'The Acadians 
them developed and controlled, and the new 
society governed by its members, France and 
England both assumed to be the owners, and 
each tried to drive the other away and gain the 
sole control. The consequence was innumer- 
able difficulties and much bloodshed. 
Acadia, being one of the principal doors to 
the new world, was a favourite bone of conten- 
tion, unfortunately for the poor creatures who 
had settled there. 
In 17 13 the treaty of Utrecht was signed 
between France and England, and among other 
provisions Acadia was ceded to Great Britain. 
Acadia then meant not only Nova Scotia 
and New Brunswick, but also some adjacent 
country, and did not include Cape Breton and 
Prince Edward Island, which France looked 
upon as her own. 
In the treaty of Utrecht it was agreed that 
the French settlers in Acadia should be allowed 
to remain on their lands if they chose, and 
should be free to practise the Roman Catholic 
faith. If they preferred to move, they were to 
be allowed to do so any time within a year. 
Few moved, and at the end of the year those 
remaining were requested to take the oath of 
