Settling in a maritime province
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, which lie in eastern Canada, are collectively recognized as the Maritime Provinces. They are known for their beautiful and unique countryside and seashores.
Prior to their designation as European political entities, the area was settled by aboriginals known as the Mi'kmaq, or Micmac. The Maliset also lived there but in much smaller numbers and centered around the upper Saint Lawrence River. These two nations along with two other nations were part of an alliance called Waponahkiyik. In the late 1500s the French Acadians arrived. An alliance was forged with the Europeans, and the French began to settle into the lands of the Micmac, calling their new home Acadie. When the French lost political control of the area to the British, French settlers were given an ultimatum: swear loyalty to the British crown or leave.
After a period of escalating hostilities and the ensuing Seven Years' War, those who would not swear loyalty were removed in what became known as the Great Upheaval. Families were torn asunder as the French were removed without any regard to family units or community ties. Some landed in other areas of Canada, notably Quebec, but others ended up in Louisiana on the Gulf of Mexico. These Acadians became known in American history as the Acadians.
The Micmac had been allies with the French settlers, but the British now claimed the lands. English settlers moved into the area and, over time, proliferated. Scottish and Irish settlers joined the mix, and the Maritimes grew rapidly. In the mid-1860s there was discussion of a Maritime Union. The province of Canada expressed interest in the Union, and a conference was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island that, with subsequent meetings, provided for a unified Canada through the British North American Act.
The Maritimes of today posses a diverse ethnic mixture. They consist of descendants of the Micmac, French Acadians, Scots, Irish, and slaves who escaped from the USA. The largest population density is found in the cities of Halifax, Saint John, Moncton, and Syndey and their surrounding satellite areas. In the past, the Maritimes depended a great deal on farming, fishing, and mining, but today there is a resurgence of manufacturing and service jobs, IT, pharmaceutical concerns, and others. Many of the coastal areas have become popular tourist spots. Petroleum and natural gas have also become a factor in the economy of the Maritimes.