By Joe Marzo
When most people think of the American Revolution, their minds go to the 13 colonies along the eastern seaboard, where patriots fought for independence against British rule. However, the southernmost point of British North America—Florida—played a unique and often overlooked role during this turbulent period. Florida, divided into East and West Florida, remained a loyalist stronghold throughout the war, aligning itself with the British Crown rather than the rebellious colonies.
British Florida: Divided and Loyal
At the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775, Florida was not part of the original 13 colonies. In fact, it had only been under British control for about a decade. Following the Seven Years' War (known in America as the French and Indian War), Spain ceded Florida to Britain in exchange for Havana, Cuba, as part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris. The British divided the region into two separate colonies: East Florida, with its capital in St. Augustine, and West Florida, with its capital in Pensacola.
Unlike the 13 colonies to the north, Florida was sparsely populated, and the majority of its residents were loyal to the British Crown. Many of these residents were recent British settlers who had benefited from British land grants and had no desire to join the revolutionary cause. Florida’s economy was also closely tied to Britain, as the region’s exports of timber, indigo, and naval stores were valuable to the empire.
A Loyalist Refuge
As the revolution progressed, Florida became a haven for Loyalists—American colonists who remained loyal to King George III. Many fled from the southern colonies, particularly from Georgia and South Carolina, as those regions became engulfed in war. East Florida, in particular, saw an influx of refugees who sought the protection of British rule.
St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in North America, became a key British military outpost and refugee center during the war. The town’s economy swelled with the arrival of Loyalists, and the British military reinforced the city, recognizing its strategic importance in protecting the southern flank of British North America.
West Florida, though farther removed from the main theaters of conflict, also played a significant role. Its control of the lower Mississippi River and Gulf Coast made it a crucial link in British supply lines. Pensacola, its capital, became a vital military outpost and a base for British efforts to maintain control over the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida’s Role in the War
While Florida itself did not see the large-scale battles that raged in the northern colonies, it played a key role as a staging ground for British operations in the South. East Florida became a launchpad for British raids into Georgia and South Carolina, disrupting patriot activities and providing support for Loyalist militias fighting in those areas. British troops, supported by local Loyalist forces and Native American allies, carried out a series of raids along the southern frontier.
The most notable conflict involving East Florida was the 1778 invasion of Georgia. British forces from St. Augustine, under the command of General Augustine Prevost, launched a military campaign into Georgia, eventually capturing Savannah, which became a British stronghold for much of the war.
West Florida, on the other hand, faced external threats from Spain. Spain, which had allied itself with France in 1779, sought to reclaim the territory it had lost to Britain. Under the leadership of Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez, Spanish forces attacked British outposts along the Gulf Coast. After a series of battles, including the significant Siege of Pensacola in 1781, the Spanish succeeded in capturing West Florida, dealing a major blow to British control in the region.
Life in Wartime Florida
For Floridians, life during the Revolution was marked by uncertainty and frequent skirmishes. In East Florida, many Loyalist refugees lived under military protection, while farms and plantations near the Georgia border were vulnerable to raids by both patriot forces and Native American groups aligned with the revolutionaries. The British military presence in St. Augustine grew significantly, with the city serving as a base for both military and intelligence operations.
Local economies, while disrupted by the war, still managed to function due to Florida’s continued ties to British trade. Goods flowed into Florida through British-controlled ports, and many settlers in the region continued to grow crops and trade with the British Empire. However, the constant threat of attacks from patriot forces and Spanish-backed raids made life in Florida perilous, particularly along the contested borders.
The Treaty of Paris and Florida’s Fate
The war ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which recognized the independence of the United States. For Florida, however, the end of the war brought dramatic change. As part of the treaty negotiations, Britain agreed to return Florida to Spain, ending its 20-year rule over the territory.
This transfer of power led to an exodus of British settlers and Loyalist refugees, many of whom fled to other British colonies, such as the Bahamas or Canada. Spain’s control over Florida would last until 1821, when the territory was ceded to the United States.
Florida’s Forgotten Role in the Revolution
While Florida may not have been a battleground for independence, its role as a loyalist stronghold and British military base had a significant impact on the broader war effort. By providing a safe haven for Loyalists and serving as a launching point for British operations in the South, Florida played a crucial, if often overlooked, role in the American Revolution.
Florida’s history during this period reflects the complexities of the war, where loyalty to the Crown, economic interests, and global geopolitics shaped the experiences of those living on the frontier of British North America.
Conclusion
The story of Florida during the American Revolution is one of loyalty to the Crown and strategic importance to the British Empire. As a haven for Loyalists and a base for military operations in the southern colonies, Florida’s unique role in the Revolution offers a fascinating glimpse into a region often left out of the popular narrative. Although it did not join the rebellion, Florida's story is essential to understanding the full picture of this transformative period in American history.
Sources
Cusick, James G. The Other War of 1812: The Patriot War and the American Invasion of Spanish East Florida. University Press of Florida, 2007.
Siebert, Wilbur H. Loyalists in East Florida, 1774 to 1785: The Most Important Documents Pertaining Thereto. 2 vols., Florida State Historical Society, 1929.
Gálvez, Bernardo de. The Siege of Pensacola: A Spanish Victory Over the British in the Gulf of Mexico During the American Revolution. Gulf Coast Historical Society, 1980.
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