Today in Black History: 1994 Fort Mose Historic State Park was designated a National Historic Landmark. Originally known as Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, Fort Mose was the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in what would become the United States. The site is located two miles east of what is today St. Augustine, Florida. In 1693, the Spanish government proclaimed that enslaved Black people in the British colonies could find freedom in Florida in exchange for converting to the Catholic religion and four years of service to the government. Previously enslaved people were recognized as free and placed into service at the fort. After East Florida was ceded to the British in 1763, many of the Black inhabitants migrated to Cuba.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:42:36 +0000
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