The French Build Louisbourg

At that time, England and France were fighting each other to see which country would claim North America and its rich resources such as fish, fur and lumber. By 1713 the English had won control over Newfoundland. The last safe place for the French to fish from was Cape Breton Island. This time the King of France took charge so Frenchmen would not be fighting each other. He named Cape Breton Island “Isle Royale” which means “Royal Island” and built a large fortress at Louisbourg to protect the French claim on the island.

French settlements at St. Peter’s and on Isle Madame also started during this time. These settlements were close to Louisbourg. People there earned money by supplying fish, wood and food from their farms to Louisbourg.

The French lost Cape Breton Island to the English for a time, but regained it in 1748 and brought new French settlers back with them. A few years later they were joined by Acadians. These French-speaking people had been living in mainland Nova Scotia but were forced out by the English.

In 1758, France lost Cape Breton Island again to the English for the last time. The English forced most of the people living in or near Louisbourg to return to France, but some of them escaped and hid in the woods. Many of them eventually returned to the settlements. In some cases their descendants still live there today.