Florida
THE PINK SECTION OF THE MAP SHOWS THE REGION OF FLORIDA
THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW:
Having gained the territory of Louisiana, President Jefferson turned to Florida next. In 1804, Jefferson sent two diplomats to Spain to buy Florida. Spain’s answer was plain and simple “no deal”
Many white Americans in the Southeast United States wanted to take over Florida because slave owners in Georgia were angry. Slaves would sometimes run away to Florida most Seminole Indians excepting the escaped slaves. The Indians were becoming a problem to farmers/slave owners in Georgia once the Seminole began raids on the Americans land.
Over a few years Spain’s control on Florida weakened.
In 1818, President James Monroe sent Andrew Jackson to Georgia with orders to end the raids. Jackson had been told that he could push the raiding Seminoles back into Florida but not invade on Spanish land. Despite Jackson’s direct orders he marched into Florida with a force of 1,700 troops. Over the next few weeks, he captured Spanish military posts, and replaced the Spanish governor with an American. Spain demanded that Jackson be sent back to Washington and punished for illegal invasion.
President Monroe was in fear of war so he asked his cabinet for advice. He was advised by most of his cabinet to remove Jackson and apologize to Spain. John Quincy Adams was the one exception. Adams said rather than apologize he should send a blunt message to Spain. The message was this: govern Florida properly or get out. In equal fear of going to war Spain left. In 1819, the Spanish government agreed to yield to Florida to the United States. In exchange, the United States agreed to pay off 5 million dollars in settlers' claims against Spain, they also agreed to honor Spain’s longtime claim to Texas. Not all Americans were happy about leaving Spain in charge of Texas. Most Americans thought that Texas was “worth ten Florida's"
Having gained the territory of Louisiana, President Jefferson turned to Florida next. In 1804, Jefferson sent two diplomats to Spain to buy Florida. Spain’s answer was plain and simple “no deal”
Many white Americans in the Southeast United States wanted to take over Florida because slave owners in Georgia were angry. Slaves would sometimes run away to Florida most Seminole Indians excepting the escaped slaves. The Indians were becoming a problem to farmers/slave owners in Georgia once the Seminole began raids on the Americans land.
Over a few years Spain’s control on Florida weakened.
In 1818, President James Monroe sent Andrew Jackson to Georgia with orders to end the raids. Jackson had been told that he could push the raiding Seminoles back into Florida but not invade on Spanish land. Despite Jackson’s direct orders he marched into Florida with a force of 1,700 troops. Over the next few weeks, he captured Spanish military posts, and replaced the Spanish governor with an American. Spain demanded that Jackson be sent back to Washington and punished for illegal invasion.
President Monroe was in fear of war so he asked his cabinet for advice. He was advised by most of his cabinet to remove Jackson and apologize to Spain. John Quincy Adams was the one exception. Adams said rather than apologize he should send a blunt message to Spain. The message was this: govern Florida properly or get out. In equal fear of going to war Spain left. In 1819, the Spanish government agreed to yield to Florida to the United States. In exchange, the United States agreed to pay off 5 million dollars in settlers' claims against Spain, they also agreed to honor Spain’s longtime claim to Texas. Not all Americans were happy about leaving Spain in charge of Texas. Most Americans thought that Texas was “worth ten Florida's"