Why were the Acadians deported by the British?

• A. Because Acadians refused to take the Oath of Loyalty
• B. Because they paid taxes
• C. Because they allied with the French
• D. Because they moved voluntarily

Answer: (A)

The key idea is loyalty during wartime. The British wanted people in Acadia to pledge allegiance to the Crown and to promise not to support France. Many Acadians refused to take that oath, or to commit to actions against France, because they wanted to remain neutral or loyal to their own community and French ties. Seeing those refusals as a risk of rebellion or of aiding the enemy, the British decided to remove them from the region. That’s why this deportation happened: a refusal to take the Oath of Loyalty was used as the justification to expel Acadians.