Apr. 13, 2006 - Brief History of Florida

In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon* arrived in Florida. He thought Florida was an island and claimed it for Spain. The king of Spain ordered him to colonize the land. When he tried to do so in 1521, he and his men were attacked by Indians, and Ponce de Leon was wounded by an arrow. With other surivors, he sailed to Cuba, whre he died. The French came to settle in 1564, but were driven out by the Spanish in 1565. For most of the next 200 years, Spain ruled the Florida region. In 1819, Spain gave Florida to the United States. Flordia was admitted to the Union in 1845.

*The "o" in Leon should have an accent.