Seminole Indians and Spanish Florida

Showdown in Spanish Florida During the 1700’s, Spanish officials protected slaves who fled from plantations in Georgia and South Carolina Seminole Indians allowed the runaway slaves to live near their villages “Black Seminoles” gave the Indians a share of the crops they raised every year.

Showdown in Spanish Florida After the War of 1812, about 300 Black Seminoles occupied an empty fort in Florida and they called it the Negro Fort. General Andrew Jackson demanded that Spain demolishes the Negro Fort but Spain refused. Gen. Jackson sent in troops anyway and destroyed the fort.

Jackson’s Florida Campaign In 1818, Jackson was determined once and for all to destroy the Seminole and African American Forces in Florida. Commanding an army of over 3000 men, he invaded Spanish Territory and captured several Spanish towns. He invaded without the Presidents permission.

What did Spain do? Although Spain protested this invasion, the Spanish were busy fighting rebels in Latin America. The Spanish could not risk fighting the United States so Spain agreed to establish peace talks. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams worked out a treaty (Adams-Onis Treaty) and it took effect in 1821.

The Outcome In the treaty, Spain gave Florida to the United States and received $5 million dollars in exchange.