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Difficulty: MediumMaroon Societies and Flight from Enslavement

Read the following excerpt from a Spanish royal decree issued in 1693:

'...giving liberty to all, both men and women, who should escape from the English colonies and arrive in Florida, on condition of their becoming Catholics...'

Based on the decree and your knowledge of Maroon societies, which of the following best describes the historical significance of the community of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (Fort Mose) established under this policy?

  1. A
    It was founded immediately after the Stono Rebellion by survivors who were escorted to Florida by Spanish naval vessels.
  2. It functioned as a permanent, self-governing maroon-like sanctuary where self-liberated Black militiamen allied with Spain to defend their freedom against British colonial forces.Answer
  3. C
    It served as a site for temporary individual flight, or petit maroonage, where individuals worked seasonally for Spanish wages before returning to English plantations.
  4. D
    It focused primarily on coordinating covert resistance strategies, such as tool-breaking and slowing down labor, within English plantation systems.

Answer

The community of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (Fort Mose) functioned as a permanent, self-governing maroon-like sanctuary where self-liberated Black militiamen allied with Spain to defend their freedom against British colonial forces.
The correct option is correct because the Spanish sanctuary policy of 1693 led directly to the founding of Fort Mose in 1738. Fort Mose was a permanent, self-governing community of self-liberated Black individuals who formed a strategic military alliance with Spanish colonial authorities, serving as a buffer against British forces and defending their collective freedom.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical document to identify the core policy.
The 1693 decree offers freedom and sanctuary to runaways from English colonies in exchange for conversion to Catholicism.
Understanding the colonial context and motives of the Spanish Crown helps clarify the nature of the settlement.
2
Connect the policy to the establishment of Fort Mose.
The influx of runaways led to the founding of Fort Mose in 1738 as a permanent, armed community of free Black settlers.
This shows how the policy resulted in grand maroonage rather than temporary flight.
3
Determine the role and significance of Fort Mose.
Fort Mose acted as a self-governing military outpost where residents actively defended their community and Spanish St. Augustine from British attacks.
This identifies the correct description of the community's historical significance.

Key Concept

Establishment and significance of maroon-like communities (Fort Mose) as a form of overt resistance and sanctuary.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Maroon Societies and Flight from Enslavement

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