Floridano Civil War
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 Mexico New Netherland |
Template:Country data South Tussenland South Tussenland | ||||||
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The Floridano Civil War (1927–1929) was a civil war in the newly independent nation of Florida, following its successful revolution against Spanish colonial rule. The conflict occurred after social and economic disagreements emerged within the revolutionary movement, splitting the movement into the centralizing forces of the Alliance for National Reconstruction (Spanish: Alianza para la Reconstrucción Nacional, also known as the San Agustin faction) and the rural-focused Floridan Peasant Revolutionary Front (Spanish: Frente Revolucionario Campesino Floridano, also known as the Western Florida Faction).
From 1927 to 1929, there was minimal fighting between the two factions. Tensions escalated in 1929 when the San Agustín faction arrested members of the Western Florida faction, igniting open conflict. The war ended with a San Agustín faction victory.
Background
Florida gained independence from Spain in 1927 after an independence war waged by the Comité de los Campesinos Pobres (Committee of Poor Peasants). The movement was a broad coalition of tenant farmers, urban intellectuals, workers, and rural peasants, all united against the Spanish colonial regime. However, the coalition began to fracture almost immediately after independence was achieved.
The San Agustín-based Alianza para la Reconstrucción Nacional sought to implement large-scale agricultural cooperatives under strict government supervision. In contrast, the Tarragona-based Western Florida faction, Frente Revolucionario Campesino Floridano, vehemently opposed this plan, advocating instead for the redistribution of land to former tenant farmers and protecting their rights to manage their land independently, free from central authority.
There was also a cultural divide between the two factions. Western Florida, with its more rural and diverse population, included a sizeable Afro-Latino, Zoekerist, and Kriool minority. This diversity came from the region's history as part of the Dutch Tussenland colony until 1855.
The war
La fría guerra civil (1927-1928)
The first two years of the civil war was known as La fría guerra civil (English: "The Cold Civil War"), as it saw minimal fighting, with each faction operating their own governments independently. Both sides implemented their versions of land reform and reorganized their militias. The Western Florida faction, based in Tarragona, was led by Afro-Latino intellectual Francisco Salguero, while San Agustín was led by Prudencio Ortelano.
Hotel Azul arrests
By 1929, external pressure from Mexico and other allies forced the factions to attempt a reconciliation. This led to an agreement to hold peace talks at Hotel Vista Azul. On 16 February 1929, delegates from both factions arrived at the hotel, accompanied by their security details. The Western Florida delegation hoped that the talks would lead to a power-sharing arrangement. Unbeknownst to them, the more powerful San Agustín faction, under General Emilio García's orders, had planned to arrest them if the negotiations did not lead to an agreement favorable to San Agustín.
The conference dragged on until the next day, February 17, as the two factions did not come to a consensus on agrarian reform. By evening, General Emilio García's forces surrounded the hotel and stormed the grand ballroom, arresting the leaders of the Western Florida faction. The arrests were over within minutes. The delegates were driven to a nearby military barracks, where they were imprisoned in solitary confinement.
Civil war
News of the Hotel Vista Azul arrests quickly reached Western Florida, where it ignited anger and resistance. Within days, Western Florida militias began mobilizing, and armed hostilities soon erupted. However, Western Floridan militias were overpowered by San Agustin forces, and soon the conflict eventually subsided with the San Agustin faction coming out on top.
With the defeat of the Western Florida militias, the conflict now almost came to a close. In August 1929, even as the low-intensity skirmishes continued, General Garcia's government in San Agustín had begun drafting a new constitution, ostensibly to address the grievances of the Western Florida faction. However, the document, which was ratified on November 15, 1929, offered little more than symbolic concessions. The real power remained firmly in the hands of the San Agustín faction.
International recognition
Several North American nations expressed support for either side. The Republic of Mexico was the largest supporter of the San Agustín faction, while New Netherland also aligned with San Agustín, seeing economic opportunities and the potential to revive agricultural contracts with Florida, inherited from the former Spanish Dominion government. On the other hand, South Tussenland recognized Western Florida as the legitimate government due to their sympathy towards the Zoekerist population. Zoekerists in Virginia also expressed solidarity with Western Florida.
Aftermath
With their victory, the Alianza para la Reconstrucción Nacional dominated Florida throughout the mid-20th century and implemented large scale agricultural cooperatives and agricultural regulation. Florida also resumed exports to New Netherland and opened new trade links with Mexico.
