His inaugural address was brief, lasting only about ten minutes. In the address, he reaffirmed many of the promises he and his supporters had made during the campaign. He would work against corruption and for reform. He promised to end the national debt and keep the size of the government small.

In 1818, President James Monroe ordered General Andrew Jackson to pursue the Seminole Indians deeper into the territory of Florida in what came to be known as the First Seminole War. These actions helped persuade Spain to cede the territory of Florida to the United States the following year.

Known as the “people’s president,” Jackson destroyed the Second Bank of the United States, founded the Democratic Party, supported individual liberty and instituted policies that resulted in the forced migration of Native Americans. He died on June 8, 1845.

Spanish Florida. For years, southern plantation owners and white farmers in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina had lost runaway slaves to the Florida swamps. President Monroe sent General Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, to the Florida border in 1818 to stop the incursions.

In 1817, Florida belonged to Spain, an aging power unable to control its colonies. Florida had become a refuge for escaped slaves, marauding Indians and U.S. criminals. Often they would carry out criminal acts in the United States, then slip into Florida. Jackson invaded Florida, and seized a Spanish fort.

First Seminole War

He was, in fact, sent down to Fort Scott because of Seminole retaliatory strikes against the United States in late 1817. General Jackson concluded that it was necessary for the United States to invade Spanish territory and forcibly take control of Pensacola, thereby dispersing (or killing) the Indians gathered there.

From 1817-1818, the United States Army invaded Spanish Florida and fought against the Seminole and their African American allies. Collectively, these battles came to be known as the First Seminole War. Americans reacted to these confrontations by sending Andrew Jackson to Florida with an army of about 3,000 men.

Florida was under colonial rule by Spain from the 16th century to the 19th century, and briefly by Great Britain during the 18th century (1763–1783) before becoming a territory of the United States in 1821.

Florida’s Spanish colonial heritage began nearly 100 years before Jamestown in 1513, when Juan Ponce de León landed, and ended when Florida became a territory of the United States in 1821.

The 1770s is when Florida Indians collectively became known as Seminole, a name meaning “wild people” or “runaway.”

Top Baby Names in Florida

In honor of the Eastertime tradition, Ponce de Leon named the region “Florida” which is Spanish for “land of flowers.” Florida has roughly 230 days of sunshine a year, so it’s easy to see how it got this name. The nickname was officially adopted by the 1970 legislature.

In God We Trust

Florida Legislature officially adopted the nickname “Sunshine State” in 1970.

Apalachicola

Apalachicola, the sunniest spot in Florida, sees an average of 128 clear sunny days per year and Miami has 74.

Even in winter, mostly desert states (AZ, CA) stand up as sunnier, way sunnier than Florida. They might be cooler but we’re talking about the sunshine, and not the warmth.

Yuma

Redding

Tórshavn