Ecology of South Florida (EVR 3013) LECTURE 7
FLORIDA HISTORY
A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE
HERNANDO DE SOTO
Hernando de Soto was Spanish,
an ironclad conquistador.
Adventures he knew in the sack of Peru,
but it just made him anxious for more.
Hernando de Soto was knightly,
Hernando de Soto was bold,
like most of his lot,
he'd be off like a shot
wherever he heard there was gold.
With priest and physician and army,
not to speak of a number of swine,
at Tampa he started a quest, fiery hearted,
for the gold a fabulous mine.
From Florida way out to Texas,
this Don of the single track mind,
went chasing his dream over prairie and stream,
and the pigs kept on trotting behind.
He discovered the great Mississippi
he faced perils and hardships untold,
and his soldiers are bacon, if I'm not mistaken,
but nobody found any gold.
They buried de Soto at midnight,
where the wide Mississippi still jigs.
He was greedy for gain but a soldier of Spain.
(I hope someone looked after the pigs.)
Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benét (1941) [in Jones and O'Sullivan 1995]
HANDOUTS: Fig. 7-1. Historical settlements and current population densities.
I. EUROPEAN DISCOVERY
A. Ponce de León
1. Official credit
Although, there is evidence of prior discovery, Juan Ponce de León receives official credit for discovering Florida in 1513
a. John and Sebastian Cabot
John and Sebastian Cabot may have visited the lower Atlantic coast in 1497 and 1498 - three maps representing Florida appear before 1513
b. Slave hunters
Slave hunters probably came to Florida from Spanish settlement - one of the reasons for the fierce resistance among Florida's indigenous people
c. En espanol
Some indigenous people spoke Spanish
2. Slaves and gold
Ponce de León headed toward Bimini looking for slaves and gold when he stumbled upon FL
3. Pascua de Florida
Ponce de León reached the Florida coast on April 2, went shore, probably near Cape Canaveral - named the land Florida after Pascua de Florida (feast of flowers at Easter Time). May have stopped at Biscayne Bay on his return, headed to Charlotte Harbor and perhaps Pensacola Bay
4. King of Spain
Charles V?, the king of Spain, gave Florida to Ponce
5. Triumphant return
Ponce returned in 1521, with 2 ships, 200 colonists, 50 horses, livestock and farm implements. They landed near Charlotte Harbor and were attacked. Ponce was wounded and later died.
B. Pánfilo de Narváez
1. 1528
Next major explorer - set out for Florida in 1528 with 400 men
C. Hernando de Soto
1. Tampa Bay-1539
Lt. of Pizzaro in Peru -landed in Tampa Bay in 1539. Found Juan Ortiz, a survivor of the Narváez expedition. Ortiz survived through the intercession of the wife and daughter of a Calusa chief - the real Pocahantos story.
II. FIRST SPANISH PERIOD 1565-1763
A. Menedez
Menedez founded St. Augustine in 1565, the first permanent settlement and oldest city in the U.S. (Jamestown founded in 1607, Plymouth Rock in 1620).
B. Spanish settlement
By 1763, after 2 centuries of settlement, Spanish settlement consisted of St. Augustine, a garrison at St. Marks, and the struggling Pensacola
C. Treaty of Paris (1763)
In the treaty of Paris (1763), after the French-Indian War, England took over Canada from the French, Spain received Louisiana, Spain exchanged Florida for Havana, which had been captured by the English
III. BRITISH PERIOD 1764-1783
A. Emmigration
After British takeover, the entire Spanish population of 3,000+ left for Cuba
B. The Keys
The status of the Keys was not clear - some considered them to be a part of Cuba. British Major Ogilve called attention to mahogany, fish and turtle in the keys
C. War!
Spain declared war on England on 21 June 1779
D. Loyalists
Loyalists escaped from northern colonies to Florida
E. Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 returned Florida to Spain, who took over in 1784.
IV. SECOND SPANISH PERIOD 1784-1821
A. Only nominally Spanish
B. Florida ceded to U.S.
In 1819, Florida was ceded to the U.S., in exchange for no claims against Texas.
V. TERRITORIAL AND STATEHOOD PERIOD
A. Population
Population in 1821 was less than 8,000
B. Andrew Jackson
Jackson became the first territorial governor of Florida
C. Statehood
Florida admitted to the Union in 1845, Iowa in 1846
D. Rebellion
Seceded in 1861
VI. PIONEER PERIOD AND EARLY INDUSTY
A. Drainage
Included attempts at drainage such as those of Hamilton Disston
B. Railroads
Railroads opened up agricultural markets
C. Freeze
Freeze of 1895
VII. MODERN FLORIDA
A. Broward
Marked by the emergence of Napoleon Bonaparte Broward
B. Flagler
Flagler extended railroad to Miami in 1896, to the Keys in 1912
C. Hurricane
The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed Railroad
VIII. BOOM YEARS
A. BOOM!
Post WWI prosperity brought boom to southern Florida
B. Price increase
In 1925, property 6-8 miles was being sold for $25,999 per acre, in 1915 Carl Fisher offered beach front property for free
C. Merrick
George Merrick had 3,000 salesmen
D. Speculation
A single lot sometimes changed hands a dozen times in a day!
E. Sept 18 1926
A hurricane ended the boom, causing nearly 400 deaths.
F. Sept 16 1928
Another hurricane struck, killing nearly 2,000.
G. Urban growth
By 1930, Frontier Period was over and Florida was becoming an urban state.
IX. FLOIRDA BIOTA VI: ANIMALS (birds)
Back to start, Back to lecture 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, On to lecture 8 & 9
Feedback