Seminole

The Seminole tribe is a Native American Indian tribe that now is based in Oklahoma. The tribe began in the 1750s as refugee Creeks and other Indians moved from Georgia into Florida, where they destroyed the original Florida tribes. The Seminoles adopted many runaway black slaves. The name Seminole is a Creek word, borrowed from the Spanish "cimarrón", meaning a runaway, or a savage.

The Seminoles were one of the Five Civilized Tribes who adapted to American standards of technology and economics. But Florida was owned by Spain, which exercised little control and allowed it to become a refuge for runamaways. In 1817 U.S. General Andrew Jackson invaded Florida to stop Seminoles from aiding and providing refuge for the Creeks who were raiding American settlers of Georgia. In this first Seminole war many Seminole settlements were burned and the raids ended. Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1819, and the Seminoles agreed to stay on new reservations.

In 1832 the Seminoles agreed to be removed to "Indian territory" (now Oklahoma), but before the move was completed a group led by a warrior named Osceola revolted in 1835. Osceola was captured, but the second Seminole war continued until 1842. At the end, most of the remaining Seminoles went to Oklahoma, but a minority held out in the Florida swamps for years.

Today there are about 3,000 Seminoles in Oklahoma, mostly living as farmers. There are 700 or so Seminoles in Florida.

Further reading

• Field, Ron, and Richard Hook. The Seminole Wars 1818-58 (2009)