was florida a spanish settlement

What is the history of Florida in Spain?

Spanish Florida. Spanish Florida (Spanish: La Florida) was the first major European land claim and attempted settlement in North America during the European Age of Discovery. La Florida formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Spanish Empire during Spanish colonization of the Americas.

What is the significance of La Florida in history?

Spanish Florida (Spanish: La Florida) was the first major European land claim and attempted settlement in North America during the European Age of Discovery. La Florida formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Spanish Empire during Spanish colonization of the Americas.

What was the first European settlement in North America?

Spanish Florida (Spanish: La Florida), was the first major European land claim and attempted settlement in North America during the European Age of Discovery.

What territory did the United States claim from Spain?

Spanish Florida. France sold Louisiana to the United States in 1803. The U.S. claimed that the transaction included West Florida, while Spain insisted that the area was not part of Louisiana and was still Spanish territory. In 1810, the United States intervened in a local uprising in West Florida, and by 1812,...

Was Florida French or Spanish?

Establishment of Spanish Florida Spanish Florida was established in 1513, when Juan Ponce de León claimed peninsular Florida for Spain during the first official European expedition to North America.

When was Florida A Spanish colony?

Spanish colonization of the Florida peninsula began at St. Augustine in 1565. The Spanish colonists enjoyed a brief period of relative stability before Florida came under attack from resentful Native Americans and ambitious English colonists to the north in the 17th century.

Did the Spanish claim Florida?

Spain's effective claim to Florida began with Juan Ponce de León's discovery and naming of the flowery peninsula in 1513. Ponce de León led the first European expedition to the Dry Tortugas, today commemorated at Fort Jefferson National Monument.

How long did Spain Own Florida?

three hundred yearsIn 1821 Florida became a U.S. territory, thus ending nearly three hundred years of Spanish rule.

What year did Spain lose Florida?

1821Instead of becoming more Spanish, the two Floridas increasingly became more "American." Finally, after several official and unofficial U.S. military expeditions into the territory, Spain formally ceded Florida to the United States in 1821, according to terms of the Adams-Onís Treaty.

Why did Spain give up Florida?

Florida had become a burden to Spain, which could not afford to send settlers or garrisons, so the Spanish government decided to cede the territory to the United States in exchange for settling the boundary dispute along the Sabine River in Spanish Texas.

Why did Spain lose Florida?

During the Seven Years War (French and Indian War), the British had captured Spanish Cuba and the Philippines. In order to get these valuable colonies back, Spain was forced to give up Florida. Signed on February 10, 1763, the First Treaty of Paris, gave all of Florida to the British.

Who settled Florida first?

St. Augustine, Florida was founded by Spanish explorers long before Jamestown and the Plymouth Colony. Even before Jamestown or the Plymouth Colony, the oldest permanent European settlement in what is now the United States was founded in September 1565 by a Spanish soldier named Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in St.

Why did Spain give Florida to the US?

Florida had become a burden to Spain, which could not afford to send settlers or garrisons, so the Spanish government decided to cede the territory to the United States in exchange for settling the boundary dispute along the Sabine River in Spanish Texas.

When did Spain take West Florida?

Spain had been the first European power to control what is now Florida after Juan Ponce de Leon claimed it in 1513, but the Spanish government had not divided the territory into specific colonial departments and maintained little presence in the region.

What was one reason Spain established colonies Florida?

Why did Spain colonize Florida and the Rio Grande valley? Because they wanted to protect their colony in Mexico from other Europeans. French took little land from the Native Americans.

What was the Spanish colony's position before Florida?

The Spanish colonists enjoyed a brief period of relative stability before Florida came under attack from resentful Native Americans and ambitious English colonists to the north in the 17th century.

What was the Spanish hold on Florida?

Spain’s hold on Florida was tenuous in the years after American independence , and numerous boundary disputes developed with the United States. In 1819, after years of negotiations, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams achieved a diplomatic coup with the signing of the Florida Purchase Treaty, which officially put Florida into U.S.

When did Florida return to Spain?

After 20 years of British rule, however, Florida was returned to Spain as part of the second Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolution in 1783 . READ MORE: How St. Augustine Became the First European Settlement in America.

Who acquired Florida?

The U.S. acquires Spanish Florida. Spanish minister Do Luis de Onis and U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams sign the Florida Purchase Treaty, in which Spain agrees to cede the remainder of its old province of Florida to the United States.

When was Florida a slave state?

Florida was organized as a U.S. territory in 1822 and was admitted into the Union as a slave state in 1845 . FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

Where did the Spanish start in Florida?

The first Spanish missions to Florida, starting with the foundation of St. Augustine in 1565, were attached to presidios. Between 1559 and 1567, ten presidios were established at major harbors from Port Royal Sound in modern South Carolina to Pensacola Bay on the northern Gulf of Mexico in an attempt to prevent other European powers from establishing bases on land claimed by Spain. Most of the presidios were unsustainable; San Mateo (near modern Jacksonville, Florida) was destroyed by the French, the entire garrison at Tocobago was wiped out, and most of the other presidios were abandoned due to a combination of hostility from the native inhabitants, difficulty in providing supplies, and damage from hurricanes. By 1573, the only remaining presidios in Florida were at St. Augustine and Santa Elena on Paris Island, South Carolina. Santa Elena was abandoned in 1587, leaving St. Augustine as the only sizeable Spanish settlement in La Florida.

Why did Spain establish missions in Florida?

Beginning in the second half of the 16th century, the Kingdom of Spain established a number of missions throughout La Florida in order to convert the Native Americans to Christianity, to facilitate control of the area, and to prevent its colonization by other countries, in particular, England and France. Spanish Florida originally included much of what is now the Southeastern United States, although Spain never exercised long-term effective control over more than the northern part of what is now the State of Florida from present-day St. Augustine to the area around Tallahassee, southeastern Georgia, and some coastal settlements, such as Pensacola, Florida. A few short-lived missions were established in other locations, including Mission Santa Elena in present-day South Carolina, around the Florida peninsula, and in the interior of Georgia and Alabama .

What is the name of the region in Florida that was part of the Spanish mission system?

Later in the 17th century, Guale Province was sometimes referred to as extending southward and including the region otherwise known as Mocama. The Apalachee Province included the Apalachee people, who spoke a Muskogean language, and were brought into the mission system in the 1630s. It occupied the easternmost part of what is now the Florida Panhandle, along the Gulf of Mexico coast from the Aucilla River to the Ochlockonee River. The Spanish established one early mission among the Mayaca people, a non-Timucuan speaking tribe south of the Agua Fresca, and resumed efforts among them, and their relatives, the Jororo, in the late 17th century. This district, which became known as the Mayaca-Jororo Province, occupied an area to the south of Lake George, on the upper (southern) St. Johns River.

What was the name of the Spanish province that stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Aucilla River?

Augustine and Apalachee, most of these provinces were gradually consolidated in Spanish usage into a Timucua Province stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Aucilla River.

Where did the Franciscans begin their mission?

The Franciscans began taking their mission to the Guale and Timucua along the Atlantic coast in 1587. Starting in 1606 the Franciscans expanded their mission efforts westward across northern Florida along a primitive but lengthy road known as El Camino Real.

What were the buildings of the Missions of La Florida?

Architecture. The mission buildings of La Florida were built with posts set into the ground. The walls were palmetto thatch, wattle and daub or plank, or left open. The floors were clay, and scholars believe the roofs were thatched. The church buildings in the missions averaged some 20 m by 11 m.

Where were the missions in Florida?

The missions of what are now northern Florida and southeastern Georgia were divided into main four provinces where the bulk of missionary effort took place. These were Apalachee, comprising the eastern part of what is now the Florida Panhandle; Timucua, ranging from the St. Johns River west to the Suwanee; Mocama, the coastal areas east of the St. Johns running north to the Altamaha River; and Guale, north of the Altamaha River along the coast to the present-day Georgia Sea Islands. These provinces roughly corresponded to the areas where those dialects were spoken among the varying Native American peoples, thus, they reflected the territories of the peoples. Missionary provinces were relatively fluid and evolved over the years according to demographic and political trends, and at various times smaller provinces were established, abandoned, or merged with larger ones. There were also ephemeral attempts to establish missions elsewhere, particularly further south into Florida.

Who was the first Spanish explorer to settle in Florida?

The famous Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León is usually credited with discovering Florida, landing there in 1513. Myth has it that he was searching for a mystical ''fountain of youth,'' although this is probably not true. Early Spanish attempts to settle Florida were largely unsuccessful. Native American attacks, disease, and hurricanes were major obstacles the Spanish would need to overcome. By 1565 the settlement of St. Augustine was founded in northeast Florida. St. Augustine is usually considered the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America. As time went by, increasing numbers of women immigrated to Florida and Spanish settlement in the region flourished.

When did Florida become an American state?

Under the Adams-Onís Treaty (1821) Florida became an American territory. In 1845 it was admitted as a state. It continued to attract settlers, mainly Americans from further north, but also some immigrants from overseas. The slave population also continued to grow. By the time of the Civil War, 44% of Florida's population was African-American.

What were the tensions between the Spanish and the British during the 17th and 18th centuries?

Tensions between the Spanish and British were on-going during the 17th and 18th centuries. Increased British immigration to southern colonies like Carolina and Georgia threatened Spanish sovereignty, leading to frequent raids between both parties. In 1740 St. Augustine was besieged by British General James Oglethorpe, though the British were ultimately unable to take control of the Spanish fort. However, after the French and Indian War (1763) Florida came under British control. When Britain was defeated in the Revolutionary War, Florida was returned to Spain (1783).

What cultures are included in the lesson on immigration in Florida?

This lesson will examine settlement and immigration in Florida. It will highlight key cultures, including Spanish, British, African, and Cuban , and examine how wars and revolutions affected immigration and settlement in Florida.

Who brought slaves to Florida?

Thousands of African slaves were brought to Florida by the Spanish and British between the 16th and 19th centuries. New Smyrna developed as a settlement of groups from the Mediterranean region. In the 20th century large numbers of Hispanics and Latinos immigrated to Florida. Following the Cuban Revolution, which concluded in 1959, large numbers of Cubans settled in South Florida. In 2000 a young Cuban boy named Elián González became the center of an international controversy when he was found by American fishermen floating in a small boat off the coast of Florida.

Who founded Fort Caroline?

The French and British also had their eye on this region. In 1564 French Huguenot (Protestant Christian) René Goulaine de Laudonnière founded Fort Caroline in what is now Jacksonville. Fort Caroline was established as a haven for French Protestants. It did not last long, however. Within a few months, the Spanish attacked and occupied the fort, thus ending French settlement in the area.

Is Florida a Latin American country?

Florida's proximity to Latin American countries made it a natural choice for Hispanic and Latino immigrants. In the years after World War II, immigration to Florida from Cuba accelerated. Following the Cuban Revolution, which concluded in 1959, large numbers of Cubans settled in South Florida. As a result, places like Miami developed into centers of Cuban culture. Many Haitians and Colombians have also immigrated to Florida.

Who were the first Spaniards to explore Florida?

The first Spaniards to explore Florida extensively were drawn to this same region. Panfilo de Narvaez journeyed there from Tampa Bay in 1528. Hernando de Soto wintered there from October 1539 until early March 1540.

When did the Europeans arrive in Florida?

Hundreds of thousands of Indians already called Florida home when Europeans first arrived in the early 16th century. But it did not take long for the ensuing wars, slave trade and European diseases to nearly wipe out the aboriginal population. When European ships first landed on Florida in the 16th century, the area was well populated.

What did the Apalachee do when the Europeans arrived?

When the Europeans arrived, the Apalachee lived in somewhat permanent villages, relying heavily on agriculture for their subsistence. Controlling the territory between the Aucilla and land some distance west beyond the Ochlockonee River, they were a distinct group, politically and culturally, recognized as such both by themselves and other Indian groups far to the south.

What was the most powerful group in Florida?

The Apalachee. One of the most powerful and influential native groups of Florida was the Apalachee. At the time Europeans began arriving in America, the Apalachee controlled the fertile area near the Tallahassee hills between the Ochlockonee and Aucilla rivers. The fertile clay and loam soils of the hills supported the heaviest, ...

What is the best known group of Indians in South Florida?

South Florida. Less is known about the early Indians of South Florida. The best known group is the Calusa, whose vast domain was ruled by a single chief. Although lacking agriculture, the Calusa developed elaborate political, social and trade networks.

What were the causes of the near extinction of the Indians in Florida?

Smallpox, measles, influenza, even the common cold were deadly to Indians. Of course, wars with Spain and other Europeans contributed to the near extinction of early Indians of Florida. The slave trade -- Florida Indians were taken as slaves as early as 1520 -- also helped kill off the aboriginal population.

When did European ships first land in Florida?

When European ships first landed on Florida in the 16th century, the area was well populated. Indians of the Timucua, Apalachee, Ais, Tekesta and Calusa were farming rich lands in the north -- growing corn, beans and squash -- and fishing or hunting for most of their food in the south.

Why did the Spaniards leave Florida?

Augustine and Pensacola had good reasons to head for Cuba. "People left, in part because they were nervous about being under the British government ," says James Cusick, curator of the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History. Since most received support from the Spanish crown, they also feared being left without a paycheck.

What were the two regions of Florida in 1763?

In 1763, Florida had two regions. East Florida extended from St. Augustine to the Apalachicola River. West Florida stretched 400 miles from the Apalachicola River to roughly where Baton Rouge, La., is today.

What did staying in Spain mean?

Staying meant swearing an oath to the British crown -- the very government that Spain had just fought. But there was an upside. "They were ranchers, and not in the government employ," Cusick says. "They were in business for themselves. The British are coming in, bringing troops. Those troops have to eat. There was a big market for cattle. So for them, it was a business opportunity." By staying, Sanchez and Solana could keep their lands.

What did Spain give to Britain in 1763?

In 1763, however, the Treaty of Paris that ended the Seven Years War (known in the U.S. as the French and Indian War) required Spain to hand Florida to Britain. In exchange, Spain got the Philippines and Cuba, which at the time was a bigger prize than Florida -- by the 1730s, Spain had largely abandoned the missions that had dotted Florida 's northern tier ["The Mission Culture," page 122], and most Spaniards lived near St. Augustine and Pensacola and their military garrisons. Havana, meanwhile, had become the trading center of the Americas, and the sugar produced in Cuba was a lucrative crop.

Who was Francisco Sanchez's father?

Francisco Sanchez's father, José Sanchez de Ortigosa, had come to America from Spain in 1713 and married Juana Perez, who was born in St. Augustine and was descended from settlers who were among the first arrivals from Spain in the early 1600s.

Who were the two men who were allowed to stay in Cuba?

Not everyone pulled up stakes, however. Two men, Francisco Sanchez, 27, and Manuel Solana, 23, saw opportunity amid regime change. (Originally, Francisco's brother Lucas was supposed to stay behind. However, Lucas had a girlfriend in Cuba and asked that Francisco stay in Florida in his stead.) Six others were permitted to stay; all were given strict responsibilities. Solana was to handle the sale of boats left behind by the Spanish, and Sanchez was to handle cattle and horses, according to genealogical research compiled by Frank Sanchez Jr., a now-deceased descendant of Sanchez.

Did José Sanchez get a land grant?

Like most Spaniards who made the trek to Florida, José Sanchez came with a land grant. But it came with strings: Landowners were expected to improve the land or face losing it.

How long did the Spanish stay in Florida?

The Spanish decided not to settle northwest Florida for a while and abandoned the area for more than 100 years.

When did Spain give Florida back to the United States?

Spain ceded Florida to the British in 1763, but Britain gave it back after the Revolutionary War. Finally Spain sold Florida to the United States and Pensacola was in the United States as of 1821.

Where did the name Pensacola come from?

The name Pensacola came from the Spanish word for the Indians they found in this area in the 1500's when Panfilo de Narvaez and Hernando de Soto were stomping around. Pensacola, Florida celebrated its 450th birthday in 2009. Tristan de Luna y Arellano came to Pensacola in 1559 with 1400 people on 11 ships to settle the area.

When is the Fiesta of Five Flags in Pensacola Florida?

The Fiesta of Five Flags is held the first two weeks of June, and is a ten day event.

Where is Pensacola Beach?

Pensacola Beach is a short hop across the waterway and has some of the finest white sand beaches in Florida.

When is the Fiesta of Five Flags?

The Fiesta of Five Flags is held the first two weeks of June, and is a ten day event. Each year the celebrations in a bit different. The Pensacola Seafood Festival and the Pensacola Crawfish Festival are held each year at Seville Square in the heart of downtown.

When did Spain leave Florida?

The Spanish decided not to settle northwest Florida for a while and abandoned the area for more than 100 years. Spain ceded Florida to the British in 1763, but Britain gave it back after the Revolutionary War. Finally Spain sold Florida to the United States and Pensacola was in the United States as of 1821.

Who was the first European to claim Florida?

Spain's effective claim to Florida began with Juan Ponce de León 's discovery and naming of the flowery peninsula in 1513. Ponce de León led the first European expedition to the Dry Tortugas, today commemorated at Fort Jefferson National Monument.

Where did the Spanish explorers live in Florida?

As in other parts of the Florida peninsula, Spanish explorers were active along the coast north and south of Cape Canaveral and Biscayne. In the early 16th century, Spanish explorers near Biscayne were unable to dominate the Tequesta tribe. Biscayne National Park interprets Spanish-Tequesta relations, demonstrating that the European presence may have led to political consolidation among them and that Spanish goods, acquired through trade or from coastal shipwrecks or raids against Spanish settlers, were a valuable contribution to their material culture. The Spanish attempt to establish a mission north of the present-day Biscayne in the late 16th century failed because the Tequesta were hostile to it. By the mid-17th century, the Tequesta were experiencing a decline caused by Creek raids and European diseases.

What was the French attempt to establish in Florida?

In 1562 and 1564, the French attempt to establish a colony on the Florida coast likewise failed. Commemorated at Fort Caroline National Memorial in Florida, the French story had a similar ending to that of the many Spanish efforts. When the French constructed their fort among the Timucua Indians, trouble developed between them dooming the French enterprise. Meanwhile, to combat the French threat, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sailed from Cuba in 1565 and founded the settlement and fort of San Agustín, the oldest colonial city within the limits of the United States. In 1565, Spanish troops from the newly established Castillo de San Marcos marched against Fort Caroline and took it and the surrounding settlements.

Who discovered Florida?

Spain's effective claim to Florida began with Juan Ponce de León 's discovery and naming of the flowery peninsula in 1513.

How many men survived Hernando de Soto?

Public Domain. In 1539, Hernando de Soto led 1000 men to Florida; fewer than 300 men survived. Soto himself, nearly beaten to death by an Indian chieftain who had feigned friendship, later died from an unknown sickness, and his men laid him to rest in a watery grave in the Mississippi River.

Overview

History

Architecture

Provinces

Missions

See also

External links