Territorial Disputes over Florida

countries. Throughout history people have been fighting

over who owns what land. In this essay I will be going over

just one of these conflicts involving territory.

This essay will go over and explain the territorial

disputes over Florida between the United States of America

and Spain. The early part of the nineteenth century saw the

United States expanding under an impulse known to historians

as manifest destiny. Manifest destiny was not only a move

westward but also towards the south. “ The Acquisition of

Florida was part of this southward movement, and though

Spain did not care to let Florida Pass from under her

jurisdiction, conditions made it impossible for her to do

more than delay the action” (Martin, 1).

For years before 1810 Spanish Florida spread across a

narrow strip of the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the

Mississippi River. Temptation was high to acquire this

territory, so on October 27, 1810, President James Madison

proclaimed American authority over all the section of

Florida between the Mississippi and Perdido Rivers. By the

year 1814 American troops were stationed throughout this

area and thereafter Spain never gained control of it again.

. . .
(Marvin, 1-3)

The Jackson episode had a great impact on preparing the

way for acquisition of Florida by the United States. Spain did not agree on

this view and protested against it to the bitter end , but

to no avail. With these conditions existing

on the border of the United States , it recognized a

pressing need for annexation of Florida (Martin, 3). There was a widespread feeling the

U. A

revolution had taken place and a new constitution was drawn

up. Irujo then receded somewhat from his hostile

attitude, reminded the council that Texas had been saved

which, in a limited way, offset the loss of Florida. By

this time, President Monroe was anxious for a treaty and

gave aid to the two diplomats in several stormy disputes. e War of 1812 the United States was hoping to

acquire all of Florida, “especially if Spain came into the

War against the United States, but she chose to stay

non-belligerent in the struggle” (Marvin, 3). (Martin, 13)

Over in Spain a series of events were underway. The

occupation of most of West Florida was a flagrant aggression

on Spanish territory, but the Madison administration

insisted that the territory had actually been acquired by

the purchase of Louisiana in 1803. Spain was reluctant to yield Florida to

the United States due to the uprising of Spanish colonies in

South America. (Brooks, 3)

Negotiations were begun between Luis de Onis, the

Spanish Minister, and John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State

to the United States, in October of 1818 (Martin, 4).

Common topics in this essay:
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Approximate Word count = 1630
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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