The current flag of Florida was introduced in 1900, and a few details in the seal were changed on 21st of May in 1985. It shows a white bunting with a red diagonal cross in it and the seal of the state in the centre. The seal shows a sabal palm in a coastal landscape, a rising golden sun, a steamship and a native woman from the Seminole tribe scattering flowers on a lush shore. The flag presents Florida as the land of sunshine, flowers, palm trees, rivers and lakes. The flag is described as the state flag, as if its use were reserved for the state's offices and authorities. In practice, however, its use is not restricted. The design of the flag with the diagonal cross is deliberately reminiscent of the battle flag of the Confederacy of the Southern States (CSA) from the US Civil War (1861–1865). This theory is supported by the timing of the introduction of the design and the fact that the project was driven forward by Governor Francis P. Fleming, who had served in the 2nd Florida Regiment of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Recently, the theory has emerged that the red diagonal cross is intended to recall the flag of Spain as a former colonial power, which used the Burgundian Cross at sea and in the troops. This is rather absurd, as the Spanish-American War had ended just two years earlier, in 1898. It is inconceivable that the enemy's flag should be memorialised as the state symbol of Florida at this time. Florida did not have an official flag until it joined the Confedered States (CSA). The first provisional flag was introduced on the occasion of joining the Confederacy of Southern States in January 1861 and showed the design of the flag of the USA, but with only a single blue star in the blue field in the upper corner. The subsequent model has only been handed down orally and, like the first flag of the southern states, showed three horizontal stripes in red, white and red and a vertical blue stripe on the mast, but with a kind of seal with an allegorical depiction of a tree, ships and weapons. As part of the "Reconstruction", the forced reintegration of the southern states into the USA, a new flag was adopted in 1868 that completely dispensed with the symbols of the CSA. The flag was plain white and featured an early depiction of the seal in the centre, which is still in use today. It was not until 1900 that the affiliation to the CSA was recalled and the flag with the current design was introduced.
1513 · the Spanish navigator Juan Ponce de Leon discovers land on Easter (spanish: Pascua Florida) land and names it Florida
1521 · second trip of the Spanish navigator Juan Ponce de Leon, he founded the colony of "La Florida", later destroyed by the Indians
1528 · the Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez explores the west coast of the peninsula
1539 · the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto debarks on the west coast of the peninsula
1559 · of Spanish explorer Tristan de Luna y Arellano manages for two years a settlement near the today's Pensacola
1562 · the French explorer Jean Ribault explores Florida
1565 · Spain officially takes possession of Florida, later annexed to the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Spain, colonization throughout Florida and the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico (to the Mississippi) by Spain
1568 · the French explorer René Goulaine founds Fort Caroline, today's Jacksonville
1569 · the Spaniards found San Agustín (St. Augustine) and conquer Fort Caroline
17th century · English colonists advance from the north and French colonists from the direction of the Mississippi
1702 · British invasion in northern Florida, execution of all the Indians who are allied with the Spaniards
1719 · the French occupy West Florida, migration of Creek Indians from Georgia and Muskogee Indians, formation of the Seminole tribe
1763 · Spain exchanges Florida with Britain against Havana, the Spanish settlers and the old Florida Indians leave the country almost completely
1767 · West Florida becomes enlarged towards the north
1775–1782 · Independence War of the USA (in alliance with France and Spain) against Great Britain, Spain conqueres West Florida back from Great Britain
1783 · Peace of Paris between Spain and Great Britain, Great Britain cedes Florida to Spain
1795 · Treaty of San Lorenzo, border-treaty between Spain and the United States
23rd of September 1810 · British settlers proclaim the "Free and Independent Republic of West Florida"
27th of October 1810 · the United States declare its responsibility for the Republic of West Florida
10th of December 1810 · the United States annex the Republic of West Florida, affiliated to Louisiana
1813 · the United States annex other parts of Spanish West Florida, affiliated to Mississippi
1817 · alleged attacks by the Seminoles in Georgia (USA)
1817–1818 · Seminole Wars, occupation of whole Florida by the USA
22nd of February 1819 · Adams-Onis Treaty between Spain and the United States, Spain cedes Florida to the USA, the USA give up their claims in Texas
17th of July 1821 · the Spanish sovereignty ends
30th of September 1822 · formation of the Florida Territory
3rd of March 1845 · Florida becomes the 27th State of the USA
10th of January 1861 · Florida announces his resignation from the United States
1861–1865 · civil war: Pensacola, Jacksonville and St. Augustine become occupied in 1862 by troops of the USA
9th of April in 1865 · General Lee surrenders at Appomattox (Virginia) as commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, the other CSA Armies capitulate gradually until July 1865
1865–1877 · "reconstruction", forced return of the CSA states in the USA
25th of June 1868 · reentry of Florida into the USA
The name "Florida" comes from Spanish and means "The Flourishing". Juan Ponce de Leon discovered the land at Easter, and that on Easter Sunday. This holiday is called in Spanish "Pascua Florida," what means "flower feast". He named the country therefore, "Florida".
