Florida Timeline By h3ct0r1t0 Oct 16, 1513 Ponce de Leon (Spanish Explorer) lands in Florida, and names the land "La Florida" Oct 16, 1521 Ponce de Leon returns with 200 men, he tries to colonize, but fails because of attacks by the natives. Oct 16, 1539 Hernando de Soto and his men went to Florida to search for precious metals. Oct 16, 1542 Hernando de Soto died, the surviving men from his crew reached Mexico. They never found any precius metals. Oct 16, 1559 Tristan de Luna tried to colonize Florida, but as the men before them, he failed. The colony was abandoned after 2 years Oct 16, 1562 Rene Goulaine de Laudonniere (French) and his men established a fort in the mouth of present-day Jacksonville. The fort was named "Fort Caroline" Oct 16, 1565 Pedro Menendez (Spanish) established a Fort called San Augustin, and conquered Fort Caroline. He renamed Fort Caroline to: San Mateo. Oct 16, 1586 1586 – Sir Francis Drake (English), looted and burned St. Augustine. Oct 16, 1607 The English established their colonies at the north of Jamestown (later known as Virginia). Oct 16, 1702 The Carolinas and the Creeks (Indians) attacked Spanish Florida, and destroyed the town St. Augustine. Oct 16, 1719 The French captured the town Pensacola. Oct 16, 1733 England founded the colony of Georgia. Oct 16, 1740 Georgia attacks Spanish forts in Florida. Oct 16, 1763 – Spain trades all of their forts in Florida, in exchange of Havana and Cuba with Britain. Oct 16, 1784 Spain regains control of Florida. Oct 16, 1821 Florida gets filled with Americans, and Spain gives the territory to the United States. Oct 16, 1824 Tallahassee becomes the capital of Florida. Oct 16, 1835 Seminole war begins Oct 16, 1842 Seminole war ends Oct 16, 1845 Florida became the 27th state of the United States. Oct 16, 1861 – Florida joined other southern states to form the Confederate States of America Oct 16, 1868 he federal government starts the reconstruction program in Florida, and other southern states. Oct 17, 1898 The Spanish-American War began. Oct 17, 1920 Women gain the right to vote Oct 17, 1926 Florida´s economy burst. Oct 17, 1928 Severe hurricanes swept the state. Oct 17, 1929 The Great Depression began Oct 17, 1929 The Mediterranean fruit fly started an epidemic Oct 16, 1944 African-americans gain the right to vote