USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The word they used to describe themselves-Seminole-is derived from a Creek word meaning “separatist” or “runaway.” Because slavery had been abolished in 1693 in Spanish Florida, that territory became a safe haven for runaway slaves.

Detailed explanation-2: -One of the most powerful ways an enslaved person could resist was to run away. Running away carried heavy risks. If runaways were caught, they would be physically punished, usually by whipping, and might be made to wear chains or handcuffs to prevent them from running again.

Detailed explanation-3: -Competition between Spain and Britain made Florida a haven for colonial South Carolina’s fugitive slaves in the 18th century. To destabilize British colonization in the north, Spain encouraged British slaves to escape to Florida, where they could convert to Catholicism and become Spanish citizens.

Detailed explanation-4: -The upshot was that distant Canada became the only truly safe destination for fugitive slaves. Some of those who escaped wrote narratives about their experiences and the difficulties they faced on the journey north.

Detailed explanation-5: -Under Spanish colonial rule, the enslaved in Florida had rights. They could marry, own property, and purchase their own freedom. Free blacks, as long as they were Catholic, were not subject to legal discrimination. No one was born into slavery.