Pre-European
The geography of the Seminoles and Miccosukee Tribes
They occupied what is today Florida, Georgia and Alabama
They have been inhabitants of this area for about 12,000 years
Collectively the tribes are known as the Maskoki people.
There were as many as 200,000 of these peoples before the coming of the Spaniards.
The Seminoles were classified as being members of the Creeks (misnomer), along with the Miccosukee tribes. This was the classification in the 17th and the 18th centuries by Euroamericans. This is no longer a defensible argument. The confusion results from the tumultuous events of that period.
The introduction of European diseases killed thousands of Natives while warfare took more.
Arrival of the Spaniards
Spaniards arrived on the continent in 1513
La Florida was the name given to modern day Florida by the Spaniards
The Spaniards found many of the Maskoki peoples living in complex societies
These societies consisted of clans
Kinship was passed from mother to child
Leadership passed through the maternal line (matriarch)
Men and women could inherit leadership in this manner
These societies consisted of civic leaders, warriors, shaman (spiritual practitioners), healers, craftsmen, farmers, hunters, law enforcers, and a broad range of other citizens
Complex trade systems that spanned across the Caribbean and from Illinois to Texas.
They belonged to the most complex and sophisticated civilization in American (The Five Civilized Tribes)
Enslavement and extermination of the Maskoki’s
The Spaniards and the Roman Catholic missionaries attempted to convert and subject them
The Maskokis resisted the Spaniards successfully with fierce opposition
The Maskokis prevented the Spaniards from establishing a fort in Florida until 1565
The peoples (Maskoki) who were not subjected ran into the swamps. The Spaniards called them “cimmarones” which means to escape domestication to live a free life
Cimmarones evolved into today’s name of Seminole, which translates to free people
British intervention
The British agitated the clans against each other and the Spaniards to promote discord in the region
The British named the Maskoki peoples as Creeks because some of their villages were beside creeks. Creek means “by the way”
As a result of the Seven years War, the British obtained Florida
Many clans settled in Florida in order to escape torment and death from the Europeans. The British soon called the entire Native residing in Florida as either Creek or Seminoles generically.
Spain recovered Florida back in 1784. She could not afford to protect her citizens in Florida
In 1814 many more Natives moved into Florida because of the freedom from persecution. The Creeks had just waged a devastating war in the North and they moved there to escape the wrath of the US.
US acquisition of Florida
In 1821 the US acquired Florida
More Euroamericans began to displace the Natives from their Home Pages so the Natives moved further into the swamps.
In 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
The Creeks and the Seminoles decided to fight instead of leaving.
For almost a half century the US sent in their finest troops against the Natives. This was known as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Seminole Wars.
The US spent almost $40,000,000 to remove 3000 Seminoles and to kill 1500 more.
About 300 Natives escaped to the swamps where the Army would not follow. The US could not defeat these brave individuals so the US declared the war over.
The Seminoles were safe for the next 50 years until the Florida Boom of the 1920’s
The Florida boom was an economic assault and not a military type. The Seminoles were able to deal with this problem successfully.
Around 1957 the Florida Seminoles were recognized as a sovereign nation
The Seminoles of Florida are very successful today because of their government and in their economic enterprises.
They have one of the most successful gaming operations in the nation.
The Seminole Nation has entered the Avionics Industry with the construction of aircraft at their plant in Florida
They control water rights on their lands. The regulations are at the federal standard
The Seminole people enjoy a very good relationship with the state of Florida as well as the citizens of Florida
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