Thinking of Florida History Means

When I think of Florida History, I mean an optimistically troubled past. Florida has been a prize in multiple wars, and struggled with slavery throughout its early history. Florida was under Spanish control from 1565 to 1763 under what is called the First Spanish Period. After the Seven Year War, or French and Indian War, Florida was ceded to the British. The British controlled the land from 1763 to 1783. However, the American Revolutionary War caused the British to lose control of Florida due to the Treaty of Paris. This created the Second Spanish Period that lasted from 1783 to 1821. Slavery was a constant throughout the early years of Florida’s History. Slavery was especially harsh under the British Period. The British attempted to make large plantations as they had done previously with territories like Georgia and South Carolina, but because of an unstable government the plantations were never as successful as the other Deep South plantations. Under Spanish rule, Slavery was not as harsh, even though it is still being a horrible practice. British Slaves sought refuge in Florida, specifically in Fort Mose, the first free black town, during the First Spanish Period. By the time the British took over, twenty-five percent of the blacks that lived in Fort Mose and St. Augustine were free. In short, slavery and wars are the reason Florida History is an optimistically troubled past.