White American settlers in the Mississippi Territory and many politicians in the Federal government, including former Pres. Thomas Jefferson and current Pres. James Madison, saw Spanish-owned Florida as a prize for the taking. Judge Harry Toulmin stoked popular interest in the acquisition on November 19, ruling in the case United States v. Schooner Maria “that the town of Mobile and all the territory lying east of the Pearl River, west of the Perdido and south of the thirty-first degree of latitude, has been since the 14th of May last (1812) a part of the U. States.” American claims to legal title to these lands tarred the once-promising US-Spanish alliance, leaving Spain to decide whether to stand and fight or relinquish control of these lands.
In the fall of 1812, America needed allies for the continuing war with Great Britain. Spain would have proved a worthy confederate, if not for the recent diplomatic and territorial disputes with the United States. During America’s first war with Great Britain, Spanish aid was so important towards gaining independence that George Washington repeatedly wrote to King Carlos III after the war to thank him. As war with Britain loomed again, however, most Americans held out little hope for a similar alliance. American and Spanish interests had parted company in the years since Washington’s correspondence because of growing American appetites for pieces of Spain’s declining New World empire. Indeed, the United States and Spain squabbled ceaselessly after the Louisiana Purchase over whether the new acquisition included the territory east from the Mississippi River and along the Gulf Coast to the Perdido River. Though the American Congress issued proclamation after proclamation concerning land claims in the disputed territory, Spain continued to rule the region. The diplomatic situation deteriorated further in 1810 when James Madison took advantage of a rebellion in West Florida and the Mobile Bay to declare the territory as part of the United States. “The Spanish authority was subverted, and a situation produced exposing the country to ulterior events which might essentially affect the rights and welfare of the Union,” Madison vaguely explained at the time, “in such a conjuncture I did not delay the interposition required for the occupancy of the territory west of the river Perdido, to which the title of the United States extends, and to which the laws provided for the Territory of Orleans are applicable.” In 1810 Spanish authorities waved off these claims and continued to rule much of this territory. With American troops moving towards Mobile, Spain could no longer shrug off American provocation.
White American settlers in the Mississippi Territory and many politicians in the Federal government, including former Pres. Thomas Jefferson and current Pres. James Madison, saw Spanish-owned Florida as a prize for the taking. Judge Harry Toulmin stoked popular interest in the acquisition on November 19, ruling in the case United States v. Schooner Maria “that the town of Mobile and all the territory lying east of the Pearl River, west of the Perdido and south of the thirty-first degree of latitude, has been since the 14th of May last (1812) a part of the U. States.” American claims to legal title to these lands tarred the once-promising US-Spanish alliance, leaving Spain to decide whether to stand and fight or relinquish control of these lands. Comments are closed.
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Becoming Alabama:
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