I'd like to recognize all 15 American colonies on this Independence Day. [View all]

[CaptainTruth]

15? Yes, 13 British, plus the 2 Spanish colonies of East Florida & West Florida, which seem to be almost always forgotten in American history, at least in the US.

This is a map of the Spanish territory of La Florida, made in 1584, when the entire southeast US was claimed by Spain, 36 years before the British arrived & 192 years (yes 192 years) before 1776. I'm not sure about y'all, but as an American, I wasn't taught about this in school. Incidentally, Spain established the town of St Augustine in what became the colony of East Florida in 1565, 55 years before the British pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The Spanish settlement of St Augustine is the oldest continuously-occupied settlement in the US. I encourage a visit there if you can, it is rich with history. And believe it or not, back in that era Florida was friendly to former slaves, & protected them. There's a LOT of history there to be learned.

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This second map shows details of the Spanish colonies of East Florida & West Florida, & how they evolved from 1763 to 1784. East Florida & West Florida were the 14th & 15th American colonies that seem to have been largely forgotten in American history.

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