PallasFlorida Becomes a United States Territory 3rd grade · age 8
By Simit Patel · published October 25, 2026
In his order to his soldiers after capturing Pensacola, why did General Andrew Jackson believe he and his army had done the right thing by marching into Spanish Florida?
The source
Head Quarters, Division of the South (General Jackson's order to his soldiers after taking Pensacola)
About this document
As the reading described, Spain was too weak to protect Florida. American leaders wanted to take control of the land and break up the alliance between the Seminole Indians and runaway slaves. In 1817, the United States sent General Andrew Jackson and his soldiers into Spanish Florida. Jackson's army burned Seminole towns, fought battles, and captured Spanish forts. This included the fort at Pensacola, an important Spanish town in West Florida.
On May 27, 1818, right after taking Pensacola, Jackson wrote an order to his soldiers. The order was later printed in a newspaper in Lexington, Kentucky, so people across the country could read it. In the order, Jackson praised his soldiers for their hard work and bravery. He also explained why he believed it had been necessary to march into Pensacola and take the Spanish fort.
FELLOW SOLDIERS— You were called in the field, to punish savages and negroes, who had in a sanguinary manner, used the tomahawk and scalping knife.
[H]ow great was the disappointment, when he heard of the recent murders committed on the Alabama, by a party of the enemy from Pensacola, where they were furnished with provisions and ammunition by a friendly power.
[Y]ou were marched here under difficulties which you alone can properly appreciate, meeting on the way the protest of the governor of West Florida, threatening to employ force, if we did not immediately evacuate the country. This new and unexpected enemy, has been taught to feel the impotence of his threats.
Glossary
- sanguinary adj.
- bloody, violent (excerpt 1)
- provisions n.
- supplies of food (excerpt 2)
- evacuate v.
- leave, get out of (excerpt 3)
- impotence n.
- weakness, inability to do anything (excerpt 3)
Gen. Andrew Jackson, by order, Robert Butler, Adjutant General. “Head Quarters, Division of the South (General Jackson's order to his soldiers after taking Pensacola).” Lexington Weekly Press, 1818-05-27, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1183230366/#lwp-1818-06-24-p3-jackson-pensacola-order. (subscription)
Your turn
Setting the scene
What has happened in our unit story by the time this document was created?
What does it say?
In paragraph one, what does Jackson say his soldiers were called to do?
In paragraph two, what does Jackson say happened in Alabama, and who does he say helped the enemy?
In paragraph three, what did the Spanish governor tell Jackson's soldiers to do, and what does Jackson say happened to that warning?
What does it mean?
In paragraph one, Jackson calls Native Americans 'savages' and talks about the 'tomahawk and scalping knife.' Why do you think he chose such scary words — who is he trying to make feel that the invasion was the right thing to do?
In paragraph two, Jackson calls Spain a 'friendly power' but then says Spain gave food and weapons to the enemy. Why do you think he describes Spain this way — what is he trying to get his audience to believe about whose fault the invasion was?
What did the author assume?
Which assumption about punishing enemies in Spanish Florida do you think General Jackson would agree with?
A. If enemies attack Americans from Spanish land, the United States has the right to go into that land and punish them, even without Spain's permission.
B. The United States should only send soldiers into another country's land if that country says it is okay.
Which assumption about Spain do you think General Jackson would agree with?
A. Spain was too weak to control what happened in Florida, so it did not really deserve to be in charge there.
B. Spain was a strong country that was properly in charge of Florida and had every right to tell the U.S. Army to leave.
Write your answer
Use General Jackson's order to his soldiers after taking Pensacola to answer our question: In his order to his soldiers after capturing Pensacola, why did General Andrew Jackson believe he and his army had done the right thing by marching into Spanish Florida?
From Florida Becomes a United States Territory, a 3rd grade history lesson on Pallas.