Lawrence had little regard for the unique lifestyle of the Acadians and their declaration of neutrality. The English in New England considered the Acadians traitors to Britain and as 'French bigots', whom they hoped would be moved to Philadelphia. Lawrence had evidence that at least some Acadians clearly favoured the French and hoped to force all of the Acadians to take an oath of allegiance to the English. Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence and the Nova Scotia Council, along with many previous governors, had noted that on many occasions, the Acadians did not act neutrally. Le Loutre also encouraged the Mikmaq to continue to align themselves against the British which they had done since King William's War (1689). In the face of religious and military excommunication, Acadians subdued any English support they may have had. Le Loutre was loyal to France and to ensure the Acadians' allegiance, he threatened physical and spiritual damage to the Acadians if they were ever to enter English territory. Ībbé Le Loutre, the priest at Fort Beauséjour, created yet another source of tension as he was a representative of the French government, and therefore also allied to the Mikmaq. A major problem for the New Englanders was the close relationship between the Acadians, the French, and the Mikmaq. The English especially resented the Acadians for holding the best land and for the support they had from the Mikmaq, which prevented the establishment of a Protestant settlement. Acadians often married the Mikmaq people, leading to an ethnic accord and the creation of a unique local population. Furthermore, the close relationship between the French and the Mikmaq in the area angered the English. In the 1750s, New Englanders were subject to drought, depression, high taxes and violence, all of which were further manipulated by Puritan and Protestant priests to garner support for an impending attack on the Catholic French. Despite this, France's Louis XV encouraged Acadians to migrate to the land west of the Missaguash, and toward Fort Beauséjour. English claim to present day New Brunswick, and Northern Maine conflicted with small French presence and Acadian settlement in the area. The border differentiating the two was the Missaguash River however, Acadians settled on both sides of the river. The isthmus of Chignecto was claimed by both the French and English whereas present day Nova Scotia was claimed by the English.

One of the main reasons for tensions was the question of jurisdiction, especially after the conquest of Acadia (1710). Tensions between the English and the French concerning the Acadian territory date to the seventeenth century, when France established its Acadian colony, which made them neighbors with the Puritans in New England.

2 Fort Beauséjour: construction and espionage.

After two weeks of siege, Louis Du Pont Duchambon de Vergor, the fort's commander, capitulated on June 16. Control of the isthmus was crucial to the French because it was the only gateway between Quebec and Louisbourg during the winter months.

īeginning June 3, 1755, a British army under Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton staged out of nearby Fort Lawrence, besieged the small French garrison at Fort Beauséjour with the goal of opening the Isthmus of Chignecto to British control. The battle also reshaped the settlement patterns of the Atlantic region, and laid the groundwork for the modern province of New Brunswick. The opening of a British offensive in the Acadia/Nova Scotia theatre of the Seven Years' War, which would eventually lead to the end of the French colonial empire in North America. The Battle of Fort Beauséjour was fought on the Isthmus of Chignecto and marked the end of Father Le Loutre's War and

Thomas pichon