabannocé Post area would one day march on New Orleans and overthrow one Spanish
colonial governor, Antonio de Ulloa, in 1768, and later, they united under another Spanish colonial
governor, Bernardo de Gálvez, to fight the British during the American Revolution. Their homes
were around Bayou des Allemands and Lac des Allemands. The Germans and Acadians gradually
intermarried and all began speaking French, helping to create the unique Cajun culture. In fact, it was
the German settlers' accordion that made its way into Cajun music. Well into the early 1900s, 85%
of the residents were still speaking French, even if they had a good German surname. The German
population of Louisiana actually extended well beyond the New Orleans area.
provided food for early New Orleans. Meanwhile, other scattered Acadians who had heard from
relatives and friends in Louisiana, traveled there to reunite. Together, the Germans and the Acadians
from the Cabannocé Post area would one day march on New Orleans and overthrow one Spanish
colonial governor, Antonio de Ulloa, in 1768, and later, they united under another Spanish colonial
governor, Bernardo de Gálvez, to fight the British during the American Revolution. Their homes
were around Bayou des Allemands and Lac des Allemands. The Germans and Acadians gradually
intermarried and all began speaking French, helping to create the unique Cajun culture. In fact, it was
the German settlers' accordion that made its way into Cajun music. Well into the early 1900s, 85%
of the residents were still speaking French, even if they had a good German surname. The German
population of Louisiana actually extended well beyond the New Orleans area.
Ironically, it was because of the French that the Rhinelanders had initially
fled their ancestral German homeland. The starvation and poverty resulting
from constant French incursions had forced them to leave. Yet, here, facing
mutual enemies and because of a desire to survive, the two groups merged.
fled their ancestral German homeland. The starvation and poverty resulting
from constant French incursions had forced them to leave. Yet, here, facing
mutual enemies and because of a desire to survive, the two groups merged.
Left: Bayou Des Allemands Plaque, Des Allemands, LA: "To The German
Settlers Of The Parish Of St. Charles Bayou Des Allemands Or Bayou of
the German Settlers. 1720-1962." (click)
Settlers Of The Parish Of St. Charles Bayou Des Allemands Or Bayou of
the German Settlers. 1720-1962." (click)