1. The Seminole wars
A Case Study

2. Historical Context of Spanish florida
18th c.
Asylum for colonial slaves
Maroon communities
Seminole Tribe firmly established
19th c.
US desire for expansion into Spanish Florida
Desire for Seminole cattle w/in the US
Raids of reprisal
Destination for runaway slaves
Slave catchers

3. The first Seminole war: 1818-1819
November, 1817
Gen. Edmund Gaines attempt to take Neamathla (Micc)
Retaliation & ambush by Seminoles + allies  WAR!
35 US soldiers dead + 6 women
March, 1818
AJ + 3,500 sent by Monroe into W FL
3 months of fighting
Seminole settlements destroyed
Execution of 2 Brits (oops! Diplomacy in order)
Capture of St. Marks, Pensacola

4. "Do you think I am like a bat, that hangs by its claws in a dark cave, and that I can see nothing of what is going on around me? Ever since I was a small boy I have seen the white people steadily encroaching upon the Indians, and driving them from their homes and hunting grounds I will tell you plainly, if I had the power, I would tonight cut the throat of every white man in Florida.”
-Neamaltha

5. Treaty of Fort Moultire  Seminole Restriction
1821 = Territory of FL
Territorial Gov. AJ
Treaty of Fort Moultire  Seminole Restriction
2nd Territorial Gov. William Duval
1828- President AJ + Southern Congressmen
 Indian Removal Act 1830
1932- Treaty of Payne’s Landing
Inspection of OK grounds
Micanopy, Treaty of Fort Gibson
Osceola  Resistance
Slave question

6. “Am I a negro, a slave. I am an Indian
“Am I a negro, a slave? I am an Indian. The white man shall not make me black. I will make the white man red with blood, and then blacken him in the sun and rain, where the wolf shall smell his bones and the vulture live upon his flesh.” -Osceola

7. SECOND SEMINOLE WAR: 1835-1842 December 28, 1835
Seminoles destroy sugar plantations
3 prong attack
Murder of IA Wiley Thompason by Osceola
Fort King (Ocala)
Dade’s Massacre
108 dead
Retaliation by Seminoles against General Clinch
+ Withlacoochee
Longest, costliest, deadliest

8. War in florida
Impact of attacks = Northern support for military reinforcement
Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Meade, Ft. Pierce
Troops by land, by boat across interior  Seminoles into open country
Attacks on villages
1836  Seminole Success
General Gaines forced to retreat
General Winfield Scott unsuccessful at hunting
down Seminoles
Gov. Richard K. Call stopped by resistance
Heat, rain, disease

9. War Ends Late 1836 1837  summer break
General Thomas Jesup- forts built, methodical campaign sweep through swamps
Surrender of Micanopy?
1837  summer break
Jesup sense of betrayal from Micanopy  policy to capture
Seminole leaders
Osceola, Micanopy
Fort Moultrie (Charleston) = disease, death, beheading
Wildcat, Alligator, Jumper, Billy Bowlegs, Sam Jones

10. Survivors head south + Jesup & 9k
Patrol of coats, rivers
Supplies to forts
Freedom to Black Seminoles (in West)
Dec. 25, Col. Zachary Taylor vs. Seminoles
Victory for US?
Defeat or draw
High causalities
Seminoles buy time
Families  Everglades
Taylor? War hero and general

11. 1838- Everglades = protection
Jesup desire war to end
Pres. MVB deny, command to Gen. ZT
Slave holding interest power
Removal of ALL Seminoles
 continued war
1839- Gen. Alexander Macomb sent to negotiate peace
Negotiation break down
Temporary provisions to stay in FL
N FL booming with settlers, S FL war zone

12. Federal troops into Everglades year round
Advantage to Seminoles when retreat in summer
Leadership under Billy Bowlegs
Soldiers, sailors, Marines, captured black/Indian POWs
Small bands of Seminoles captured
Treaties/removal on individual basis
August US say war ended
7 years of war
1,500 US men dead
All regiments of Army committed to Seminoles
30k citizen soldiers involved
4k Seminoles removed (2k warriors)
$30 million total
Budget of 1836 = $25 million

13. Third Seminole war:
Approx. 350 Seminoles remained in Everglades
White encroachment (+ FL militia) through “farms”
Muck of S FL
Dec Billy Bowlegs retaliation = attack on military camp
2 ½ years of guerilla warfare
White bounty hungers
$500, $250, $100
Capture or surrender
May Chief Bowlegs surrender
Family captured  surrender, BB move to OK
-200 remain in Everglades as sovereign nation