Florida History Midterm Review
Florida History Midterm Study Notes
Early Florida: Native Populations and First European Encounters
Native Floridian Groups at European Contact:
The two largest indigenous groups in Florida at the time of European contact were the Timucua (primarily in northeast and north-central Florida, known for agriculture and village life) and the Calusa (in southwest Florida, a powerful hunter-gatherer and fishing society that dominated the region).
Juan Ponce de León's Expeditions:
First Spanish Explorer: Juan Ponce de León was the first known European explorer to arrive in Florida in 1513, naming it La Florida. He was searching for new lands, indigenous populations, and possibly the legendary Fountain of Youth.
Attempted Settlement (1521): Ponce de León's second expedition in 1521 aimed to establish a permanent Spanish colony. This attempt was unsuccessful primarily due to:
Fierce and sustained resistance from the native Calusa population.
The harsh environment and unfamiliar terrain, making settlement difficult.
A lack of immediate discovery of abundant gold or other riches, which typically motivated Spanish colonization efforts.
Ponce de León himself was mortally wounded by a Calusa arrow, leading to the abandonment of the settlement attempt.
Replacement as Governor of Puerto Rico: Prior to his Florida expeditions, Ponce de León was replaced as governor of Puerto Rico by Juan Cerón.
Hernando de Soto Expedition (1539-1542):
Objective: Hernando de Soto embarked on a massive expedition, landing in Florida in 1539, primarily seeking gold and a wealthy native empire to conquer, similar to the empires found by Cortés (Aztecs) and Pizarro (Incas).
Outcome: His expedition extensively explored the southeastern United States, including much of Florida, but found no vast gold deposits or empires, only fierce native resistance.
Panfilo de Narvaez Expedition (1528):
Survivors' Leader: The leader of the four survivors of the ill-fated Panfilo de Narvaez expedition was Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. His incredible journey of survival across the American Southwest provided some of the earliest accounts of the region.
Colonial Florida: Spanish, French, and British Rivalries
First French Colony in Florida:
The first French colony established in what is today Florida was Fort Caroline, founded in 1564 by René Goulaine de Laudonnière near present-day Jacksonville. It was established by the French Huguenots seeking religious freedom and territorial claims.
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and the Founding of St. Augustine (1565):
Menéndez's Missions: Pedro Menéndez de Avilés was sent by the Spanish Crown with three primary missions:
Eradicate the French Presence: Remove the French Huguenot colony at Fort Caroline, which Spain viewed as a Protestant encroachment on its claimed territory.
Establish Spanish Control/Colonies: Found permanent Spanish settlements to solidify Spain's claim to La Florida and protect its treasure fleets.
Convert Natives to Catholicism: Christianize the indigenous populations.
Success and Outcomes: Menéndez was largely successful in his first two missions. He famously massacred the French at Fort Caroline and founded St. Augustine in 1565, which stands as the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the United States. His efforts firmly established Spanish control over the Florida peninsula, securing the route for the Spanish treasure fleet. However, he was less successful in widespread conversion of the vast and diverse native populations, and securing the entire Florida peninsula remained a significant challenge due to its size and native resistance.
Castillo de San Marcos:
Construction Material: The Castillo de San Marcos, a Spanish fortress in St. Augustine, is built from coquina, a unique local shell rock. Coquina's porous nature allowed it to absorb rather than shatter incoming cannonballs, providing a superior defense against artillery.
Reason for Construction: It was built as a direct response to the increasing military threat from the English colonies to the north, especially from Carolina (later South Carolina) and Georgia. The English raids, particularly by Governor James Moore, highlighted the vulnerability of Spanish Florida.
Anglo-Spanish Conflicts:
Governor James Moore: James Moore was the governor of the English colony of Carolina (South Carolina) and led devastating raids against Spanish Florida and its allied native populations in the early 18^{th} century, including the 1702 siege of St. Augustine.
Governor James Oglethorpe: James Oglethorpe, the governor of Georgia, invaded Florida in 1740. His campaigns against St. Augustine were part of the larger colonial conflicts.
War of Jenkins' Ear (1739-1748): This conflict was primarily fought between Great Britain and Spain. The Battle of Bloody Marsh (1742), where Oglethorpe's forces repelled Spanish invaders on St. Simons Island, Georgia, occurred during this war.
Spanish Colonial Administration:
Hearings of 1602: These hearings were convened by the Spanish Crown to ultimately decide the fate of the colony of Florida. Facing persistent financial drains and limited economic returns, Spain considered abandoning St. Augustine. However, the hearings concluded that St. Augustine was strategically vital for protecting the Spanish treasure fleet (flota) passing through the Florida Straits, leading to the decision to maintain the colony despite its costs.
British East and West Florida (1763-1783):
Acquisition: Britain acquired Florida from Spain in 1763 via the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War in North America). Florida was divided into East and West Florida.
Dr. Andrew Turnbull's New Smyrna: Dr. Andrew Turnbull's plan for making money at New Smyrna (East Florida) was to establish a large agricultural plantation based on cash crops like indigo, sugar cane, and cotton. He imported a large number of indentured servants, primarily from Minorca, Greece, and Italy, who were promised land but endured extremely harsh conditions and exploitation, leading to the ultimate failure of the venture and the relocation of the survivors to St. Augustine.
Florida during the American Revolution:
Side in the War: Florida remained loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution.
Why Loyalist: Florida had only recently become a British possession (in 1763) and did not share the same grievances as the other thirteen colonies against British taxation and policies. Furthermore, it was heavily garrisoned by British troops and attracted many loyalists fleeing the rebellious northern colonies, who sought refuge and new opportunities under the Crown.
Florida's Transition to U.S. Territory
Second Spanish Period (1783-1821):
Control after American Revolution: Following the American Revolution, Spain regained control of Florida through the Treaty of Paris in 1783, marking the beginning of the Second Spanish Period.
War of 1812 and its Impact (1812-1815):
War Hawks: The