Florida also known as the sunshine state and along with New York is the most frequently visited of all the 50 states. It limits with Georgia to the north and with Alabama to the North West and was added to the union as the 27th state in 1845. This beautiful pristine land was known for its balmy climate and natural beauty and was named by Spanish explorer Ponce de León, naming it after the Spanish Easter Celebration known as “Pascua Florida”. We know Florida because it is home to Disney World which happens to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. But what many of us don’t know is the history of this wonderful state and all it has to offer.
Early Exploration and Colonization
Juan Ponce de León arrived in Florida the first time in 1513 more specifically in St. Augustine; apparently he saw future in the land because he returned in 1521 only this time with over 200 people and 50 horses. His efforts for quick colonization were short lived because the natives would not give up their land without and fight. In 1539, another explorer by the name of Hernando de Soto began another expedition in search of gold and silver which eventually brought him and his men to Tallahassee where Soto eventually died finding nothing but the road to Mexico. Spain was not the only European nation that pursued Florida, in 1562 French protestant by the name of Jean Ribault explored the land and two years later his fellow Frenchman René Goulaine established Fort Carolina (present day Jacksonville).
First Spanish Period
When the French wanted to take control of the land, Spain was forced to send more troops over to accelerate their colonization. Pedro Menendez de Avilés raced across the Atlantic with his sights set on deporting the French from Florida. He arrived in 1565 and managed to establish the first permanent European settlement in the United States. He managed to remove the French army and killing all settlers. The Spanish managed to stay in Florida until the late 1600s that the British took control of Georgia and were keen on taking Florida from the Spaniards. In the 1760s the British moved into Florida and traded it to the Spanish for Havana, Cuba.
British Florida and Second Spanish Settlement
The British had huge plans for Florida however the much anticipated American Revolution proved to be the factor that would hinder the British from occupying Florida for very long. The Spanish on the other hand were smarter and became allies with the French (that were on the Colonists side during the war) and when the war ended in 1783 they again occupied Florida and shared it with the newly freed colonists and slaves that ran away from their masters. The Spanish in a way had joint custody but after many U.S paramilitary expeditions into the territory, Spain formally gave up Florida in 1821.
Finally a State
In 1845 after years of Andrew Jackson “evacuating” thousands of Native Americans living in Florida at the time, Florida became the twenty-seventh state. In 1850, only 5 years later, the population of the young state had already grown to more than 87,000 inhabitants including 39,000 African American Slaves and 1,000 freed blacks. The issue with this new state was the white Americans living there did not oppose slavery and they knew that was going to be a problem because the guys in the north did. In the 1860 presidential elections no Floridian voted for Abraham Lincoln and shortly after when South Carolina (the first state to secede from the union) took action, Florida did too. When the civil war ended Florida became a haven for more freed slaves and as a major port for lumber shipments. In time it managed to grow its economy and became home to millions of Cuban immigrants that settled there after the 1900s.
Today Florida is a sanctuary to retirees looking to spend their time in a warm climate that is both tranquil and beautiful. It is also big on tourism welcoming everyone and is big on accessible travel, with most if not all of its major theme parks and attractions being accessible friendly. If you have an accessible relative and wish to visit Disney World or any other attraction the sunshine state has to offer, contact Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals. Wheelers is a company that for over 25 years has set the bar high and are the real pioneers when it comes to accessible travel. Their Florida Wheelchair Van Rental service has been around since day one and it ensures you get a state of the art accessible van for all of your trips. Wheelers also includes services such as free airport pick up and curbside delivery so you can avoid the hassles of a difficult commute.
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