1584 map of spanish la florida 2

Africans in Colonial Florida

By sorasword
  • Jan 22, 1510

    Spanish settlers bring African slaves to the New World

    Spanish settlers bring African slaves to the New World
  • Apr 2, 1513

    Ponce de Leon: Exploration of La Florida

    Ponce de Leon: Exploration of La Florida
    Free Adricans Juan Garrido and Juan Gonzalez de Leon accompany Ponce de Leon in his exploration of La Florida
  • Nov 15, 1526

    First enslaved Africans brought to North America

    First enslaved Africans brought to North America
    First enslaved Africans brought to North America by Lucas Vazquez de Allyon expedition; established settlement of San Miguel de Gualdape in present-day Georgia; this is the first European settlement in the geographic United States.
  • Nov 15, 1528

    Panfilo Naraves attempts to settle area near Tampa Bay

    Panfilo Naraves attempts to settle area near Tampa Bay
    Panfilo Naraves attempts to settle area near Tampa Bay with 600 people, including slaves. Lack of supplies and hurricanes doom venture.
  • Nov 15, 1536

    Four Surivors

    Four survivers of the doomed Tampa Bay settlement end up in Mexico City after walking through wilderness for eight years. Estevanico, an African slave, ensures their survival by learning to communicate with native along the way.
  • Nov 18, 1539

    Hernandez de Sota explores Florida

    Hernandez de Sota explores Florida
    Hernandez de Sota explores Florisa and much of the present-day southeasters United States with the aid of free and enslaved Africans.
  • Nov 18, 1565

    St Augustine is Established

    St Augustine is Established
    St Augustine, the oldest permanent city in the USA, established by Spain. It is home to over 600 people, including 50 African slaves. Some of these slaves immediately escape into the surrounding wilderness.

  • Spanish Government grants freedom to all runaway slaves under one condition:

    Spanish Government grants freedom to all runaway slaves under one condition:
    Spanish government in Florida grants freedon to all runaway slaves from English colonies to the north if slaves agree to convert to Roman Catholicism
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    Slaves Escape to Florida

    Hundreds of slaves from Georgia and the Carolinas escape to Florida as a result of Spanish government's decision.

  • Francisco Menendez

    Francisco Menendez
    Francisco Menendez, an escaped slave from the Carolinas, agrees to help defend Florida from the British in exchange for freedom, Establishes Fort Mose, the first free black settlement in the present-day USA, two miles north of St. Augustine.

  • English invaders capture Fort Mose

    English invaders capture Fort Mose
    English invaders capture Fort Mose; blacks and Spaniards recapture it a few

  • Spain trades Florida to England

    Spain trades Florida to England in exchange for Havana, Cuba, which Spain had lost during the Seven Year's War; as a result, large rice and indigo plantations pop up along the St. John's River in East Florida; thousands of slaves are imported from Africa or brought south from other colonies.

  • Spain Trades Florida to England

    Spain Trades Florida to England
    Spain trades Florida to England in exchange for Havana, Cuba, which Spain had lost during the Seven Year's War; as a result, large rice and indigo plantations pop up along the St. John's River in East Florida; thousands of slaves are imported from Africa or brought south from other colonies.