The Formation of Florida as a New State - Research Paper Example

The Formation of Florida as a New The of the Annotated Bibliography Doty, F. A. (1956). Florida, Iowa, and the National "Balance of Power," 1845. Florida Historical Quarterly, 35(1), 30-59. The author considers peculiarities of Florida and Iowa’s admission to the Union. In this respect, there are numerous parallels traced by the article in historical development of the two future states, advantageous or disadvantageous for their entry in the US. Both similarities and contrasts of Florida and Iowa are under thorough analysis of Doty, as well as their steps toward statehood. Actually, the article presents significant information about life of Indians in the territory of Florida and the latter’s politics of slavery advocacy. Florida Becomes a Territory. (2005). A history of Florida, 1904. College of Education, University of South Florida: The Florida Center for Instructional Technology. This article examines Florida History in the context of its peculiarities under Spanish rule, its annexing from Spain and development of its territories. Moreover, it underlines specifics of white Floridians’ life side by side with the Seminole tribes of Indians, displaying their nature in general and advocacy for free life in particular. The article provides data essential for understanding peculiarities of Florida’s fight against the Seminoles and its support of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Upham, S. C. (1883). Florida: Past and present. Jacksonville: Ashmead Brothers. The book introduces essential aspects of Florida History from the time of its discovery through period of its joining the Union to its repeated acceptance by the US Congress. In particular, it traces specific factors of Florida’s historical development, essential for consideration of its becoming a state, paying adequate attention to the first act of the unification and the second one, after the American Civil War. The Formation of Florida as a New State Introduction Unification of Florida and the USA is a significant event in American history. It is reflected in the fact that formation of Florida as a new state proved its beneficial effect for safety and development of American lands, as well as harmonious life of their residents. Being the territory actively inhabited by the Seminole tribe of Indians, which caused serious troubles to the US Army, Florida received necessary assistance of American Government regarding the issue of the Seminoles’ outrage. In particular, such acute factors as safety matter and an issue of slavery appear to be the main aspects of Florida’s formation as a new state of America. Safety Matter as a Reason for Florida’s Becoming the US State The first condition, which caused unification of Florida and America, is a consequence of active migration of the Seminoles from north to Florida after weakening of Spanish positions on the peninsula. Actually, it was the beginning of long-lasting opposition between the Seminoles and American Army, as a result of Indians’ aggression towards Americans, resulted in three Seminole wars. Actually, Indians motivated their actions as a desire to protect their territory. Despite this fact, American government was aware of another one, that is, the Seminoles constantly made devastating raids on neighboring Georgia (Florida Becomes a Territory). All in all, the outrage of the Seminoles became a threat to peace of Americans and their harmonious development. Needless to say about Floridians’ safety, that appeared to be questionable in those conditions. Floridians heard a lot about negative effects of Indians’ raids in Georgia. This was additional information to realization of their own harm from the Seminoles’ desire to assert themselves in their right to live freely in Florida’s territory. Consequently, this very aspect served as a critical factor, which added to Floridians’ realization of the only true choice in favor of unification with America. The United States of America decided to purchase Florida’s lands for security reasons. In 1819 the USA bought Florida peninsula from Spain. Actually, Spain agreed to sell the lands due to the fact that it was not able to provide full control of them. Spain had no strength or desire to deal with threatening raids of the Seminoles, since it was faced with mass unrest in its colonies in America (Florida Becomes a Territory). The formation of Florida as a new American state contributed to control over America’s inner safety. Thus, the unification was beneficial for both sides. The US stopped invasion of Indians on Georgia, while Florida established control over peace of its residents. At that matter, the Indian Removal Act, which was passed by the US Congress in 1830, is of a great importance for benefits of both sides, as according to it all Indians were deported to the lands west of the Mississippi (Doty 33). So, the formation of Florida as a new state contributed to mutually beneficial outcomes “…for the peace, harmony, and union of the States” (Doty 57). An Issue of Slavery as Another Reason for Florida’s Becoming the US State History of Florida’s unification with the USA must be analyzed through a prism of Florida’s attitude to the issue of slavery. Being “…sold and ceded to the United States in 1819…” (Upham Ch. 1), after “…receiving a territorial government in 1822…”(Upham Ch. 1) and even after entry in the Union, Florida’s status of a slavery state played a significant role for its advocacy for slavery. Specifically, the number of white Floridians was not large at the time, while almost half of the population of Florida was black slaves, which worked on plantations of cotton and sugar cane (Doty 37). So, even one-hundred-percent voting of Floridians was not enough for acquiring by them status of the US state. Still, even in this context the latter did not want to see liberation of their slaves, as a way towards unification with America. Naturally, Florida’s advocacy for slavery served as a factor postponing its entry in the Union. In this regard, there were attempts to convince the debates in the Senate in favor of an alternative interpretation of the Florida constitution. “As a further conciliatory gesture, Senator Berrien tried to make it clear that the Florida prohibition on emancipation applied only to the legislature — it did not prohibit individuals from emancipating their slaves if they chose” (Doty 57). In other words, there was an emphasis on Floridians as people opposing their blacks’ desire to become free. As it becomes apparent from Florida history, Floridians’ advocacy for slavery manifested itself even after their joining with America. In particular, in January 1861 Florida announced the secession from America (Upham Ch. 5). Consequently, it was one of the founders of the Confederate States of America, that is, the Southern United States, supported preservation of slavery (Upham Ch.5). In such a manner, Florida underlined its non-desire to liberate slaves and accept them as equal in rights. What is more, it defended its interests in the American Civil War, an armed conflict between states advocated slavery and liberation of black people. Only three years after the end of the Civil War, 25th of July, 1868, Florida was again co-opted by the US Congress (Upham Ch. 5). All in all, this date may serve as final unification of Florida and the United States of America. At any rate, Florida’s vision of slavery is a significant aspect, which influenced its becoming the twenty-seventh state of America. Reflective Comments on Florida History Awareness of the factors, historically important for the formation of Florida as a new state, draws our attention to the issue of African Americans and Native Americans’ current peculiarities of life. In fact, American struggle for abolition of slavery in the South states may be seen in free life of the black people in present America. As for Indians, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 is reflected in today’s separate living of Native Americans in reservations. One way or another, even individual history of Florida’s entry in the Union may serve as a great source of knowledge about historic premises of modern American life in general. Conclusion All things considered, Florida history of becoming a new American state manifests its importance for understanding of overall historical development of the US. Such specific aspects, as struggle against the Seminoles’ outrage resulted in their deprivation to the lands west of the Mississippi River, and advocacy for slavery trigged the Civil War, are the two main facts of Florida’s historical entry in the Union. The last aspect caused Florida’s repeated unification with America. This knowledge is helpful for understanding of Florida history in its specificity, as well as beneficial for its thorough analysis. References Doty, F. A. (1956). Florida, Iowa, and the National "Balance of Power," 1845. Florida Historical Quarterly, 35(1), 30-59. Retrieved 17 Sept. from: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Florida/_Texts/FlaHQ/35/Florida_Iowa_and_the_Balance_of_Power*.html Florida Becomes a Territory (2005). A history of Florida, 1904. College of Education, University of South Florida: The Florida Center for Instructional Technology. Retrieved 17 Sept. from: http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/docs/f/florterr.htm Upham, S. C. (1883). Florida: Past and present. Jacksonville: Ashmead Brothers. Print. Read More