Regular readers have heard the refrain: there are many ways in which we can deepen our knowledge of Franco-American history, many paths we have yet to take in our field of research. That is not all, however. We can broaden and discuss; we must also seek out opportunities to disseminate our findings. Many teachers and professors in the U.S. Northeast take advantage of French or social studies courses to better acquaint young minds with the Franco-American story. We can and should encourage even more to seize that opportunity.
In that spirit, I am offering this learning activity that includes exposure to primary sources, questions that draw out the variety of early migrant experiences, and opportunities to discuss the documents and their significance. The learning objectives fit neatly with Maine’s high school history curriculum, but will no doubt find a comfortable place in other states’ social studies framework. Naturally, there is much more to Franco-American history. I welcome feedback that can help us create learning activities focused on other regions, on specific themes, or on a later period. Please feel welcome to share with teachers near and far.
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Two courses I researched and designed and taught at the University of Maine, across several departments, programs: Women’s and Gender, Franco-American, Maine, and Bachelor of University Studies, on Franco-American women and their contributions spanned across many segments of the student body, including many teachers who took the courses as well as graduate students as there was a graduate level of the class. Many papers which the students wrote, their research is located on the Franco-American Women’s Institute site on the ‘ezine publications. https://www.fawi.net/
The anthology of modern, 130 French heritage women, connoting inclusivity, creativity is offered in the anthology, Heliotrope–French Heritage Women Create.
Also listed is a curriculum I developed: Curriculum for Franco-American Women
of Maine, Grades 7-12
and the Maman Disait–Collages and Proverbs in French, which has many teacher aids for the classroom in regard to proverbs.
Included also is a display of French language and Franco-American women authors in the From Texture to Textiles to Texts Franco-American Women’s Literary Tradition online exhibit.
also
Franco-American Women’s Writers and Editors Slide Show
Just to name a few of the offerings at the Franco-American Women’s Institute website for classroom use, free of charge.
Links to the above on https://www.fawi.net/new.html
or
https://www.fawi.net/Links.html
The history of Franco-Americans is complex, as it dates back to the very beginnings of the creation of America. Migration movements were shaped by shifts in borders and eras, with origins in various regions of Europe, France, Acadia, and Quebec. Today, we find these communities in specific regions across the United States.
They can be found across the United States, but primarily along the East Coast, around the Great Lakes, in the states bordering Canada, and in Louisiana. There is also a Protestant community that left Europe during the religious wars.
The complexity lies in the migratory movements between the United States (both English-speaking and French-speaking) and Canada. Unlike European emigrants, these groups could return to their country of origin depending on the era. Over time, their identities evolved from French Americans, Americain, Canadians, then to French Canadians, and finally to Franco-Americans.
For example, the first Tremblay migration settled in the Great Lakes region during the founding of Detroit, then continued to Illinois, Minnesota, and later to California. During this period, Protestant French immigrants also arrived from France. There was a migratory movement to the Midwest, primarily driven by agriculture as farmland became available.
Later, migration shifted toward the forestry industry in the Great Lakes, such as in Saginaw, and to the East Coast, such as in Maine, eventually transitioning to the textile industry.
For the Boudreau family of Acadian origin, the migration patterns were even more complex. We find Acadians not only in Louisiana but also in Maine, with origins in the Maritimes and Quebec.