Reaching a Climax: The Seminole Indian Wars
In 1818, the United States moved to wrest control of Florida from Spain and the Indian communities living in the territory. While the U.S. obtained Florida from Spain in 1821, various groups of Indian communities in Florida––sometimes universally called “Seminoles” by Europeans––fought American forces for the next 40 years in three conflicts collectively known as the Seminole Indian Wars to defend their sovereignty. Other Southeastern tribes outside of Florida aided the United States in an effort to suppress the influence of the Florida Indians, which increased the level of political tension.
By the 1840s, U.S. troops had moved the majority of the Florida Native population to Indian territory in the West. Rather than cede their political autonomy, the remaining group of Florida Indians withdrew to the state's Southern swamplands where the U.S. army was reluctant to follow. After the Indian removal campaign ended in the late 1850s, the Native survivors in Florida remained isolated from American society for nearly 30 years. Their form of governance had to adapt to the changed environment and decreased population.
