The development of elites in Acadian New Brunswick, 1861-1881

Two principle concern of studies of Acadian New Brunswick in the later nineteenth century have been why elites developed and the relationship between members of elites and other Acadians. This thesis establishes criteria for identifying the economic, professional and political elites between 1861 and 1881. By examining their family and community backgrounds and career paths, it shows how they achieved elite status. By comparing data from the three census years, it establishes patterns of growth and continuity or discontinuity and by quantifying ties of kinship and association membership, it investigates the relationships between members of elites and other Acadians. These relationships are analysed in terms of the regional and political divisions in Acadia. The conclusions show a steady increase in the number of Acadians reaching elite status in all categories except fishing. The increase was based on a change from near-subsistence to market oriented farming. Acadian fishermen failed to benefit from new markets because the profits went to anglophones. In farming areas, the cash from produce sales developed commerce and education. Members of the elites came first from the most prosperous farming areas and then from other farming areas that took advantage of growing markets. But most members of the elites were not from the families of elite farmers. Ordinary Acadians were stimulated to spend money and labour resources on education by proof that opportunities for educated Acadians were improving and, in the Dorchester area, by a reduction in the amount of Acadian farmland. Changeover within all elites was high and elite parents rarely had elite children. Usually only one member of a family became elite. Kinship and association links therefore provided opportunities for the ordinary Acadian to influence the elite rather than allowing the elite to dominate Acadians. Differences arising from regional and political divisions became increasingly evident as communications improved. The importance of institutions such as the Memramcook Convention or the Moniteur Acadien as unifying factors should not be over-estimated. They represented only a portion of the diverse elites that in themselves reflected the response of many informed Acadians to growing economic opportunities.