What was the Acadians' response to being asked to switch allegiance to Britain?

• A. They refused to pledge allegiance
• B. They pledged allegiance and fought for Britain
• C. They pledged allegiance but refused to serve in wars against France
• D. They fled to Britain

Answer: (C)

When Acadians found themselves under British rule, they faced a choice about allegiance. Many chose a middle path: they pledged loyalty to Britain, but they did not serve in wars against France. This allowed them to remain on their land and maintain their communities while avoiding participation in military actions against the country with which many still felt cultural and familial ties. The idea behind this answer is that loyalty could be shown without becoming part of campaigns that pitted neighbors against neighbors. If they had flatly refused to pledge, they risked punishment or expulsion; if they had joined and fought for Britain, they might have alienated their own communities and disrupted life in Acadia. Fleeing to Britain happened, but it wasn’t the typical response for most Acadians during the period of shifting loyalties.