November 18th, 2026
Wednesday
INTRODUCTION
The End of A Revolution
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Britain's surrender marked the end of the American Revolutionary War and with it swift change was brought to the North America continent. The 13 Colonies, fresh from winning the war, wanted to be recognized as the United States and establish new boundaries that make up the nation. France and Spain had both allied with the Colonies and hoped to gain new and old territories that they had lost 20 years prior from Britain. Britain, having been stretched in a three way war this entire time, was only seeking peace by any means necessary. This is what led these countries to meet in France to reach a peaceful agreement between all four powers.
While the Treaty of Paris (1783) was being signed with the United States, Britain also signed articles of peace with France and Spain on September 3, 1783. The one being highlighted today is the one with Spain. Below is a small snippet of the article pertaining to Florida:
“His Britannic Majesty likewise cedes and guarantees, in full right, to his Catholic Majesty, East Florida, as also West Florida. His Catholic Majesty agrees that the British inhabitants, or others who may have been subjects of the King of Great Britain in the said countries, may retire in full security and liberty, where they shall think proper, and may sell their estates and remove their effects, as well as their persons, without being restrained in their emigration…” Treaty of Versailles 1783 (With Spain): Translation
In short, Britain was to give East and West Florida back to Spain. Spain would officially take control of the territory three months after the treaty was ratified, but allowed the British settlers 18 months to sell their goods, collect any debt and to move themselves out of Florida entirely with no interference from the Spanish. With this agreement established, Britain officially lost all 15 of its American colonies and Spain went on to regain its strategic and economic asset.
BELL-RINGER:
Vocabulary Prediction
Split a piece of paper into three columns with the first column titled "Vocab", the second column titled "Prediction" and the third column titled "Definition". Write Cedes, Inhabitants, and Emigration into the Vocab column. For the Prediction column, you will quickly read the quoted piece above and write what you think the definitions are are. After a few minutes, you look up the actual definition of the words in the dictionary and write the actual definition into the last column.
TODAY'S LESSON
Changing Hands: Where Will You Go?
Today we celebrate the power of maps! Maps do not just show us where things are, they help us ask questions, solve problems, and explore our world without ever leaving the classroom. This GIS day, we will explore how geography shaped the choices people faced when Spain took control of Florida.​
Explore the Changing Hands: Where Will You Go? StoryMap to learn about the people living in Florida in 1783 and the choices they faced when British rule ended. As you explore, pay attention to the different groups of people, the factors that influenced their choices, and the destinations available to those who left Florida. Use what you learn to think about what your historical character might have chosen to do.​
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FEATURED ACTIVITIES
Mapping Your Route: ArcGIS MapMaker
After looking over the Changing Hands: Where Will You Go? StoryMap, you will choose a destination for your historical figure and map their route from Florida!
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Remember to Think Like A Geographer!
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Who are you?
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What do you need?
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Where could you go?
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What geographic factors matter?
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What route would you take?
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What resources would you need?
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Your map should show where your figure started, where they went, and the route they could have taken.​​
Student Handout: Florida 1783 Historical Decision
A map can show us where someone went, but it cannot tell us why they made that choice. You will complete the Historical Mapping Handout to explain and defend the decision you made for your character.
Use evidence from the StoryMap and what you have learned throughout the week to explain why your destination made sense for your character. You will also consider the geographic factors that might have affected their journey.
Previously on #FLGeoWeek:
Impact of the French and Indian War in Florida
