The first French settlement in what was then Florida but is now South Carolina took place in 1862. But the colony was soon abandoned while religious strife back home engulfed some of our key figures.

We discuss the religious strife that dominated 16th Century Europe as well as France's pragmatic diplomatic and foreign policy of the era- despite being a Kingdom dominated by the Catholic Church hierarchy, tension with Spain often led to pragmatism and alliances with Protestants and Muslims on the continent.

This world view also contributed to France's colonial policies in the New World setting up its interest in Florida.

We're going to do a few episodes on colonial interactions between France and Florida centering around Fort Caroline and Pensacola.

It can be argued the French interactions in Florida between 1562 and 1565 was the stimulus for so much of what happened in North American History after.

Kartik Krishnaiyer describes his new book on the Canada-USA relationship and gives an update on the podcast and what he and Robert are working on outside the podcast.

Link to buy the new book.

We discuss the British leaving East Florida between 1784 and 1785 and how the British kept their hands in the pie of Florida for the decades following 1785.

We discuss the peace treaties between Britain and Spain on one hand and Britain and the US on the other. Ceding East Florida to Spain seemed simple enough but was part of a deeper calculation by the crown to continue to cause problems for the newly independent United States.

The Spanish (with French assistance) complete the conquest of West Florida by sieging and capturing British-held Pensacola, in a decisive battle in the American Revolutionary War .

The last naval battle of the American Revolution took place off the coast of Merritt Island in March 1783. It was an American victory.

Led by St Augustine resident Andrew Deveaux Loyalists restore the Bahamas to British rule in April 1783.

This would factor into the narrative about East Florida's future.

We discuss the refugee influx to East Florida and the Shipwrecks involving loyalists fleeing to St Augustine in the 1782-83 time period.