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Seminole History Introduction The history of Seminole Indians can be traced back 12,000 years. In 1513, the Spaniards discovered Florida. The Florida Territory held, perhaps, 200,000 Seminole ancestors in hundreds of tribes. The Seminole Nation came into action in the 18th century. The Seminole Indians spoke Muskogean, Creek, and English. As for religion they were Protestants, which means declaration. The first Europeans that came to the Seminole territory brought diseases such as measles, smallpox, and the common cold that killed thousands of these people. Another thing that brought death among the Seminole Indians was competition for land and resources by the warring Spanish, English, and French. It also caused some of the Indians to be displaced. The term "Seminole" came from a Spanish word meaning “wild”. These Indians were also called cimarrones, or free people, being that they would not allow themselves to be defeated by the Europeans. All Florida people were later own referred to as Seminoles. People that survived the European invasion combined in the area that is now Florida. Today there are Seminole Indians living in Florida and Oklahoma. That being because Seminoles were forced to move to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Soon after the second Seminole War the Indians were led by a dynasty of chiefs. Escaped slaves, and many more, joined the Creek, Hitchiti, Apalachee, Mikisúkî, Yamassee, Yuchi, Tequesta, Apalachicola, Choctaw, and Oconee through the forests, prairies and rivers in the heart of Florida. They had an instinct for survival and a commonalty of purpose: refusal to be dominated by the white man.
Osceola
Osceola was the leader of the Seminole Indians. He was born in 1804. His mother, Polly, was the daughter of Ann McQueen, and his father was William Powell, an English trader. Osceola claimed to be full-blooded Muscogee. In 1814 he and his mother moved to Florida by side of Creeks. He led a small band of soldiers, no more than 100 of them, in the Seminole resistance during the Second Seminole war. ..... Osceola was arrested because he came under a flag of peace to debates in 1837. In less than a year later, on January 20,1838, he died while still incarcerated of Malaria and was buried without his head.
Seminole Wars The first Seminole war started in 1817, and ended the next year. This war started when a man named Neamathla warned United States troops not to trespass on their hunting grounds. In response of that, nearly 250 soldiers attacked a boat load of 40 soldiers. At that time, Spain had control over the Seminoles. Soon after that a treaty was issued to General Andrew Jackson, giving three commissions. 1. They would receive, possess and occupy the ceded lands. 2. Florida would be governed. 3.Establish a territorial government.
Florida’s New Governor Florida’s new governor was William DuVal met with 70 Seminole chiefs to discuss the removal. The Seminoles were finally known as an official Indian Nation. They were then sent to a reservation in Florida.
Indian Removal During their early days of existence, the United States government carried out a policy of extermination against American Indians in Eastern US. This means they were trying to systematically remove the Indians from the path of “white settlement”. Florida remained under control of Spain government until 1821. The US wanted the Spaniards out of Florida and was willing to get them out by any means. After a while, Spain could not afford to support their vast empire. Which means from 1784 until 1821, the years that Spain ceded Florida to the U.S., Florida became the setting for constant international scheming. It was also an aim for adventurers who wished to start their own personal empires with Florida's resources. Andrew Jackson was named military governor of Florida. In 1832, the US government signed the Treaty of Paynes Landing, promising them land west of the Mississippi River if they agreed to leave Florida voluntarily.
Check Out The Seminole Timeline http://www.keyshistory.org/seminolespage1.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osceola http://www.seminoletribe.com/history/indian_removal.shtml
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