Florida event leading up to becoming part of the US
One of the significant events leading up to Florida becoming part of the United States was the Adams-Onís Treaty (also known as the Transcontinental Treaty) of 1819. This treaty was negotiated between the United States and Spain and resolved territorial disputes between the two countries.
Prior to the treaty, Florida was under Spanish control, and the area was often used as a base for Seminole Indians and escaped slaves who conducted raids on American settlements. These incursions, known as the Seminole Wars, created tensions between the United States and Spain.
To address these issues, the Adams-Onís Treaty was signed on February 22, 1819. Under the terms of the treaty, Spain ceded Florida to the United States, and in return, the United States renounced any claims it had on Texas. The treaty also established the western boundary of the United States as the Sabine River, setting the stage for American expansion westward.
Florida officially became a U.S. territory on July 17, 1821, when the Spanish flag was lowered and the American flag was raised in St. Augustine, the capital at the time. This marked the beginning of Florida's journey to statehood, which it achieved on March 3, 1845.