Why Florida stayed loyal to Britain during the American Revolution

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While Americans hole to observe the nation's 250th anniversary, historians accidental 1 of the astir overlooked chapters of the Revolutionary War is Florida's role, oregon much accurately, its determination not to articulation the combat for independence.

On July 4, 1776, Florida was not a azygous U.S. territory but 2 abstracted British colonies: East Florida, with its superior successful St. Augustine, and West Florida, governed from Pensacola. Unlike the 13 colonies that declared independency from Britain, some Florida colonies remained loyal to the British Crown passim the American Revolution, according to historiographer and writer Mike Bunn.

Britain controlled Florida from 1763 until the territory was returned to Spain astatine the extremity of the Revolutionary War successful 1783, a play of 20 years.

According to historian, writer and lecturer Roger Smith, Florida's lack from astir Revolutionary War lessons stems from 1 cardinal fact.

"Nobody talks astir East and West Florida chiefly due to the fact that adjacent though we were a British Colony passim the entirety of the American Revolution, we did not rebel," Smith told CBS News Miami.

Why East and West Florida stayed loyal to Britain

Historians accidental respective factors influenced Florida's determination to stay loyal to Britain.

Unlike the 13 colonies, East and West Florida were mostly unaffected by the British Stamp Act and different taxes that fueled resentment elsewhere due to the fact that the colonies produced comparatively small for the British assemblage economy.

The British Army besides provided extortion from attacks by Native American tribes, giving galore settlers small crushed to enactment a rebellion.

Smith said West Florida adjacent declined an invitation to be the First Continental Congress successful 1774.

"West Florida got an invitation to the archetypal Continental Congress successful 1774 and they said, 'We don't privation immoderate portion of it,' and they thought it was the dumbest thought they person ever heard," Smith said.

At the aforesaid time, East Florida's colonisation was increasing arsenic British loyalists fled Georgia and the Carolinas to flight harassment from supporters of independence. Rather than clasp the revolution, galore residents openly opposed it.

According to Smith, citizens of East Florida adjacent burned the leaders down the Declaration of Independence successful effigy.

"East Florida ne'er lowered the Union Jack and fended disconnected 3 invasions into the colonies and remained loyal till the extremity of the war," Smith said.

How Florida yet became portion of the United States

Although East and West Florida remained loyal passim the Revolutionary War, British power did not last.

Following the war, the 2 colonies were returned to Spanish rule. Spain governed Florida until 1821, erstwhile it ceded the territory to the United States nether the Adams-Onís Treaty.

From there, Florida's past followed the way much acquainted to Americans, yet becoming the 27th authorities successful 1845.

For historians similar Bunn and Smith, however, the communicative of East and West Florida serves arsenic a reminder that Florida's relation successful America's founding was acold antithetic than galore radical learned successful school.

As the federation marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, they anticipation much radical observe the little-known past of Britain's 2 loyal Florida colonies.

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