ACADIA AND THE ACADIANS. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This is a prose introduction by Longfellow, not a poem, but rather the historical preface he created to set the stage for his epic poem *Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie*.
The poem
Acadia, now known as Nova Scotia, was settled by the French in 1607. Many of the colonists settled in the fertile region about the Bay of Minas, an arm of the Bay of Fundy. One of these settlements was called Grand Pre, meaning Great Meadow. The people were industrious and thrifty and they soon attained a considerable prosperity. During the early period of American History, France and England were almost continually at war with one another, and in these wars the colonists were concerned. At the close of what is known as Queen Anne's war, in 1713, France ceded Acadia to the English, and it has since remained in their possession. Some thirty-five years passed before an English settlement was made at Halifax, the Acadians in the meantime remaining in undisturbed possession of the country. Soon after the settlement of Halifax trouble began between the rival colonists. The Acadians were, as a whole, a quiet and peaceable people, content to till their farms and let the mother countries settle any disputes. Some of them were not thus minded and they succeeded in causing considerable trouble. Frequent attacks were made upon Halifax by the Indians who were supposed to have been aided and encouraged by the Acadians. The Acadians had refused to take the oath of allegiance to the English and this caused them to be regarded with suspicion and fear. They had sworn fidelity on the condition that they should not be required to bear arms against the French, with whom they naturally sympathized, being of the same blood and religion. They persistently refused to go further and swear allegiance. The English were not without blame since it must be admitted they had covetous eyes upon the rich farms of the Acadians and an opportunity to take possession of them would not be unwelcome. [Illustration: Map of Annapolis and Kings Counties.] The strife that had so long been going on between France and England to determine which should rule in the New World was now at a critical point. England's power seemed to be trembling in the balance. Her defeat meant great disaster to the Colonies. Alarmed by Braddock's failure, the Colonists determined something must be done to prevent the Acadians giving assistance to the French. To send them to Canada would be to strengthen the enemy, while to transport them to any one of the Colonies would be equally unwise since they would there be a source of danger. It was finally decided to scatter them among the different settlements. An order was issued requiring all the males of Grand Pre and vicinity ten years old and upwards to assemble in the church to hear a Proclamation of the King. Failure to attend would result in a forfeiture of all property of the individual. On the appointed day the men gathered in the church and heard the Mandate directing that all their property, excepting household goods and money, should be forfeited to the Crown and they with their families should be transported to other lands. They were held prisoners until the time of sailing, the women and the children gathering their belongings on the beach. The expected transports failed to arrive on time and fear of trouble led the English to hurry their prisoners aboard the few ships in the harbor. These were so crowded nearly all the goods had to be left behind, and in the haste of embarking many families, lovers and friends were parted, being carried aboard different ships bound for different ports. On October 29th, 1755, the Acadians sailed away into exile, an "exile without an end, and without an example in story." There is a considerable difference of opinion as to whether such extreme measures were justified. The English Colonists evidently felt that it was a necessary act, an act of self-preservation. It is, perhaps, no worse than many of the horrors of war. On the other hand the Acadians had, as a whole, committed no overt act of disloyalty, though a few of them had done so. Should a whole community thus suffer for the wrong doing of a few? This is certainly a difficult question. Those interested in the subject should read an article by Parkman in "Harper's Magazine" for November, 1884, where he justifies the action. For the opposite view, see "Acadia" by Edouard Richards, vol. I, chap. IV. The following quotations will be found of interest. The first is from Edouard Richards; the second and third from two of contemporaries of the exiled Acadians, Moses de les Derniers and Brook Watson. "All that vast bay, around which but lately an industrious people worked like a swarm of bees, was now deserted. In the silent village, where the doors swung idly in the wind, nothing was heard but the tramp of soldiery and the lowing of cattle, wandering anxiously around the stables as if looking for their masters....The total amount of live-stock owned by the Acadians at the time of the deportation has been variously estimated by different historians, or to speak more correctly, very few have paid any attention to this subject....Rameau, who has made a much deeper study than any other historian of the Acadians, sets the total at 130,000, comprising horned cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs." Edouard Richard quotes the following from two contemporaries of the exiled Acadians. "The Acadians were the most innocent and virtuous people I have ever known or read of in any history. They lived in a state of perfect equality, without distinction of rank in society. The title of 'Mister' was unknown among them. Knowing nothing of luxury, or even the conveniences of life, they were content with a simple manner of living, which they easily compassed by the tillage of their lands. Very little ambition or avarice was to be seen among them; they anticipated each other's wants by kindly liberality; they demanded no interest for loans of money or other property. They were humane and hospitable to strangers, and very liberal toward those who embraced their religion. They were very remarkable for their inviolable purity of morals. If any disputes arose in their transactions, they always submitted to the decision of an arbitrator, and their final appeal was to their priest."--_Moses de les Derniers_. "Young men were not encouraged to marry unless the young girl could weave a piece of cloth, and the young man make a pair of wheels. These accomplishments were deemed essential for their marriage settlement, and they hardly needed anything else; for every time there was a wedding the whole village contributed to set up the newly married couple. They built a house for them, and cleared enough land for their immediate needs; they gave them live stock and poultry; and nature, seconded by their own labor, soon put them in a position to help others."--_Brook Watson_. [Illustration: Village of Grand Pre. Rivers Gaspereau and Avon in the distance.]
This is a prose introduction by Longfellow, not a poem, but rather the historical preface he created to set the stage for his epic poem *Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie*. It recounts the story of the Acadian people—French settlers in present-day Nova Scotia who were forcibly displaced by the British in 1755 and spread throughout the colonies. The piece poses a challenging question: was it just to punish an entire community for the actions of a few? It ultimately leaves the reader to reflect on this dilemma.
Line-by-line
Acadia, now known as Nova Scotia, was settled by the French in 1607...
During the early period of American History, France and England were almost continually at war...
The Acadians were, as a whole, a quiet and peaceable people...
The strife that had so long been going on between France and England to determine which should rule in the New World was now at a critical point...
On October 29th, 1755, the Acadians sailed away into exile, an 'exile without an end, and without an example in story.'
There is a considerable difference of opinion as to whether such extreme measures were justified...
'The Acadians were the most innocent and virtuous people I have ever known or read of in any history...' — Moses de les Derniers
'Young men were not encouraged to marry unless the young girl could weave a piece of cloth...' — Brook Watson
Tone & mood
The tone is somber and reflective, capturing the essence of a historian with a moral perspective. Longfellow controls his own outrage, providing evidence, quoting witnesses, and asking questions instead of issuing judgments. Yet, the sorrow is palpable, particularly in that poignant line about the ships departing on October 29th. The eyewitness quotes bring a sense of warmth and admiration, turning the loss into something deeply personal rather than merely theoretical.
Symbols & metaphors
- The church at Grand Pre — The church is where Acadian men are called and then confined — a holy space transformed into an instrument of state authority. This betrayal cuts particularly deep, as their faith was a core part of their identity.
- The fertile farms and livestock — The 130,000 head of livestock and the fertile farmland reflect all that the Acadians had developed over generations. Whether abandoned or taken, they symbolize what was lost — not just land, but an entire way of life.
- The scattered ships — Families boarding separate ships headed for various ports captures the harsh reality of exile: it's not merely about being taken from a location, but about the intentional breaking of human connections. This image lies at the heart of *Evangeline*.
- The oath of allegiance — The refused oath represents the impossible situation the Acadians faced — being asked to forsake their heritage to demonstrate their loyalty. It is the pivotal point of the entire tragedy.
- The weaving and the wheels — Brook Watson's observation about young couples needing practical skills before marriage reflects the Acadian values of self-reliance and community. These everyday crafts embody a society that was practical, dignified, and ultimately lost.
Historical context
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published *Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie* in 1847, and this prose preface was included in later educational editions of the work. The deportation of the Acadians in 1755 — called *le Grand Dérangement* in French — was among the largest forced removals in North American colonial history, with around 10,000 people expelled from their homes. Longfellow drew inspiration from a tale he heard from Nathaniel Hawthorne about two lovers torn apart during the deportation. He dedicated years to researching the history before crafting the poem. By the mid-19th century, the Acadian narrative had become a focal point for discussions about justice, colonial violence, and national identity on both sides of the Atlantic. This preface captures that wider cultural dialogue while also acting as a practical resource for readers who may not be familiar with the history.
FAQ
You’re spot on about that. This part serves as a prose preface — a historical background that Longfellow (or an editor) included with *Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie* to give readers context for the events in the poem. While it’s not verse, it’s closely linked to the larger poetic piece.
The Acadians were French settlers who had called present-day Nova Scotia, Canada, home for about 150 years. Following their deportation in 1755, they were dispersed throughout British colonies stretching from Massachusetts to Georgia, with some even sent to England or the Caribbean. Many eventually settled in Louisiana, where their descendants became known as the Cajun people.
They had already sworn a conditional oath — pledging not to take up arms against the English — but they wouldn’t swear full allegiance because that could mean fighting against France, their ancestral homeland and fellow believers. They were trying to remain neutral in a conflict that wasn’t theirs.
Longfellow intentionally leaves this question unanswered, and historians continue to discuss it. The English colonists claimed they were driven by military necessity after Braddock's defeat created a desperate situation. Critics highlight that most Acadians hadn't acted disloyal, and the English's interest in their fertile farmland played a major role. Today, many historians consider it a grave injustice.
*Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie* is Longfellow's 1847 epic poem that tells the story of a young Acadian woman named Evangeline, who loses her fiancé Gabriel during the deportation and dedicates her life to finding him. This preface offers the historical context that the poem weaves into its narrative and emotional depth.
Both were contemporaries who had firsthand experience with the Acadian community. Longfellow quotes them to provide a human face to the Acadians through the words of those who truly knew them, rather than just relying on his own 19th-century viewpoint. Their accounts serve as primary evidence of the character of the people who were expelled.
It indicates that the Acadian deportation was unprecedented in its totality and permanence — there’s nothing in history that truly compares to the magnitude and finality of their experience. Longfellow quotes this phrase from another source, using it almost like an epitaph for the event.
General Braddock's crushing defeat by French and Native American forces in 1755 sent shockwaves through the British colonies. The English colonists felt genuinely vulnerable, and that fear led to the decision to remove the Acadians before they could potentially side with the French. Longfellow references this to illustrate the panic that fueled the deportation, even if he doesn't completely justify it.