Throughout the United States early history Florida was the site of the countries deadliest and most ferocious military battles in the country. With the expansion of the United States came the acquisition Native American Territories. This vast expansion left the United States at odds with the natives and many times the government simply forced the Natives to relocate to distant lands without any form of compensation. These disagreements would culminate in Florida in the 19th century with three Seminole wars which pitted the local native Seminoles versus the ever expanding United States government. Historian Joe Ketch studied the intricacies of the three wars and the events leading up to the conflicts in his book titled “The Florida Seminole
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Indian raids were being reported all throughout the state and the lack of a sizeable force was detrimental in helping to deter Indian strikes. The American government was actively trying to compose agreement with the Florida Indians to relocate their tribe to unused areas in Florida in hopes to avoid future conflict between both groups. The Treaty of Payne’s landing was an early attempt at peaceful agreements between Seminoles and the American government but many Seminoles felt they were exploited in this agreement by irresponsible chiefs who agreed to the terms and double-dealing interpreters who cared little for their best interest. The U.S government would appoint Wiley Thompson to be the Indian agent in Florida ad help resolve the states Indian issue. He would go on to enrage the local Seminoles through his deceitful practices and continual support of the Payne’s landing treaty. During his tenure as an Indian agent Wiley Thompson would anger, Osceola a young Seminole leader who would eventually kill him and ignite the second Seminole war. On December of 1835 while General Francis Dade was following orders to move from his Key West post to a Tampa post he and 105 men were killed by a group natives led by Osceola. For more than a year Seminole and American forces met in small skirmishes and battles which resulted in heavy American casualties and little success. On December 91836 …show more content…
Peace was upheld by both parties for a number of years until tensions begin to rise when American settlers begin settling on lands near the remaining Seminole’s territory. A growing consensus amongst Florida politicians was to reignite the Seminole war again in order to clear the land completely of Native presence and finalize the expansion process of the Florida territory. In this increasing hostile environment the U.S began sending large number of scouts and surveyors into Seminole territory. In 1855 a group of surveyors destroyed the banana trees of the last significant Seminole leader Billy Bow Legs which ignited the third Seminole war. This was the shortest of the three wars as it never consisted of large battles, and instead contained small skirmishes. Within three years Billybowlegs and the remainder of his followers had been force to emigrate to
Indian raids were being reported all throughout the state and the lack of a sizeable force was detrimental in helping to deter Indian strikes. The American government was actively trying to compose agreement with the Florida Indians to relocate their tribe to unused areas in Florida in hopes to avoid future conflict between both groups. The Treaty of Payne’s landing was an early attempt at peaceful agreements between Seminoles and the American government but many Seminoles felt they were exploited in this agreement by irresponsible chiefs who agreed to the terms and double-dealing interpreters who cared little for their best interest. The U.S government would appoint Wiley Thompson to be the Indian agent in Florida ad help resolve the states Indian issue. He would go on to enrage the local Seminoles through his deceitful practices and continual support of the Payne’s landing treaty. During his tenure as an Indian agent Wiley Thompson would anger, Osceola a young Seminole leader who would eventually kill him and ignite the second Seminole war. On December of 1835 while General Francis Dade was following orders to move from his Key West post to a Tampa post he and 105 men were killed by a group natives led by Osceola. For more than a year Seminole and American forces met in small skirmishes and battles which resulted in heavy American casualties and little success. On December 91836 …show more content…
Peace was upheld by both parties for a number of years until tensions begin to rise when American settlers begin settling on lands near the remaining Seminole’s territory. A growing consensus amongst Florida politicians was to reignite the Seminole war again in order to clear the land completely of Native presence and finalize the expansion process of the Florida territory. In this increasing hostile environment the U.S began sending large number of scouts and surveyors into Seminole territory. In 1855 a group of surveyors destroyed the banana trees of the last significant Seminole leader Billy Bow Legs which ignited the third Seminole war. This was the shortest of the three wars as it never consisted of large battles, and instead contained small skirmishes. Within three years Billybowlegs and the remainder of his followers had been force to emigrate to