Changes

Florida was eventually purchased by the United States in 1819 and became a territory in 1821. Jackson, despite earlier condemnation of his actions, was appointed military governor of Florida. The Seminole tribes continued to be a problem, at least seen by the now emigrating white settlers, in that there was no treaty governing where they could settle. The treaty of Treaty of Moultrie Creek was suppose to give central Florida as an area for Seminole tribes to settle, but tribes were generally unhappy as the United States effectively controlled goods, trade, and provisions needed to settle there. Runaway slaves continued to come to native lands and relations between Seminoles and the US government became worse. Many Seminoles refused relocation and skirmishes broke out between settlers, soldiers, and Seminoles. The conflict that became the Second Seminole War started in 1835-1842 started and became very costly to the United States. Seminoles fought against the United States and now also their Creek allies. The Dade Massacre and other guerilla attacks by the Seminoles proved effective for some time (Figure 12). In 1836, the United States sent General Thomas Jesup to fight the Seminoles. Realizing he could not defeat the Seminoles fighting their guerilla tactics, he decided to attack civilians in their villages and farmlands the Seminoles used for food. This starved and led to the Seminole population to be decimated. Finally, tricking the Seminole chiefs Osceola and Micanopy that Jesup wanted to make a peace treaty with them, Jesup instead captured the chiefs and had them executed, forcing the eventual surrender of the Seminoles. Many Seminoles were then relocated to Oklahoma, with a few remaining behind. Many Seminoles also died trying to reach Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Eventually, the conclusion of the war led to an influx of white settlers.