Post on 26-Jul-2020
Our Ocean Playground
A Nova Scotia History Manual
© 2001 Shelburne Historical SocietyP.O. Box 39Shelburne, NSB0T 1W0
Except where noted, all stories and exercises were written by LisetteJones and Tina Nickerson.
Proof-readers: Shelley O’Connor and members of the ShelburneHistorical Society.
Final Editor: Cathy d’Entremont
Front Cover design by Simone Meuse
Illustration Credits:
Atlantic Explorer Travel Group: page 108; Dan Conlin: page 176; Lisette Jones: pages 10, 44, 90,101, 155, 164, 245; Joshua Slocum Society International: page 77; Peter Landry,www.blupete.com: page 18; Simone Meuse: front cover and pages 1, 4, 15, 30, 34, 40, 53, 62, 68,71, 73, 75, 87, 93, 97, 105, 111, 133, 139, 142, 147, 151, 157, 159, 163, 171, 174, 181, 185, 189,205, 211, 218, 220, 225, 231, 236, 241; Nova Scotia Public Archives: page 116; Saint Paul’sChurch: page 167; Shelburne County Learning Network/Dawn Dugandzic: page 58; Dale Swan:page 82; Jay White: page 51; Wilson’s Shopping Centre/John Smith: page 198.
http://www.blupete.com
Our sincere thanks to the National Literacy Secretariat
for providing funding for this project.
http://www.nald.ca/nls.htm
Acknowledgements
There are many people and organizations to thank for their assistance with the productionof this manual.
First, we would like to extend a very big thank you to Shelley O’Connor for her guidanceand administrative support, which she juggled between a full time job and family. Thanks a bunch,Shelley!
Mario Theriault provided unpublished information for the Joshua Slocum story and for thiswe extend our thanks. Thank you to the Shelburne County Learning Network for graciouslyallowing us to reprint “Searching for Freedom” that appeared in their “Sea & Me Manual,” theJoshua Slocum Society Int’l for editing the story on Joshua Slocum, Wilson’s Shopping Centre Ltd.and John Smith, Signsmith, for allowing us to use the Cape Sable Island Causeway illustration.
Thanks to all the people and organizations who allowed us to use graphics appearing ontheir web sites. They are :Joshua Slocum Society Int’l; email address jone402@attglobal.netAtlantic Explorer Travel GroupSt. Paul’s Church, Halifax, NSMr. Jay White, Windsor, NSMr. Peter Landry, www.blupete.comMr. Dan Conlin, Halifax, NSMr. Dale Swan, Tatamagouche, NS
Thanks as well to Passage Print & Litho Ltd. for the printing job and technical advice, Harold Meuse for allowing us to use history books from his personal collection, the talentedSimone Meuse for illustrating, the Shelburne Historical Society members for proofreading andsupport, Cathy d’Entremont for editing, Open for Business for use of the computers, the librariansat the Western Counties Regional Library for their help, Ron Fry for lending a copy of his 1949Coast Guard Newspaper, and Adam Sears for proofreading.
A special thank you to the learners who submitted stories to appear in the manual.
To anyone we may have overlooked, and to those who did not wish to be acknowledged,we extend our appreciation and gratitude.
http://www.blupete.commailto:jone402@attglobal.net
Introduction
Empowerment! What better way to empower learners than to give them
materials that are enjoyable, educational, and make them part of the world. Nova
Scotia history is a topic that should be accessible to all Nova Scotians and
Canadians, regardless of their reading level.
Over the time we were working on the project, many of the stories were
tested with adult learners in a local level 1 & 2 adult upgrading class. One
participant read the story on Joshua Slocum and, while speaking with another
individual, the topic of a recent documentary on Joshua Slocum arose. The learner
told him, “I just read something on that.” I just read something on that!!! The
material’s complexity was irrelevant; he was able to say he read something and the
learner’s smile showed he was proud. Strong words for a learner who’s just
entering the literary realm.
Yes, we are opening doors to a whole new world, raising awareness, and
making communities stronger and healthier. As adult learners gain more experience
and knowledge, they blossom into strong, confident people and, in turn, become
part of vibrant communities. Empowerment!
Our province’s history is rich, loaded with lots of “firsts” in Canada and
North America. Our ancestors have made us proud. Smile Nova Scotians!
Celebrate our history!
Table of Contents
PeopleViking Explorers ..................................................................................................................1
Questions .................................................................................................................2Mi’kmaqs.............................................................................................................................3
Comprehension Questions..................................................................................... 7Reading Between the Lines ....................................................................................7Trivia Question ........................................................................................................7True or False ............................................................................................................8
John Cabot and Jacques Cartier ...........................................................................................9Comprehension Questions .....................................................................................13Reading Between the Lines ....................................................................................13Trivia Question .....................................................................................................13Syllables ................................................................................................................14Vowels ...................................................................................................................14
The Jesuits .........................................................................................................................15Questions ...............................................................................................................17
Samuel de Champlain .......................................................................................................18Comprehension Questions .....................................................................................25Trivia Question .....................................................................................................25Word Search ..........................................................................................................26
New Scotland - Nova Scotia .............................................................................................27Comprehension Questions ....................................................................................31Reading Between the Lines ...................................................................................31Trivia Question ......................................................................................................31It, Is, In ..................................................................................................................32
The Irish in Cape Breton ...................................................................................................33Comprehension Questions .....................................................................................35Reading Between the Lines ...................................................................................35Trivia Question ......................................................................................................35Fractions and Percentages .....................................................................................37
Germans in Nova Scotia ....................................................................................................38Comprehension Questions .....................................................................................42Reading Between the Lines.....................................................................................42Trivia Question ......................................................................................................42-ly, -er, -est endings................................................................................................43
The Welsh.......................................................................................................................... 44Comprehension Questions..................................................................................... 48Personal Project Idea..............................................................................................48Math - Perimeter & Area........................................................................................49
Evangeline .........................................................................................................................51Questions ...............................................................................................................52Reading Between the Lines ....................................................................................52
John Patch - Yarmouth Inventor ........................................................................................53Questions ...............................................................................................................54
Searching for Freedom ......................................................................................................55Comprehension Questions .....................................................................................59Reading Between the Lines ...................................................................................59Spelling ..................................................................................................................60
Loyalist Life .......................................................................................................................61Comprehension Questions .....................................................................................66Reading Between the Lines ...................................................................................66Trivia Question ......................................................................................................66Paragraphs ..............................................................................................................67
Samuel Cunard and the Steamship ....................................................................................68Questions ...............................................................................................................70
Joseph Howe - A Nova Scotia VIP ....................................................................................71Questions ...............................................................................................................72
Sir Charles Tupper .............................................................................................................73Exercise..................................................................................................................74
William Hall - A Nova Scotian Hero.................................................................................75Questions ...............................................................................................................76
Joshua Slocum ...................................................................................................................77Questions ...............................................................................................................79Describing Exercise ...............................................................................................79
Anna Swan - The Giantess .................................................................................................80Comprehension Questions .....................................................................................85Reading Between the Lines ....................................................................................85Trivia Question ......................................................................................................85Homonyms .............................................................................................................86
Maud Lewis - A Famous Folk Artist .................................................................................87Questions ...............................................................................................................88
Thomas Raddall - A Nova Scotian Author ........................................................................89Questions ...............................................................................................................91
Alexander Graham Bell in Baddeck .................................................................................92Comprehension Questions .....................................................................................95Reading Between the Lines.....................................................................................95Trivia Question ......................................................................................................95Spelling ..................................................................................................................96
Portia White .......................................................................................................................97Where, Who, What, When, Why .........................................................................100Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................100
Hank Snow .......................................................................................................................101
PlacesPort Royal and Fort Anne .................................................................................................103
Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................107Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................107Trivia Questions ...................................................................................................107Reading Maps ......................................................................................................108
The Fortress of Louisbourg ..............................................................................................109Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................113Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................113Trivia Question ....................................................................................................113Percentages ..........................................................................................................114
Halifax .............................................................................................................................115Comprehension Questions ..................................................................................122Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................122Trivia Question ....................................................................................................122Sequencing ..........................................................................................................123
Dartmouth ........................................................................................................................124Comprehension Questions ..................................................................................128Reading Between the Lines .................................................................................128Trivia Question ...................................................................................................128Select the Correct Word ......................................................................................129
Coal-mining in Pictou County .........................................................................................130Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................136Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................136Trivia Question ....................................................................................................136M or N..................................................................................................................137Spelling ................................................................................................................137
Hockey Night in Windsor ................................................................................................138Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................140Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................140Trivia Question.....................................................................................................140Root Words ..........................................................................................................141
The Oak Island Mystery ...................................................................................................142Questions .............................................................................................................143
The Story of Africville .....................................................................................................144Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................148Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................148Trivia Question ....................................................................................................148Was or Were ........................................................................................................149
Transatlantic Cable in Guysborough County......................................................................150Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................153Reading Between the Lines .................................................................................153Trivia Questions ..................................................................................................153Spelling ...............................................................................................................154B, P, G, D .............................................................................................................154
ThingsDinosaur Fossils...............................................................................................................155
Exercise ...............................................................................................................155St. Peters Canal ................................................................................................................156
Questions ..............................................................................................................157Hard and Soft “C”.................................................................................................158Antonyms ............................................................................................................158
The First Canadian Lighthouse ........................................................................................159Exercise ...............................................................................................................161
Citadel Hill and the Town Clock ....................................................................................162Research Exercise ...............................................................................................164
Halifax’s Holy Landmark ...............................................................................................165Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................168Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................168Trivia Question ....................................................................................................168Fill in the Blank ...................................................................................................169
Fort Beausejour - Fort Cumberland .................................................................................170Questions .............................................................................................................172
A Peace Treaty .................................................................................................................173Questions .............................................................................................................174
Nova Scotian Privateers ..................................................................................................175Questions .............................................................................................................178
Tusket’s Court House ......................................................................................................179Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................183Reading Between the Lines .................................................................................183Trivia Question ....................................................................................................183Adjectives ............................................................................................................184
The Titanic .......................................................................................................................185Questions ..............................................................................................................186
The Bluenose....................................................................................................................187Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................192Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................192Trivia Questions...................................................................................................192Past Tense ............................................................................................................193
The Gertrude Rask ...........................................................................................................194Historic Causeway ...........................................................................................................195
Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................200Reading Between the Lines .................................................................................200Trivia Question.....................................................................................................200Change the Last Letter ..........................................................................................201
Clark’s Harbour Coast Guard ..........................................................................................202
EventsShipbuilding in Nova Scotia ...........................................................................................205
Questions ..............................................................................................................207The Expulsion of the Acadians ........................................................................................208
Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................214Reading Between the Lines ..................................................................................214Trivia Question ....................................................................................................214True or False ........................................................................................................215Capitalization .......................................................................................................216
The Hector’s Journey ......................................................................................................217Questions .............................................................................................................218
A Brief History of Nova Scotia Railways .......................................................................219Comprehension Questions ..................................................................................223Trivia Question ...................................................................................................223Consonant Blends ...............................................................................................224Long “O” Vowel Sound ......................................................................................224
Moose River Mine Disaster and the CBC .......................................................................225Comprehension Questions ..................................................................................228Reading Between the Lines .................................................................................228Trivia Question ....................................................................................................228Rhyming ..............................................................................................................229
The Steel Industry ............................................................................................................230Questions .............................................................................................................232
The Halifax Explosion ....................................................................................................233Comprehension Questions ...................................................................................238Reading Between the Lines .................................................................................238Trivia Question ....................................................................................................238Multiple Choice ...................................................................................................239
The Antigonish Movement ..............................................................................................240Conflict and Resolution........................................................................................243Trivia Questions ..................................................................................................243
Rum Running ...................................................................................................................244Comprehension Questions ..................................................................................250Reading Between the Lines .................................................................................250Trivia Question ....................................................................................................250The -ing Ending ...................................................................................................251
Answer Key............................................................................................................................253Bibliography............................................................................................................................277
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 1
People
The information for the following story is from the following Internet website:http://home.istar.ca/~oginword/main.htm
Viking Explorers
The Norse came across the Atlantic over a thousand years ago.
They were the first Europeans to visit North
America.
The Norse came from Norway.
The Norse were often called Vikings.
They were fearless explorers.
They explored many areas on the eastern side of North America.
One famous Norseman was named Leif, son of Eric the Red.
Eric the Red was another famous Norseman.
In the year 1000, Leif set out to explore new lands in the west.
He found the lands of North America and gave names to certain areas.
The Norse didn’t record what they found.
We have to guess where some of the areas were by the description they gave.
The Norse did visit Nova Scotia.
http://home.istar.ca/~oginword/main.htmhttp://home.istar.ca/~oginword/main.htm
People2
In Tusket, Nova Scotia, foundations for Norse dwellings were discovered.
In the town of Yarmouth, another discovery was made.
It was the “Yarmouth Runic Stone” or “Fletcher Stone.”
It is a large rock with what looks to be ancient Icelandic writings carved on it.
In 1887, the lettering was getting hard to read.
So it was re-chiselled around 1887.
It is for this reason the writings cannot be confirmed as an original.
It is hard to determine when the original writings were done.
Many people believe it is an original message left from the Norse.
The message translated means “Leif to Eric raises (this monument).”
Others think it is a hoax.
Now, it is impossible to know for sure.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Questions
1. Find two words in the story with a long “o” sound. Example: The “o” in “over” has a long vowel sound.
2. What was another name the Norse were called?3. Where did the Norse come from?4. Why is it impossible to know if the “Runic Stone” is real?5. What do you think is meant by the Norse “were fearless explorers”?
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 3
The information for the following story is from Ruth Holmes Whitehead’s Elitekey: MicmacMaterial Culture from 1600 AD to the Present, Robert M. Leavitt’s The Micmacs, and PhyllisRuth Blakeley’s Nova Scotia: A Brief History.
Words to Preview
continentMaritimesMi’kmaqsthousandsGlacier periodmigratedsouthernChristopher Columbus
North AmericaIndiaEuropean explorersresponsibleporcupinesarrowheadswigwamsspruce boughs
clay potterymoose tendonsdecorationsspiritualtraditionalartifactsdescendentsgenerations
Mi’kmaqs
Native people lived all over this continent. The natives living in the
Maritimes were called the Mi’kmaqs. The Maritime provinces are New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
Thousands of years ago, the Mi’kmaqs came to the Maritime provinces. This
happened during the Glacier period. Historians believe the Mi’kmaqs migrated to
Nova Scotia from the South. But many people believe the Mi’kmaqs came from the
north. The area where they came from is uncertain.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived in North America. Columbus
thought he had landed in India. He saw the natives and called them Indians.
The European explorers came to North America later in time. They referred
to the natives as Red Men.
The Mi’kmaqs would get together in small groups. Each group would have a
People4
chief. The chief was responsible for making important decisions. The groups set
up camp in different parts of Nova Scotia.
The Mi’kmaqs lived off fishing and hunting. The
groups moved around the area depending on the
season. In the spring, the Mi’kmaqs set up their camps
near the shoreline or at the mouth
of a river. Their main source of
food came from the ocean. The
fish were plentiful.
In the winter, the Mi’kmaqs moved further
inland to hunt. If it was a snowy winter, hunting was easier for the natives. Deep
snow made it hard for the animals to get away from the hunters. Little snow meant
the hunters would have to work harder at catching their prey. The Mi’kmaqs
hunted different animals. Some of the animals were moose, caribou, and
porcupines.
The Mi’kmaqs hunted with spears. The handles were made from wood. The
arrowheads were at the end of the spears. They were made from sharp animal
bones or sharpened stones. Also, the Mi’kmaqs used bows and arrows for hunting.
The Mi’kmaqs’ homes were wigwams. They were made by sticking poles in
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 5
the ground in a circle and tying them together at the top with strips of birch bark.
Birch bark was wrapped around the poles. These were the walls of their homes.
Inside, on the floor, spruce boughs were used. This made a covering for the floor,
and it was used to sleep on. In winter, spruce boughs were wrapped around the
walls of the wigwam. This kept the cold winter winds out.
The wigwam was kept warm with a fire pit. This was in the centre of the
wigwam. The smoke was let out through a small opening at the top.
The Mi’kmaq women were responsible for many chores. At a young age, the
girls were taught how to do the work. Girls learned to cook, sew, and collect food
for the tribe. They gathered wild berries, nuts, and fish. They were taught to make
clay pots and turned birch bark into bowls for cooking.
The boys were taught how to do things for the tribe as well. They would
help with chores around the camp. At an early age, the boys were shown how to
hunt. They practiced on small animals, such as rabbits and squirrels. As the boys
grew older, they were taught how to hunt moose and caribou.
The Mi’kmaq people were known for their beautiful craft work. They made
clay pottery and ornaments. Everything used to make crafts came from the land.
Some of the things used for making crafts were stones, animal bones, teeth, shells,
porcupine quills, and seeds.
People6
The Mi’kmaqs made their clothes from animal hide. Dried moose tendons
were used as thread to sew the clothes. Juice from berries was used to dye the
clothes. They would add teeth, porcupine quills, or beads made from animal bones
for decoration.
The Mi’kmaqs were spiritual people with many beliefs. For example, they
believed sickness was caused by a magic bone. They believed this bone was placed
in the sick person’s body by evil spirits. The medicine men and older women in
the tribe would make medicines from herbs. Then they would ask the gods to take
away the magic bone that caused the sickness.
Many of the traditional Mi’kmaq ways have been replaced. The Europeans
introduced new and simple ways of making clothes, hunting, and other things.
There are few Mi’kmaq artifacts left from before the Europeans settled here. Most
of the items found in museums today are from post European years. Post European
years means the time after Europeans settled here.
Many Mi’kmaq descendants continue the old ways of their people. For
generations, the Mi’kmaqs have passed down the skill of making clothes and crafts.
The spiritual beliefs of the Mi’kmaqs are very strong. This is something that
will remain forever with them.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 7
“Mi’kmaqs”Comprehension Questions
1. From where do historians believe the Mi’kmaqs migrated?
2. Where did the Mi’kmaqs settle?
3. Name some of the chores the men and women were responsible for doing.
4. Name three animals the Mi’kmaqs hunted.
5. What did the Mi’kmaqs use to make their clothing? How was it sewn
together?
6. What did the Mi’kmaqs believe caused sickness? How did they try to cure a
sick person?
Reading Between the Lines
1. Do you think the herbal medicines really healed or was it their spiritual
beliefs that seemed to heal them?
Trivia QuestionTrivia Question
Do a bit of research.
1. The Mi’kmaqs are also known by what other name?
People8
“The Mi’kmaqs”True or False
Circle the correct answer - True or False
1. The Mi’kmaqs hunted only caribou. True or False
2. There was one chief for all of the Mi’kmaqs. True or False
3. Columbus called the Mi’kmaqs “Indians” because he believed he
was in India. True or False
4. It was easy to hunt with very little snow on the ground.
True or False
5. Juice from berries was used for dye. True or False
6. The Mi’kmaqs lived in mud huts. True or False
7. The girls only cooked and sewed. True or False
8. The medicine men and the older women made medicine. True or False
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 9
The information for the following story is from Lesley Choyce’s Nova Scotia: Shaped by the Sea,and the following Internet sites accessed 12/17/00:http://kids.infoplease.lycos.com/ce6/people/A089732.htmlhttp://www.nald.ca/province/nfld/nflitcou/ldcjc.htmhttp://www.cabottrail.com/info/history.htmhttp://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/english/schoolnet/nfld/johncabo.htmlhttp://www.wordplay.com/gullages/cabot.htmlhttp://www.blupete.com/Hist/NovaScotiaBk1/Part1/Ch03.htmhttp://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/excartier.htmhttp://encarta.msn.comhttp://www.mariner.org/age/cartier.htmlhttp://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/cartier.htmlhttp://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/english/schoolnet/nfld/jacques.html
Words to Preview
Giovanni Caboto Italy important
English explorer history
jewel route earth
Bristol, England governor disagreement
Sebastian Europe monetary
plentiful voyage François
Asia Lawrence historian
John Cabot and Jacques Cartier
John Cabot, also known as Giovanni Caboto, was born in Italy in the 15th
century. He was an English explorer who played an important part in our Maritime
history.
Cabot believed that all the spices and jewels of the East could be reached by a
shorter route. During Cabot’s days, people believed that the earth was flat. Cabot
believed the earth was a sphere, not flat.
http://kids.infoplease.lycos.com/ce6/people/A089732.htmlhttp://www.nald.ca/province/nfld/nflitcou/ldcjc.htmhttp://www.cabottrail.com/info/history.htmhttp://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/english/schoolnet/nfld/johncabo.htmlhttp://www.wordplay.com/gullages/cabot.htmlhttp://www.blupete.com/Hist/NovaScotiaBk1/Part1/Ch03.htmhttp://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/excartier.htmhttp://encarta.msn.comhttp://www.mariner.org/age/cartier.htmlhttp://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/cartier.htmlhttp://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/english/schoolnet/nfld/jacques.html
People10
In 1496, Cabot left Bristol, England, to find a new, shorter route to the East.
He took one ship. King Henry VII would not give him any money for the trip, but
he did give him and his sons permission to become governors of any lands they
would find. During the trip, Cabot didn’t have enough supplies, the wind was
poor, and the crew had disagreements. Because of all this, Cabot had to turn back.
In May of 1497, Cabot left Bristol again on the ship the Matthew. The
Matthew was a barque, and it had eighteen crew members. His thirteen year old
son Sebastian went as well. On June 24th, Cabot found something different from a
new route to the East - he found land.
Some believe that Cabot landed in Newfoundland, while others believe it
was Cape Breton. This is why the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton was named after him.
The land in Cape Breton he supposedly discovered would later be settled by other
* To read the stories on these settlers, see pages 27 and 33.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 11
Europeans. They were Scottish, Irish,* French, and English.
Cabot and his crew did some exploring for a couple of months and then
returned to Europe. It took them fifteen days to return home.
After he returned, the king gave him a monetary reward and a pension.
Cabot told stories of how plentiful the fish were in the waters off the new land.
Some historians say that Cabot dipped a basket into the ocean and lifted it up full of
fish. Cabot made no record of any names he may have given the land he found.
King Henry VII decided to pay for Cabot to return to the new land. Cabot
left Bristol again in May of 1498. Not a lot is known about this voyage. Some
historians say that only one ship returned of the five that left.
Of course, Cabot didn’t find a shorter route to the East. We know it is
because North America was in the way. Fish was not as exciting as jewels and
spices, so Europeans were not rushing to visit the new land. However, years later,
Jacques Cartier would be exploring the new lands for France.
Jacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer born in St. Malo, France, in 1491.
In 1534, Cartier left St. Malo for his first voyage to the new world. The
French king, François I, wanted him to find a western route to Asia. At this time,
People12
the English were trying to find a northwestern route to Asia.
Cartier crossed the Atlantic in twenty days and landed on an island near
Newfoundland.
During the three voyages he made, Cartier found the mouth of the St.
Lawrence River, Quebec, and Montreal. He claimed land for France that Cabot had
already claimed for England years before.
At one time, Cartier sailed around the coast of Inverness to Cape North in
Nova Scotia. This is probably the closest he got to Nova Scotia. So why did
Cartier play such an important part in Nova Scotia history?
It is because of Cartier’s explorations that France and England would later
begin to fight for different parts of Nova Scotia. Parts of Nova Scotia would
change hands from the French to the English, the English to the French. This
happened for over two centuries and played an important part in our Nova Scotia
history.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 13
“John Cabot and Jacques Cartier”Comprehension Questions
1. What were both Cabot and Cartier looking for?
2. King Henry VII did not give Cabot any money for his trip, but he gavesomething else. What was it?
3. What is named after Cabot in Cape Breton?
4. What was very plentiful in the new land?
5. When did Cartier leave for his first voyage and from where?
6. Did Cartier land in Nova Scotia?
Reading Between the Lines
1. The story says that “Parts of Nova Scotia would change hands from theFrench to the English, the English to the French.” What does “change hands”mean?
Trivia QuestionTrivia Question
Do a bit of research.
1. Cartier and his group of men were the first organized group of Europeans to do what in Canada?
People14
“John Cabot and Jacques Cartier”Syllables
Syllables are the separate sounds in a word. For example, “important” has 3syllables - im•por•tant
Write the number of syllables found in each word.
explorer _____ permission _____ plentiful _____world _____ Newfoundland _____ king _____believe _____ turn _____ water _____flat _____ ship _____ voyage _____money _____ record _____ history _____
--------------------------------------------------------
Vowels
Vowels are the letters a,e,i,o,u and sometimes y. All words have at least onevowel.
Fill in the blanks with a vowel to make a word.
1. pl_____y 8. r____ward2. n____w 9. b____sket3. s____n 10. m____4. w____s 11. l____nd5. ____ne 12. f____sh6. w____nd 13. mo____th7. nam____ 14. _____round
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 15
The information for the following story is from The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents byS.R. Mealing and The Jesuits In North America by Francis Parkman.
The Jesuits
Jesuits were people of the Society of Jesus.
The society was founded by Ignatius Loyola in Paris in 1534.
Later, he was called St. Ignatius Loyola.
He was a Spanish soldier who had an amazing religious experience.
He had the experience while recovering from serious injuries.
In 1540, Pope John Paul III authorized this religious group called Jesuits.
Afterward, the Jesuits were involved in world affairs.
The Jesuit followers used the writings of
Loyola as motivation.
These writings were called Spiritual
Exercises.
Soon, the Jesuits were known for their
Catholic teachings all over Europe.
They were nicknamed the schoolmasters of Europe.
The Jesuits were also known for teaching Latin and dance.
Jesuits wanted to teach their ways to natives in North America.
This would make their religious group larger.
People16
On May 22, 1611, the first Jesuit priests arrived in North America.
They landed at Port Royal, Nova Scotia.
Their names were Father Pierre Biard and Father Ennemond Masse.
The Mi’kmaqs welcomed them.
A secular priest had been there one year before.
He had already baptized one hundred and forty Mi’kmaqs.
The Governor and Huguenot traders resisted the Jesuit religion.
The Jesuit priests moved south.
They were hoping to start new Catholic colonies there.
The priests were captured by an English robber in 1613.
One was killed and the other returned to France.
This discouraged Jesuits from coming to North America.
Later, in 1625, the Jesuits returned to New France in North America.
Much later, in 1763, the British put a ban on Jesuit teachings.
The Jesuits were not allowed to get people to join their religious society.
This ban stopped the growth of the Jesuits.
The last Jesuit priest, Father Casot, died in 1800.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 17
“The Jesuits”Questions
1. Who started the religious group called the Jesuits?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What were the Jesuits known as in Europe?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did the Jesuits want to come to North America?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Who welcomed the Jesuit priests in Nova Scotia?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What year did the Jesuits later return?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What happened to the Jesuits in 1763?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
People18
Image provided with the compliments ofwww.blupete.com. All rights reserved.
The information for the following story is from Lesley Choyce’s Nova Scotia: Shaped by the Sea,Peter McCreath & John Leefe’s History of Early Nova Scotia, Stan Garrod’s Samuel deChamplain, and the following Internet sites accessed 10/30/00:http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/exhibit2/sec2.htmhttp://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/9/0,5716,22709+1,00.htmlhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03567a.htmhttp://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/7318/CHAMP2.HTMhttp://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia/ARTICLES/0025/00382208_A.html
This story is what Samuel de Champlain may have said to us if we were present on his voyage andadventure in Canada. It is a factual story; however, the conversation is fictional.
Words to Preview
Samuel de Champlain Brouage permission
Mathieu d’Acosta Poutrincourt Bonne Renommée
François Pont-Gravé beautiful navigation
Pierre du Gua de Monts European colonist
Sieur de Poutrincourt Etechemin temporarily
Isle Saint Croix mosquito Marc Lescarbot
exploring soldier Lieutenant
Samuel de Champlain
Hello! My name is Samuel de Champlain. I was
born in 1567 in Brouage, France. It is March 7, 1604.
King Henry IV has given me permission to go on a
very important voyage with Mr. Pierre du Gua de
Monts. Come with me!
I am going to sail on the Bonne Renommée to a
place you know as Canada. We are bringing one
http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/exhibit2/sec2.htmhttp://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/9/0,5716,22709+1,00.htmlhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03567a.htmhttp://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/7318/CHAMP2.HTMhttp://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia/ARTICLES/0025/00382208_A.htmlhttp://www.blupete.com.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 19
hundred and twenty colonists.
Mr. François Pont-Gravé is going to command a second ship.
Come on! Get on the ship! We must leave! Isn’t this beautiful? My father
is a sea captain. I have been trained in seamanship as well. I also know a lot about
navigation and mapmaking. I plan on mapping the new land.
Come meet Mr. de Monts. The King has given him the right to trade with the
natives for ten years in the new land. He will have a monopoly.
------------------------------------------------
We have been sailing for a few weeks now. It is not a very good trip. We
have had many storms and trouble with icebergs. I promise our trip will get
better...I hope.
-------------------------------------------------
It has now been two months since we have left. We are finally here.
Mr. de Monts has decided to stop in Port Mouton. A sheep fell overboard,
so we called this place Port Mouton. Mouton is French for sheep.
Mr. de Monts is sending a few men to Canso to find the other ship. He is
sending me to look at nearby areas to find a place to live for awhile. We will sail
along the coast. Let’s leave!
People20
------------------------------------------------
Look here! It’s a wooden cross. It’s covered with moss. This must mean
other Europeans have been here before us.
We have now sailed the south coast of Nova Scotia. We sailed into the Bay
of Fundy. We have been gone three weeks. It is now time for us to return to Port
Mouton.
------------------------------------------------
It is nice to be back with the rest of the colonists. Mr. Pont-Gravé has just
arrived. Our two ships must leave so we can find a place to stay this winter.
We have found a fine harbour. It is beautiful. I will name it Port Royal.
Sieur de Poutrincourt likes this site very much. So much that Mr. de Monts is
giving him the deed to the land around Port Royal.
Mr. de Monts is not sure that this is the best place to spend the winter. We
will sail some more to find a better spot.
------------------------------------------------
We have reached a river that the Indians call Etechemin. About five miles up
the river there are two islands. We have decided to temporarily settle there. Mr. de
Monts has named the island Isle Saint Croix.
Isle Saint Croix has cliffs that are twenty-five feet high. The cliffs should
* The colonists were suffering from scurvy. Scurvy is caused when the body doesn’t get enough vitamin C.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 21
protect us. On the mainland, there are hardwood and spruce trees. The river turns
into a bay a few miles further and there the fish are plentiful. I think it is a
wonderful place to stay.
We are building our village. The work is hard in the hot sun, and there are
many mosquitos and black flies. We have built a place to sleep, a chapel, a kitchen,
a storehouse, and a handmill. We have cleared and planted fields.
-------------------------------------------------
It is September, and I have decided to go exploring again. Come with me! I
am going to map the coast. I will bring twelve soldiers and two natives.
We have found many safe harbours, but now it is time to return to Isle Saint
Croix. It is October, and winter will soon be here.
------------------------------------------------
It is now winter. Our island was a terrible choice. Our wood and water has
run out. We have to get these supplies from the mainland.
The snow is falling heavily. We have about 100 centimeters of it. We are
having a very severe winter. All our food is frozen, except our Spanish wine.
Many of us are sick. The flesh in our mouths is rotting. Many are dying.*
It seems as if the winter is never going to end.
People22
------------------------------------------------
The winter is finally over. Twenty-five colonists died over the winter. I
was lucky. I did not get very sick. We are waiting for Mr. Pont-Gravé to arrive
from France with supplies. We hope he will come soon.
------------------------------------------------
It is now June 15, 1605. Mr. Pont-Gravé has arrived with our supplies and
forty more men.
Mr. de Monts has decided to move us to a better place. He has decided to
move to Port Royal. It is on the Annapolis Basin. We are working on moving all
our things. Come help me lift this door!
------------------------------------------------
We are building our new village in Port Royal. The construction of the
habitation is going very well. Our building is much more compact than the one on
Isle Saint Croix.
The Mi’kmaq have welcomed us. Come meet Membertou. He is the
Mi’kmaq leader and is more than one hundred years old.
Mr. de Monts is leaving for France in September. He is going to tell the King
all our news and return with more supplies. Only three of the survivors of the
previous winter are staying. I am one of them. The rest of last year’s survivors are
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 23
returning to France. I am glad that forty new settlers arrived this past summer. We
are under the charge of Lieutenant Pont-Gravé.
------------------------------------------------
It is the summer of 1606. This past winter was less severe. I spent most of it
doing sketch maps and writing. I also spent a lot of time with the Mi’kmaqs who
visited the habitation.
Mr. Poutrincourt has arrived from France. He took the place of Mr. de
Monts. All but two of us had left for France when another ship told us Mr.
Poutrincourt was on his way.
Mr. Poutrincourt had a hard time recruiting new colonists since they heard
about the harsh weather. However, Marc Lescarbot, a lawyer and poet, came with
him along with a few others. Mathieu d’Acosta, the first black man in Nova Scotia,
has also come. He knows the language of the Mi’kmaqs, so he will be a translator.
------------------------------------------------
With fall approaching, Mr. Poutrincourt has divided us into three groups.
Those who stayed at Port Royal last winter returned to France at the end of August
1606. The second group stayed at Port Royal while the third group explored the
coast of North America. I joined Mr. Poutrincourt as he led the group on the
exploration. We left on August 29, 1606.
** Champlain left Acadia on September 3, 1607. He never returned to Acadia.
People24
On November 14, 1606, we returned from our coastal trip. We got in a battle
with some Indians in Maine, and three of our men were killed. We are tired and
disappointed.
Marc wrote a play to lift our spirits. He and I also created the Order of Good
Cheer.
The Order of Good Cheer has fourteen members. Each day, one of the
members is in charge of preparing a feast for the others. So far, we have had many
delicious meals of fresh fish and meat. We also do a lot of singing. We invite the
local Indians to take part in the festivities and have some bread. It is a lot of fun.
Pass me the wine, please.
------------------------------------------------
It is now the summer of 1607. This past winter was mild; however, five men
died. One was Mr. d’Acosta.
We had bad news from France. The king has taken Mr. de Monts’ trade
monopoly from him. I think that I am going to leave Acadia soon. I think I will
spend the summer harvesting my wheat, then I will leave on the Jonas. I do not
know if I will ever return.**
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 25
“Samuel de Champlain”Comprehension Questions
1. Where and when was Samuel de Champlain born?
2. Who had the ten year monopoly to trade with the natives?
3. How did Port Mouton get its name?
4. How was the settlers’ winter on Isle Saint Croix? Where did the settlers gonext?
5. Who was Membertou?
6. Why was Mr. Poutrincourt having trouble recruiting new settlers?
7. Who was Marc Lescarbot? What did he do to lift the spirits of the settlers?
8. Who was the first black man in Nova Scotia? How was he helpful?
9. What was the Order of Good Cheer? Who created it?
Trivia QuestionTrivia Question
Do a bit of research.
1. The settlers that belonged to the Order of Good Cheer ate many delicious meals. Do some research to find what types of meat they would have eaten.
People26
Word Search
Circle the following words in the puzzle below. They can be forwards,backwards, sideways, up, or down.
colonist hundred permission commandcaptain land right tradeyear week promise sheepplace settle spruce beautifulflesh door king battle
b s g n i k h c l o s d e r m
a n h w q k d o o r l c t h b
t s p e d c g l e s i m o r p
t r a d e y x o u i p m d o p
l t t r o p i n e v m k e l s
e d c a p t a i n h o d r c e
t p g e h a n s l w e e k b t
s r o y a b k t s s t r r e t
f p k l p c n j r b f d c a l
p e r m i s s i o n i n o u e
h j i u s r g b v a z u m t j
k p g w c a b f l e s h m i l
l o h i u e v j a h u z a f i
a f t g t x e r n y c o n u b
c e b e c a l p d h j w d l a
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 27
The information for the following story is from Mark Finnan’s The First Nova Scotian, PhyllisRuth Blakeley’s Nova Scotia: A Brief History, and the following Internet website:http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Come_Away_In.html
Words to Preview
ancestorsScottishAcadiacolonysettlerscharterheirBaron of MenstrieLatinconsisted
settlementsKnight BaronetNewfoundlandSaint John’ssuppliesexplorearrangedBaleineentitledNova Scotia Tartan
prisonerssurviveattackedpoorlyNew Scotlanddescendantstraditionsvariousheritage
New Scotland - Nova Scotia
Stories of our ancestors will always be told in our family. Our family is of
Scottish descent. We came from proud people. The Scottish people will be
remembered in Nova Scotian history.
King James of Scotland heard of a fur trade on the other side of the Atlantic
Ocean. It belonged to the French settlers living in Acadia. Acadia is now known as
Nova Scotia. The King knew that John Cabot had found Nova Scotia before the
French. He thought England should have rights to it. King James’ men took over
the colony, and the French settlers were driven out.
A charter was made. In 1621, New Scotland was given to Sir William
Alexander. Sir William was related to many important people in Scotland. He was
heir to the title of Baron of Menstrie. The charter was written in Latin. In Latin,
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Come_Away_In.html
People28
Nova Scotia means New Scotland.
Then, Nova Scotia consisted of different land areas than today. The lands
were New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the land lying between New Brunswick
and the Saint Lawrence River.
Sir William and King James made a plan to lure people to Nova Scotia. They
wanted people to make settlements there. They tried to sell titles. This meant you
paid for land in Nova Scotia. Then, you were given the title of Knight Baronet of
Nova Scotia. People were not very interested. They were afraid of the cold
winters. And they were afraid of fighting with the native people and the French for
rights of the land. King James told them that they had to pay the money and make
settlements in New Scotland.
A ship left Scotland in June of 1632. The boat was heading toward Nova
Scotia. The ship never made it to Nova Scotia because of a storm. They turned
around and docked in Saint John’s, Newfoundland. A few people stayed in Saint
John’s. The other people returned home for fresh supplies. The boat came back
about a year later. The crew picked up the few people they left behind in
Newfoundland. They left from Newfoundland to explore the coast of Nova Scotia.
They returned to Scotland with fish and good stories to tell. Sir William was
pleased. He arranged for two ships to set sail across the Atlantic. Sir William
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 29
Alexander was captain of one boat. Lord Ochiltree was the captain of the other
boat.
Lord Ochiltree reached shore on Cape Breton Island. A place called Baleine,
near Louisbourg. The people from the ship built a fort there.
Lord Ochiltree had a charter. It said he was entitled to ten percent of the fish
caught off the shore. Ochiltree’s men were sent out to collect taxes from fishermen.
They made a French boat pay taxes. The French thought this was wrong. They
thought they were entitled to Cape Breton. Another French captain named Daniel
heard about the taxes. It made him very angry. Daniel attacked the fort built by the
Scots. He destroyed the fort. The Scots were taken to Saint Anne’s as prisoners.
The Scots were treated very poorly. Several of them died. Later the Scots
were put on a boat and sent home to England. Many did not survive the terrible
journey. Lord Ochiltree was kept in a French prison for two years.
The other ship, captained by Sir William Alexander, had settled at Port
Royal. The colony was doing well. But in 1632, there was trouble. A Frenchman
named Isaac de Razilly came to tell them that Nova Scotia was given back to the
French. The Scots had to leave.
People30
Over a hundred years later, New Scotland was owned by the British again.
Many Scottish people returned to Nova Scotia to settle. Many made large
settlements in Colchester, Inverness, Pictou and Victoria Counties. Many of their
descendants live there today.
The Scottish created a big part of Nova Scotian history. They gave us
our flag. Our flag is a blue cross on a white
background. The Scottish gave our province the
name Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is Latin for New
Scotland. Also the coat of arms was granted by King
Charles I in 1626.
The Scottish traditions have remained in Nova Scotia. When hearing
“Nova Scotia,” people often think of various things. Many people think of
Celtic dancing, Nova Scotia Tartan, and the Nova Scotian flag. These things come
from the Scottish heritage. Today, many communities keep these traditions alive all
over the province. Nova Scotians will always be proud of where they come from.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 31
“New Scotland - Nova Scotia”Comprehension Questions
1. Why did King James think he had the right to take over the land known asAcadia?
2. What does “charter” mean? Check the meaning in the dictionary.
3. Nova Scotia consisted of other lands. Name these other lands.
4. How did Sir William and King James try to lure people to Nova Scotia?
5. Lord Ochiltree and Sir William each made a settlement in Nova Scotia. Whatwere the names of these areas?
6. What happened to Lord Ochiltree’s settlement?
7. Name three things the Scottish have given to Nova Scotia.
Reading Between the Lines
1. Do you think the Scottish were an important part in Nova Scotian history? Ifyes, why do you think this?
2. Why do you think Scottish traditions have remained in Nova Scotia?
Trivia QuestionTrivia Question
Do a bit of research.
1. What musical instrument are the Scottish best known for playing?
People32
“New Scotland - Nova Scotia”It, Is, In
Fill in the blanks with it, is or in
1. Stories of our ancestors will always be told ____ our family.
2. The Scottish people will be remembered ____ Nova Scotian history.
3. ____ had belonged to the French settlers living in Acadia.
4. Now, Acadia ____ known as Nova Scotia.
5. He thought England should have rights to ____ .
6. New Scotland was given to Sir William Alexander ____ 1621.
7. The charter was written ____ Latin.
8. This meant you paid for the land ____ Nova Scotia.
9. A ship left Scotland ____ June 1632.
10. The ship never made ____ to Nova Scotia because of a storm.
11. A few people stayed ____ Saint John’s.
12. Lord Ochiltree was kept ____ a prison for two years.
13. Our flag ____ a blue cross on a white background.
14. Nova Scotia ____ Latin for New Scotland.
15. The Scottish traditions have remained ____ Nova Scotia.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 33
The information for the following story is from the Internet website:http://www.celtic-colours.com/aboutcb.htmlThe recipe used in the following story is from The Taste of Nova Scotia Cookbook by CharlesLief and Heather MacKenzie / Foreword by Elizabeth Baird.
Words to Preview
IrishIrelandcenturyhundredsCape Breton IslandfreedomoverseasfeudingFrance
EnglandreligionRoman CatholicimmigrantsFrenchcommunityrespectclergyfishermen
servantsmerchantstradespeoplesoldiersPotato FaminestarvationovercomeLouisbourgdescendants
The Irish in Cape Breton
The Irish were people who came from Ireland. In the 18th century, hundreds
of Irish immigrants arrived on Cape Breton Island. They were searching for
freedom overseas.
The Irish felt caught in the middle of two feuding countries. These feuding
countries were England and France. The Irish and the French did not trust the
English. Some Irish decided to settle among the French on Cape Breton Island.
Other Irish settled in different areas along the eastern coast.
Between the years of 1713 and 1760, nearly 1,000 Irish immigrants came to
Cape Breton. Some of the Irish that came to Cape Breton were from New England,
Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. The Irish came to Cape Breton with members of
French colonies. They became a part of the French community. However, some
say the Irish were not treated with the same respect as the French. Irish immigrants
http://www.celtic-colours.com/aboutcb.html
People34
worked for the French. Some worked as clergy, fishermen, servants, merchants,
tradespeople, and soldiers.
Some Irish came to escape the hardships of the Potato Famine of the 1840's.
The Famine had caused many to flee the country because of starvation and disease.
The Irish were looking for a home where they could practise their religion.
In Cape Breton they could do this. The French practised the same religion as the
Irish. They both lived by the Roman Catholic faith. The Irish people would be
able to practise their religion freely on Cape Breton Island.
Other Irish settlers had first come to Cape Breton with English forces from
New England. This happened during the battles to overcome Louisbourg in 1745
and 1758. When the battles were over, the Irish returned to New England. Some
of the same Irish returned to Cape Breton after 1758. They had brought their
families there to live.
To many Irish, Cape Breton was like a home away from Ireland. It was a
place where they were free to practise the Roman Catholic faith and try to make a
new beginning for themselves.
There are still residents in Cape Breton who are
descendants of the Irish who made
their homes there many years ago.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 35
“The Irish in Cape Breton”Comprehension Questions
1. Name the two countries in Europe that Ireland felt like they were caught in
between.
2. Why did the Irish think Cape Breton Island would be a good place for them
to settle?
3. Were the Irish treated equally to the French?
4. What was the religion that the Irish and the French had in common?
5. Name three of the jobs that the Irish had on Cape Breton Island.
6. Name three other areas the Irish settled, other than Ireland, before coming to
live in Cape Breton.
7. Name the disaster that took place in Ireland that caused many Irish to come
to North America as immigrants.
Reading Between the Lines
1. Do you think it was very important for the Irish to live in an area which
allowed them to practise their religion? Why or why not?
Trivia QuestionTrivia Question
Do a bit of research.
1. What plant do the Irish say brings good luck?
People36
“The Irish in Cape Breton”
The math exercise on the following page uses this Irish Apple Cake recipe.
IRISH APPLE CAKE
2 cups all-purpose flour½ tsp baking powder1/4 cup granulated sugar½ cup butter1 egg½ cup milk (more if necessary)3-4 large cooking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced1/4 tsp ground cloves1/4 tsp ground nutmeg2 tbsp granulated sugar1 egg beaten (egg wash)
In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and sugar. Cut in butter withpastry blender. In a small bowl, beat together egg and milk. Add egg mixture toflour mixture, and stir to make a soft dough. Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Place one portion in a greased 9-inch pie plate. Pat out with your fingers to coverbottom and sides. Slightly beat an egg to form an egg wash. Brush egg wash onbottom crust. Arrange apple slices on dough base, and sprinkle with cloves,nutmeg, and sugar. Roll out the remaining dough on a floured piece of wax paperuntil large enough to cover apples and base. Invert the rolled-out dough over thepie plate and peel the wax paper off. Press the edges together. Brush the top crustwith remaining egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for 10 minutes, then lower heat to 350degrees F and bake an additional 30 minutes or until golden brown. Top withwhipped cream and serve while still warm.
Makes 8 servings
* Refer to page 36 for recipe.
**See percentages on page 114.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 37
Fractions & PercentagesQuestions *
1. If you doubled this recipe, how much baking powder would you need?
What math operation would you perform?
2. If you tripled this recipe, how much butter would you need? What math
operation would you perform?
3. If you cut the cake into 10 pieces and 4 pieces were eaten, what percentage**
was eaten? What percentage is left?
4. If you halved this recipe, how much ground nutmeg would you use? What
math operation would you perform?
5. If the cake was cut into 20 pieces and 60% of the cake was eaten, how many
pieces were eaten? How many pieces were left?
6. If you used 1 ½ cups milk, are you halving the recipe, doubling it or tripling
the recipe?
People38
The information for the following story is from Ivan Cassidy’s Nova Scotia: All About Us andPhyllis Blakeley’s Nova Scotia: A Brief History.
Words to Preview
guinea foreign Protestant Lunenburg
peninsula Colonel Charles Lawrence defenses
scarce brazier buckles
petticoats government frugal
Germans in Nova Scotia
The Germans Arrive
The British wanted more settlers in Nova Scotia. They heard that the
Germans were fine settlers, so they decided to try to get them to settle in the new
land.
John Dick was hired to convince the Germans to come. He was paid one
guinea for each one that came. Many of the foreign Protestants came for the free
land they were offered. Others came to get away from the high taxes in their
country. They also feared another war in Europe.
In 1750, the first Germans arrived in Halifax on a ship called the Ann. Entire
families came. More German settlers arrived in 1751 and 1752. There were 2,500
foreign Protestants in Nova Scotia. Most were from Germany.
The English people called them “Dutch.” “Dutch” sounded like the German
word for “German.”
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 39
The Germans settled in the north and northwest of Halifax. This area was
called “Dutchtown” for a long time.
The Germans had a hard time at first. They had arrived too late to build their
houses before winter. They were not happy.
The Move to Lunenburg
In 1753, some German, French, and Swiss settlers sailed to Lunenburg to
start a new settlement. Lunenburg had a good harbour, excellent farm land, and
was close to Halifax. Lunenburg was also easy to defend in a land attack since it
was a peninsula.
The first Lunenburg settlers arrived on June 8, 1753. Colonel Charles
Lawrence was in command of the 14 ships. He ordered the soldiers to go ashore
and check for Indians.
Lawrence wanted the settlers to build defenses before building their homes.
But the settlers wanted to build their homes first. Lawrence allowed them to do
that.
On June 17, more settlers arrived, and there were 1,500 settlers in
Lunenburg. Each man was given a town lot, garden lot, and farm land. They drew
cards to see who would get the first pick of land.
Times were tough. Food was scarce. The settlers were too poor to buy
People40
candles for their homes. They heated their homes with a brazier. This was an open
pan filled with hot coals. After a while, stoves replaced the braziers.
The Indians carried out raids on the new settlers. They had to leave their
farms and go back to the shelters of the town. The settlers returned to their farms
after the Mi’kmaqs signed a peace treaty in 1763.
For a long time, the Germans wore the same outfits as in Germany. The men
wore short pants with buckles at the knees. The women wore gowns over
petticoats.
There were no schools. The boys
helped their fathers plant and harvest
the crops. The girls helped their mothers
weave, knit, spin, make
clothes, cook, and clean.
They also tended the animals. The Halifax government had given the Lunenburg
settlers 80 cows, and some sheep, goats, and pigs to share.
In Germany, these people had been farmers. Here, they had to learn to
become fishermen. They also became good shipbuilders.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 41
Things get Better
The Lunenburg settlers were hard working and frugal. They cleared more
land and harvested more crops. They also did well fishing. They sold goods to
Halifax. Roads and schools were built. Lunenburg grew and became an important
part of our heritage.
People42
“Germans in Nova Scotia”Comprehension Questions
1. What was John Dick hired to do?
2. List the reasons why many of the foreign Protestants went to Nova Scotia.
3. Why was Lunenburg picked as the spot for a new settlement? When did thefirst settlers arrive in Lunenburg?
4. What was each man in Lunenburg given when they first arrived?
5. What was a brazier? What was it used for?
6. List the chores the boys did in Lunenburg. List the chores the girls did inLunenburg.
7. What did the Halifax government give the Lunenburg settlers?
Reading Between the Lines
1. Why do you think the English people called the Germans “Dutch” eventhough they were from Germany?
2. Do you think the Germans were happier in Lunenburg than in Halifax? Whyor why not?
3. What does “frugal” mean?
Trivia QuestionTrivia Question
Do a bit of research.
1. Lunenburg was named after the English King George III. What was it called before?
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 43
“Germans in Nova Scotia”-ly, -er, -est endings
Add the -ly, -er, and -est endings to each of the words. Then fill in the blankwith the appropriate new word. (Don’t forget to drop the final e or changethe y to i, where necessary.)
Example: high highly highly higher higher highest highest My kite flew higherhigher than his kite.
1. late __________ __________ __________I have not seen him __________.
2. poor __________ __________ __________He was the ___________ man in town.
3. hard __________ __________ __________My work was _________ than his work.
4. easy __________ __________ __________I thought the test was the ____________ I had ever taken.
5. happy __________ __________ __________I __________ told him he got the job.
6. close __________ __________ __________He was the ______________ to me.
7. near __________ __________ __________I was ___________to him than the door.
People44
The information for the following story is from Peter Thomas’s Strangers from a Strange Land,David Crystal’s The Cambridge Factfinder, The Coast Guard newspaper (excerpt courtesyShelburne County Museum), March 4, 1937, and the following Internet site accessed May 2001:http://www.britannia.com/celtic/wales/facts
Words To Preview
hardship adventure EuropeCarmarthen occupation Dalhousieasset barracks prominentancestors
The Welsh
By Shelley O’Connor
About Wales
Wales is located in the United
Kingdom. The United Kingdom, or
“UK,” is made up of Wales, England,
Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Wales is bound on the west by the
Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea and on
the east it is bordered by England.
The area (the amount of land) of
Wales is 20,761 square kilometers.
Shelburne: The First Welsh Settlement in Canada
http://www.britannia.com/celtic/wales/facts
* To read more on the Loyalists, see pages 55 and 61.
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 45
The story of how the Welsh came to settle in Nova Scotia is one that reminds
us of the hardships and adventures people faced when sailing from Europe to the
“New World.”
In late spring, 1818, some Welsh settlers arrived in Halifax on the brig Fanny
from Carmarthen, a place in Wales. Many people on this ship were sick with
smallpox and were sent to Meliville Island near Halifax until they became well
again. The Nova Scotia government took care of these sick Welsh settlers during
that time.
The passengers on the Fanny were made up of farmers, carpenters, a
millwright, a painter, a tailor, a mason, a shoemaker, a cooper, a tanner, a weaver,
and a blacksmith, to name a few occupations.
Government officials thought it would be a good idea for the Welsh settlers
to go to Shelburne, a town on the south shore of the province. Shelburne had at
one time been a very successful town but in 1818, things were not going very well
in the Loyalist town.* Lord Dalhousie had visited Shelburne in 1817 and suggested
that the Welsh settlers would be an asset there. Forty-six settlers left Halifax for
Shelburne on a ship named Two Brothers.
Once in Shelburne, the Welsh families were given the things they needed to
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start a settlement but finding a place to build their homes was not an easy thing to
do. At first, it was thought that the settlers could stay in the barracks across the
harbour from Shelburne but they found that spot was not fit to live in. Then it was
decided that they could settle on an island in the Roseway River called Long Island.
Long Island was about fifteen kilometers from the town.
Two of the Welshmen went with some of the prominent men in Shelburne to
check out the chosen island. When they got there, they found that several Mi’kmaq
families were already living on a large area of the best land on the northern part of
the island. Because of this discovery, they decided to find another place to settle.
The Welsh settlers finally found a good place to build on the western side of
the Roseway River about fifteen kilometers from town. The settlers named their
community New Cambria. The community later became better known as
Welshtown, and it is still known by this name today. Only a few of the first
families stayed there. Most of the other families moved to Yarmouth and into
Barrington Township.
Welsh Family Names
When settlers came to Nova Scotia, they brought with them lasting traces of
Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual 47
their arrival: their names. Surnames, or last names, can often give clues about a
person’s family background. If you have any of the following names in your
family tree, you may have Welsh ancestors:
Richards Owens Thomas Evans
Jenkins Jones Harris Davis (or Davies)
James Saunders Griffith Powell
Canada Was Explored and Mapped by a Welshman
David Thompson may rightly be called “The Man Who Measured Canada.”
Almost on his own, Thompson surveyed most of the Canada-United States border
during the earliest days of our history. Two hundred years ago, he covered 80,000
miles on foot, dog sled, horseback, and canoe. There are 77 books written about
his studies in geography (the study of the land), biology (the study of the natural,
living world), and ethnography (the study of human cultures).
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“The Welsh”Comprehension Questions
1. Where is Wales?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Where is Shelburne, Nova Scotia?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Explain why the Welsh settlers had trouble finding a place to build theirhomes.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Today the Welsh settlement near Shelburne is called Welshtown; what was itfirst called?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Why would David Thompson be called “The Man Who Measured Canada?”__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Personal Project Idea :
Check into your family history and make a record of the surnames you find onyour mother’s side and on your father’s side of the family. Try to find out thecountry of origin (where the name comes from, eg., Harris is a Welsh name) forthese surnames.
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“The Welsh”Math
Perimeter and Area
Perimeter is the distance around a shape. Think of perimeter as being the lengthof a fence around a field. You can find the perimeter of an object by adding thelength of each side together.Example: What is the perimeter of a 4-sided room with 2 sides measuring 8 feeteach and 2 sides measuring 6 feet each?
8 + 8 + 6 + 6 = 28 feet (be sure to show the unit of measurement; in this case, it’s“feet”)
Area is how much space is on the surface of a shape. Think of area as being thetotal number of squares on a checker board. You can find the area of an objectby multiplying the length of an object by its width (or height).Example: What is the area of a 4-sided rectangular room where one side is 8 feetlong and the other side is 6 feet wide?
Area = Length X Width = 8 X 6 = 48 square feet (again, be sure to show that it is “square feet”)
1. Joanne needs to build a fence around her backyard. Her backyard is shapedlike a rectangle. Two sides are 25 feet long and 2 sides