Very Interesting Period In Time example essay topic

The article reviewed is The Golden Age: Acadian Life, 1713-1748. It was written by Naomi Griffiths, and published in Social History 17, 33 (May 1984): 21-34. The Golden Age is a reference to the prosperous times encountered by the Acadian people. The Acadians lived in what is known as modern day Nova Scotia. While the Main Center of there colonies was Grand Pre, which lied on the coast against the Bay of Fundy. This article is an attempt to examine and explore the prosperity that the Acadians experienced between 1713 and 1748.

Griffiths labeled it the Golden age for various reasons. Such as the lack of a major health epidemics, no major wars and a significantly better way of life then previous years in the area and when compared to other settlements of the time. Griffith has marveled at the wealth of information available on the subject of Acadian life. She finds this as a challenge to work on that is very hard to resist, yet worries slightly due to the somewhat overwhelming amount of information that is now available.

This article does a good job conveying the prosperity and well fortune experienced by the Acadian people during the defined time. Griffiths starts by explaining that most early studies done on the subject of Acadia and its people were done as a whole and tend to encompass the whole existence of the Acadians in Nova Scotia. She states that in early works the focus of the Acadian people was the deportation in 1755 and the various influences that both Britain and France exploit of the colony. She does mention that after the 1950's there is a whole new plethora of information becoming available. This is due to the more intense and matures studies done in the recent years. This article follows a loose chronological order.

While the most significant impact on Acadian life is the deportation of 1755, many references are given throughout which mention this event. Thoughts these references are short and do not hinder the chronological ordering of the evens, which transpire and are recorded. The majority of the time Griffiths refers to the years between 1713-1748. In addition, there are very little details about the events that transpired between them. Whether this is due to the lack of specific information of details during this period or simply that nothing un particular occurred. One interesting point that is made throughout is the relative lack of disease throughout the colonies during this time.

Which this is a truly remarkable fact when one is to consider that the other colonies and cities in the region were hit hard and severely crippled by the prominent epidemics. An interesting account included in the article is of a man by the name of Claude Landry. Claude lived to grand old age of 86, which was of remarkable achievement in that particular day and age. The reference to Claude severs to deploy two points.

The first and most obvious is that people in Acadia lived longer and were more healthy then other people outside Acadia at the time. The second was the mentioning of the number of children, grandchildren and great grand children Claude was able to live to see. The reason for the extensive number was that the people of Acadia on average bore approximately 9 children per family. Combined with room for expanding families to live and farm. As well, multifamily homes, which could help tend for the constantly increasing population size.

Family sizes during this time period were ever increasingly large due to the increasing life expectancy in the colonies at that time. Although thought there were statistics and records kept in the area it seems that they were in depth enough to be able to track lineage on the Mothers side. And it was much easier to trace ancestry thought that of the father of the same last name. The inclusion of a specific individual, who really has no historical significance, other then that as an example aimed at showing the increasing families sizes in Acadia, fits in quite nicely.

These small details help to keep this an interesting paper to read. And provide a more personal look at the way that people in Acadia lived at that time. A modified form of chronological order is used in the article. It opens with a brief description of other historians takes and works on the subject of Acadia and the Acadian people.

For example when Griffiths says "where some twenty scholars present complex essays outlining the problems, the work done, and the work to be done in every area of Acadian studies from history to folklore, from political science to material culture" (p 120). It is stated that every area of Acadian live has already be examined and interpreted. But she goes on to explain that there is new information available to the modern historians and that there is room for new works and new interpretations. It is almost as if she is saying that foundations have been laid and now with new information and new ideas theories and analysis can be derived when combined with the existing information.

With this out of the way she goes right into describing her account. There is a large amount of information directed at the way in which the people lived their daily lives. This works well in establishing a good overall picture of daily activities and common events. This is important because it keeps the interest level up and does not clog up the paper with simple facts and dates. For example there are various accounts of the daily meals and chores that the Acadians did.

A great deal of effort went into trying to establish that during these years, 1713-1748, were in fact "The Golden Years". And this is achieved by displaying the prosperity of the group. It is obvious that it was a prosperous time for the Acadians due to the large amount of trading and surplus items that were accumulated. For example it is said that "The sum of this evidence suggests an excellent standard of living among the Acadians, something which showed, of course, in the population increase of the first half of the eighteenth century". It latter goes on to say that although there was a surplus of the basic essential of live it was not enough of a surplus to be considered a luxury.

For most of the surplus goods ranged from pigs, cattle, clothing and lumber, none of which are much of a luxury to anyone. Many of Griffiths sources are first hand accounts which consist of Charts and minor records kept during that time. There are a number of source cited throughout this paper and many do appear to be old and quite possibly firsthand accounts. This adds to the validity of the article as well as to help better future work on this area. The accounts that are cited are very of very much use to Griffiths in the article. And the accuracy and number of specific facts dates and statistics is very important in helping back her claim about the prosperity and wellness of the colony during this time.

This article does a very good job of supporting the claim that in Acadia between 1713 and 1755 there as great time prosperity for the residents during that time. Griffiths has a captivating way of keeping a keen interest in the main issue a hand without losing interest or turning into a repetitive drawl. The Acadians lived a very good life for there time. And by remaining neutral to both the British and the French they were able to sustain much of this good fortune for a good period of time.

This is a very interesting period in time and more work appears will take place on this time and on this group of people. There will be new evidence uncovered and new ideas and opinions developed which will only add to this interesting time in Canadian history..