Today marks the bicentennial of the little known "West Florida (Louisiana) Republic/
The WHAT you say? Wasn't Louisiana always under French rule before the Louisiana Purchase?
Wrong my friends! Louisiana was actually part of the West Florida Spanish controlled area from 1783 until 1810, when the revolt produced the West Florida (Louisiana) Republic!
Read on for a compiled excerpt from the Southeastern University website, a Yahoo AP article, and Wikipedia:
""It is the most dramatic event in Louisiana history that has been so little recognized," said Sam Hyde, director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University. "We have been lost to all the Cajuns and the debauchery of New Orleans, but it is a unique event that had a lasting effect on this area and others."
"They were English speaking people, several were Tories, and they were sick of Spain," Tucker said of the rebels. "You had to be Catholic (under the Spanish), they had no rights, no vote. They were planning to join the United States from when they started their secret meetings in 1805," said archivist Betty Tucker."
In fact, my Dad's maternal, maternal line, moved to the Florida Parishes area above Lake Ponchartrain in 1809. While it's not documented, family lore says some of the boys may have been involved, as they had a family history of fighting for independence, having fought in the war of 1776!
""In the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 1810, 75 armed rebels slipped into the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge, and in what was described as a "sharp and bloody firefight," subdued the garrison. They lowered the Spanish flag and raised the Bonnie Blue Flag — a single white star on a blue field — that had been adopted for the new nation they called West Florida.The flag was created by Melissa Johnson, wife of Major Isaac Johnson, commander of the West Florida Dragoons.
Three days later the rebels signed a declaration of independence, and set up a government for the new nation, that historians say included about 4,000 people. Historians generally agree the republic included 8 Louisiana parishes still known as the Florida Parishes (East Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany and Washington), and those completed what became the state of Louisiana in 1812." We are PROUD to call the Florida Parishes HOME!
"The rebels had also originally claimed all Spanish territory extending east through Mississippi to the Perdido River, which separates Alabama and Florida. But their ambitious attempt to seize Mobile, Ala., failed, and Hyde said people living in those areas outside of Louisiana never actively rebelled."
You can see on the map above the Republic covered a good amount of area!
"West Florida's residents were mostly farmers and tradesmen of Scottish and English descent. Its leaders dealt harshly with opponents to either independence or U.S. annexation. "It was pretty violent," Hyde said. "In one case a man was burned alive."
West Florida achieved its goal — annexation by the United States — 74 days after independence.
The republic was one of three nations that joined with the United States, as it expanded west during the 19th century. The others were the republics of Texas and California.
Decades later, during the Civil War, the Bonnie Blue Flag became an unofficial banner of the Confederacy, inspiring the song "The Bonnie Blue Flag," which was often sung by Southern troops.
Tucker said the revolution quickly faded from the state's memory. "Most people think this was all part of the Louisiana Purchase," Hyde said. But the facts say otherwise. "When the United States made the purchase in 1803, it was for French Louisiana and the Isle of Orleans (aka New Orleans). Areas north of Lake Pontchartrain and east of the Mississippi River — which include West Florida — had been Spanish, and were NOT included! "
So there you have it! The Louisiana republic still stands as the 8 Parishes STILL refer to themselves as the Florida Parishes and band together frequently for historical and current activities.
The WHAT you say? Wasn't Louisiana always under French rule before the Louisiana Purchase?
Wrong my friends! Louisiana was actually part of the West Florida Spanish controlled area from 1783 until 1810, when the revolt produced the West Florida (Louisiana) Republic!
Read on for a compiled excerpt from the Southeastern University website, a Yahoo AP article, and Wikipedia:
""It is the most dramatic event in Louisiana history that has been so little recognized," said Sam Hyde, director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University. "We have been lost to all the Cajuns and the debauchery of New Orleans, but it is a unique event that had a lasting effect on this area and others."
"They were English speaking people, several were Tories, and they were sick of Spain," Tucker said of the rebels. "You had to be Catholic (under the Spanish), they had no rights, no vote. They were planning to join the United States from when they started their secret meetings in 1805," said archivist Betty Tucker."
In fact, my Dad's maternal, maternal line, moved to the Florida Parishes area above Lake Ponchartrain in 1809. While it's not documented, family lore says some of the boys may have been involved, as they had a family history of fighting for independence, having fought in the war of 1776!
""In the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 1810, 75 armed rebels slipped into the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge, and in what was described as a "sharp and bloody firefight," subdued the garrison. They lowered the Spanish flag and raised the Bonnie Blue Flag — a single white star on a blue field — that had been adopted for the new nation they called West Florida.The flag was created by Melissa Johnson, wife of Major Isaac Johnson, commander of the West Florida Dragoons. Three days later the rebels signed a declaration of independence, and set up a government for the new nation, that historians say included about 4,000 people. Historians generally agree the republic included 8 Louisiana parishes still known as the Florida Parishes (East Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany and Washington), and those completed what became the state of Louisiana in 1812." We are PROUD to call the Florida Parishes HOME!
You can see on the map above the Republic covered a good amount of area!
"West Florida's residents were mostly farmers and tradesmen of Scottish and English descent. Its leaders dealt harshly with opponents to either independence or U.S. annexation. "It was pretty violent," Hyde said. "In one case a man was burned alive."
West Florida achieved its goal — annexation by the United States — 74 days after independence.
The republic was one of three nations that joined with the United States, as it expanded west during the 19th century. The others were the republics of Texas and California.
Decades later, during the Civil War, the Bonnie Blue Flag became an unofficial banner of the Confederacy, inspiring the song "The Bonnie Blue Flag," which was often sung by Southern troops.
Tucker said the revolution quickly faded from the state's memory. "Most people think this was all part of the Louisiana Purchase," Hyde said. But the facts say otherwise. "When the United States made the purchase in 1803, it was for French Louisiana and the Isle of Orleans (aka New Orleans). Areas north of Lake Pontchartrain and east of the Mississippi River — which include West Florida — had been Spanish, and were NOT included! "
So there you have it! The Louisiana republic still stands as the 8 Parishes STILL refer to themselves as the Florida Parishes and band together frequently for historical and current activities.
"We are a band of brothers and native to the soil
Fighting for our Liberty, With treasure, blood and toil
And when our rights were threatened, the cry rose near and far
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!"
Fighting for our Liberty, With treasure, blood and toil
And when our rights were threatened, the cry rose near and far
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!"
Thanks to Wikipedia for the excellent map and flag pictures!
