🐊Florida History Unit 5 – Florida Statehood and Early Years

Key Events Leading to Statehood

• Florida was acquired by the United States from Spain through the Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) which established the territory's boundaries
• The treaty required the U.S. to assume $5 million in claims by American citizens against Spain and to renounce any claims to Texas
• Florida became an organized territory of the United States in 1822 with the establishment of a territorial government
• The population of the Florida Territory grew rapidly during the 1820s and 1830s due to the influx of American settlers
  • Many settlers were attracted by the availability of cheap land and the prospect of growing cotton and other crops
• The Second Seminole War (1835-1842) was a major conflict between the U.S. government and the Seminole Indians who resisted removal from Florida
  • The war delayed Florida's admission to the Union and resulted in the forced relocation of most Seminoles to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma)
• By the early 1840s, the population of Florida had grown sufficiently to meet the requirements for statehood under the Northwest Ordinance

The Push for Florida's Admission

• Florida's territorial delegate to Congress, David Levy Yulee, played a key role in advocating for Florida's admission to the Union
• Yulee argued that Florida had met the population and economic requirements for statehood and deserved representation in Congress
• The question of Florida's admission became entangled with the broader debate over the expansion of slavery in the United States
  • Some northern politicians opposed Florida's admission as a slave state, while southern politicians supported it
• The Florida Territory held a constitutional convention in 1838 to draft a state constitution and petition Congress for admission
  • The constitution legalized slavery and prohibited the legislature from emancipating slaves without the consent of their owners
• Congress ultimately approved Florida's admission as a state in 1845 as part of a broader compromise that also admitted Iowa as a free state

Becoming the 27th State

• Florida officially became the 27th state of the United States on March 3, 1845
• The state's admission was part of a larger political compromise known as the Joint Resolution for the Admission of the States of Iowa and Florida
  • This resolution allowed Florida to enter the Union as a slave state and Iowa as a free state, maintaining the balance of power between North and South
• William D. Moseley was elected as Florida's first governor and served from 1845 to 1849
• David Levy Yulee and James D. Westcott were elected as Florida's first U.S. Senators
• The state capital was initially located in Tallahassee, which had served as the territorial capital since 1824
• Florida's admission to the Union had significant implications for the future of the United States, particularly with regard to the expansion of slavery and the growing sectional tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War

Early Political Landscape

• Florida's early political landscape was dominated by the Democratic Party, which favored states' rights, limited government, and the expansion of slavery
• The Whig Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery and favored a stronger federal government, had a smaller presence in Florida
• Many of Florida's early political leaders were wealthy planters and slaveowners who sought to protect their economic interests
  • For example, Governor Thomas Brown (1849-1853) owned a large sugar plantation and over 100 slaves
• Sectional tensions between North and South played out in Florida politics, with many politicians taking strong pro-slavery positions
  • Senator David Levy Yulee was a vocal advocate for secession and later served in the Confederate Congress during the Civil War
• The issue of Native American removal also shaped early Florida politics, with many politicians supporting the forced relocation of the Seminole Indians
• Florida's early political culture was characterized by patronage, personal loyalties, and sometimes violent competition between rival factions

Economic Developments

• Agriculture, particularly cotton, sugar, and tobacco production, formed the backbone of Florida's early economy
  • By 1860, Florida produced over 60 million pounds of cotton annually
• Plantation agriculture relied heavily on slave labor, and the number of slaves in Florida grew from around 7,000 in 1830 to over 60,000 by 1860
• The development of transportation infrastructure, including roads, canals, and railroads, was crucial to Florida's economic growth
  • The Florida Railroad, completed in 1861, connected Fernandina Beach on the Atlantic coast to Cedar Key on the Gulf coast
• The cattle industry also played a significant role in Florida's early economy, particularly in the central and southern parts of the state
• The Panic of 1837 and other economic downturns had severe impacts on Florida's economy, leading to bank failures and declining land values
• Tourism began to emerge as an important industry in the late 19th century, with the development of resort hotels and the promotion of Florida's warm climate and natural beauty

Social and Cultural Changes

• Florida's population grew rapidly in the decades following statehood, from around 54,000 in 1845 to over 140,000 by 1860
  • Much of this growth was due to migration from other southern states, particularly Georgia and the Carolinas
• Slavery and racial inequality were central features of Florida's social and cultural landscape
  • Free blacks and slaves faced severe restrictions on their rights and freedoms, and racial violence was a constant threat
• Religion played an important role in early Florida society, with many communities centered around churches and religious institutions
  • The Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century had a significant impact on Florida, leading to the growth of Baptist, Methodist, and other Protestant denominations
• Education was limited in early Florida, with few public schools and high rates of illiteracy
  • Some wealthy families sent their children to private academies or out-of-state colleges
• Florida's early cultural life was influenced by its Spanish and British colonial heritage, as well as the traditions of the American South
  • The state's architecture, cuisine, and music reflected these diverse influences

Challenges and Conflicts

• The Second Seminole War (1835-1842) was a major challenge for early Florida, resulting in significant loss of life and economic disruption
  • The war also strained relations between Florida and the federal government, which was criticized for its handling of the conflict
• The issue of slavery and the growing sectional tensions between North and South posed significant challenges for Florida in the years leading up to the Civil War
  • Many Floridians supported secession and the creation of the Confederacy, leading to Florida's involvement in the war
• Yellow fever and other tropical diseases were recurring threats to public health in early Florida, particularly in coastal cities like Jacksonville and Key West
• Hurricanes and other natural disasters also posed challenges for Florida's early settlers, destroying crops, buildings, and infrastructure
• Economic instability, including the Panic of 1837 and other financial crises, created hardships for many Floridians and slowed the state's growth and development
• The displacement and mistreatment of Native American populations, including the Seminoles and the Miccosukee, was a shameful chapter in Florida's early history

Legacy and Impact

• Florida's early years as a state laid the foundation for its future growth and development, particularly in agriculture, tourism, and transportation
• The state's role in the Civil War and the Confederacy had lasting impacts on its politics, society, and culture
  • The legacy of slavery and racial inequality continued to shape Florida long after the war's end
• The forced removal of Native American populations from Florida had devastating consequences for those communities and their cultures
• Florida's early leaders, including David Levy Yulee and William D. Moseley, played important roles in shaping the state's political and economic institutions
• The state's unique geography and natural resources, including its coastlines, swamps, and subtropical climate, have been central to its identity and development
• Florida's early history reflects broader themes in American history, including westward expansion, sectionalism, and the struggle over slavery and states' rights
• The challenges and conflicts of Florida's early years as a state, including wars, economic crises, and natural disasters, tested the resilience and determination of its people