Download The Transition of Florida

The Transition of Florida
From Spain to the United States
Although Spain regained
Florida after the
American Revolution, its
rule did not last long.
•The Spanish
government gave Florida
less money for military
protection
•It was difficult making
sure people obeyed the
laws
•Thieves roamed the
land stealing cattle,
supplies, and slaves
•The United States now
wanted control of
Florida.
Spain's
attempt to
bring
settlers to
Florida
failed, and
by 1800
Spain's
control of
Florida
had
weakened.
Gaining control of Florida for the United States
would mean gaining control of the Mississippi
River. That was an important route for trade.
At the same time, Britain also wanted to
regain control of Florida, leading to the War of
1812.
Following the War of 1812 between the
United States and Britain, American
slave owners came to Florida in search
of runaway African slaves and Indians.
These Indians, known as the Seminole,
and the runaway slaves had been
trading weapons with the British
throughout the early 1800s and
supported Britain during the War of
1812.
From 1817-1818, the United States Army invaded Spanish
Florida and fought against the Seminole and their African
American allies.
These battles came to be known as the
First Seminole War.
Americans reacted to these
confrontations by sending Andrew
Jackson to Florida with an army of
about 3,000 men.
Jackson was successful in his
attacks and left many dead and
dying Seminole behind in their
destroyed villages.
He went on to attack Spanish
settlements and captured Spanish
forts at St. Marks and Pensacola.
Spaniards began to realize that
they could no longer keep their
territory.
The Adams-Onis Treaty gave
Florida to the United States and
the debt Spain owed to the
United States.
Spain negotiated a treaty with the United States in 1819. The agreement was
signed by John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State) and Luis de Onis (Spain's
Minister) and was called the Adams-Onis Treaty.
Florida Becomes a United States Territory
Florida now belonged to the United States.