The book features accounts of many historical figures on the Native American, Free African-American, US, Spanish and British sides. During the course of the work I will offer opinions on many of these figures. However, one person looms largest over this entire narrative – Andrew Jackson.

In my own lifetime (I turn 50 later this year) I have seen a discernible shift in the reputation of Jackson. From the hero of American valor in my childhood to now a thoroughly discredited figure in most recent historical accounts.  Yet an inspiration for many contemporary political figures Jackson remains one of the most polarizing figures in the history of our nation. In terms of this work, his actions in effectively seizing Florida must be viewed as rogue if not illegal. 

Jackson’s pretexts were laid out in the following quote:

“British influence (in Florida) must be destroyed or we will have the whole tribe of Indians to fight and slave insurrectionists to quell in the southern states.”

In order to make a union safe for slavery and subjugation of the natives, British influence needed to be eliminated from Florida- this was Jackson’s guiding premise throughout this period. It’s important to understand, as I stated in my previous work, Florida and The American Revolution, that Britain, despite ceding control of Florida in the 1780’s never stopped influencing either  the native population nor runaway slaves during the 1784-1821 period.