The American Revolution had a profound impact on Florida despite the absence of major
battles there. In 1783, Britain lost the war and ceded Florida back to Spain. Spain regained control of a colony that was more diverse and volatile than before. British settlers largely departed, while some remained under Spanish rule. Enslaved Africans, free Blacks, Native Americans, and European settlers formed a complex and often unstable society on the margins of empire.During the Second Spanish Period, from 1783 to 1821, Spanish authority in Florida was weak. Spain struggled to govern and defend the territory amid declining imperial power and rising American influence. The Spanish government offered land grants to attract settlers and attempted to maintain peace with Native groups, including the Seminoles. Florida’s porous borders made it a haven for escaped enslaved people from the United States, many of whom found refuge among the Seminoles or established independent communities near the Everglades.
The Everglades during this era played a critical role as a landscape of resistance and survival. Its wetlands provided concealment and resources for those seeking to avoid recapture or colonial control. Spanish officials, lacking the manpower and resources to enforce strict authority, often tolerated these communities, viewing them as a buffer against American encroachment. This tolerance, however, angered U.S. slaveholders and intensified calls for American intervention.
By the early 19th century, the United States increasingly viewed Florida as both a security threat and an economic opportunity. Border conflicts, Seminole raids, and the presence of escaped enslaved people were used to justify military action. American settlers and politicians portrayed Florida as lawless and poorly governed, arguing that Spain was incapable of controlling the territory. These arguments laid the groundwork for future conflict and eventual annexation shutdown123