SW064 Historic Florida Militia Commemorates July 10 Florida Bicentennial that Brought Federal Authority, Confrontation to Seminole

On July 10, 1821, the United States of America accepted possession of the Spanish Florida territory in a ceremony at St Augustine. Whatever tranquility the Seminoles enjoyed began to end with this change of ownership. They knew and trusted the Spanish authorities. They liked them because they left the Seminole alone. But these Americans were different. The Seminole had sided with the Spanish in the so-called Patriot War of 1812. Now the patriots were coming to town to run the peninsula. The Spanish days of benign neglect of the Seminoles began to end with this ceremony.

The Historic Florida Militia is providing a living history interpretation with mock proclamation signings, musket and cannon firing, and living historians mingling with the public on July 9 and 10. Maria Alvarez. who run the company with her husband Bob, joins us to tell us about the importance of this transfer of authority to the United States. She also explains how her group brings to life various historic periods, such as Pedro Mendendez's founding in 1565 and Sir Francis Drake's 16th century raids and the British colonial period (1763-1783) in St Augustine's history.  FHM presents the past to the present for the future. 

 

Host Patrick Swan is a board member with the Seminole Wars Foundation. He is a combat veteran and of theU.S. Army, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Kosovo, and at the Pentagon after 9/11. A military historian, he holds masters degrees in Public History, Communication, and Homeland Security, and is a graduate of the US Army War College with an advanced degree in strategic studies. This podcast is recorded at the homestead of the Seminole Wars Foundation in Bushnell, Florida. 

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