Difference between revisions of "Florida"
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==Metropolitan Areas== | ==Metropolitan Areas== | ||
*[[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]] | *[[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]] | ||
| + | ==History== | ||
| + | ===Colonial=== | ||
| + | Spain established a few small settlements in Florida, most of which were soon abandoned. The most important settlement was at [[St. Augustine]], founded in 1565. It was never more than a fortress, and was repeatedly attacked and burned, with most residents killed or fled. Missionaries converted 26.000 natives by 1655, but a revolt in 1656 and an epidemic in 1659 proved devastating. Pirate attacks were unrelenting against small outposts and even St Augustine. The British and their colonies made war repeatedly. South Carolina launched large scale invasions in 1702 and 1704, which effectively destroyed the Spanish mission system. St Augustine survived, but English-allied Indians such as the [[Yamasee]] conducted slave raids throughout Florida, killing or enslaving most of the region's natives. St Augustine itself was captured in 1740. The British and Spanish had been enemies for many decades. The conflicts in Spanish Florida were one part of a larger, global struggle. In the mid-1700s, invading [[Seminoles]] killed off most of the remaining local Indians. Florida had about 3000 Spaniards when Britain took control 1763. Nearly all Spaniards quickly left and only a few Britons moved in. Even though in 1783 control was restored to Spain, Spain sent no more settlers or missionaries, and the region was in practice ungoverned and destination of runaway slaves. The US took control in 1819. | ||
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{{USstates}} | {{USstates}} | ||
Revision as of 08:10, March 14, 2009
| Capital | Tallahassee |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Sunshine State |
| Official Language | English |
| Governor | Charlie Crist, R |
| Senator | Mel Martinez, R (202) 224-3041 Contact |
| Senator | Bill Nelson, D (202) 224-5274 Contact |
| Ratification of Constitution/or statehood | March 3, 1845 (27th) |
| Flag of Florida | Motto: "In God We Trust" |
Florida is located in the southeastern United States, and in 1845 became the 27th state to join the Union. Florida was first settled by Europeans in 1513, when Spaniard Juan Ponce de Leon landed at St. Augustine. For some time, Spain and France ran competing colonies in Florida, with the Spanish eventually expelling the French. Eventually, Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1819 in exchange for the cancelling of debts. Along with 12 other southern states, Florida seceded from the Union in 1859 in order to form the "Confederate States of America". The end of the war between the "United States" and the "Confederate States" resulted in Florida rejoining the Union in 1865. The capital of Florida is Tallahassee, and the largest city is Jacksonville. The current governor of Florida is Charlie Crist, a Republican. Florida's nickname is the "Sunshine State", and its state tree is the "Sabal Palm." When judged by population, Florida is the 3rd largest of the 50 member-states of the United States of America.
Statewide officials
- Governor Charlie Crist (R)
- Senator Bill Nelson (D)
- Senator Mel Martinez (R)
Metropolitan Areas
History
Colonial
Spain established a few small settlements in Florida, most of which were soon abandoned. The most important settlement was at St. Augustine, founded in 1565. It was never more than a fortress, and was repeatedly attacked and burned, with most residents killed or fled. Missionaries converted 26.000 natives by 1655, but a revolt in 1656 and an epidemic in 1659 proved devastating. Pirate attacks were unrelenting against small outposts and even St Augustine. The British and their colonies made war repeatedly. South Carolina launched large scale invasions in 1702 and 1704, which effectively destroyed the Spanish mission system. St Augustine survived, but English-allied Indians such as the Yamasee conducted slave raids throughout Florida, killing or enslaving most of the region's natives. St Augustine itself was captured in 1740. The British and Spanish had been enemies for many decades. The conflicts in Spanish Florida were one part of a larger, global struggle. In the mid-1700s, invading Seminoles killed off most of the remaining local Indians. Florida had about 3000 Spaniards when Britain took control 1763. Nearly all Spaniards quickly left and only a few Britons moved in. Even though in 1783 control was restored to Spain, Spain sent no more settlers or missionaries, and the region was in practice ungoverned and destination of runaway slaves. The US took control in 1819.
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