They were descendants of French colonists who settled in Acadia, a region that encompassed parts of present-day Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Maine in the 17th and 18th centuries. They spoke French, practiced the Catholic faith, and had a distinct culture that blended French and Native American influences.
While the Acadians lived in a region that was under British control, they maintained their French identity and language for many generations. This cultural difference, combined with tensions over land ownership and allegiance, led to the infamous expulsion of the Acadians in the 18th century.