The New History of Florida

by Michael Gannon (Editor)

The New History of Florida, the first comprehensive history of the state to be written in a quarter of a century, is the culmination of the most recent and significant work from a galaxy of specialists. Each of the 22 chapters, which weave together in one continuous narrative, was written especially for this volume. Their authors present here not only political, economic, military, and religious information but also social history and personal experiences. Endnotes and a bibliography are appended to each chapter.  Florida's first inhabitants entered the peninsula and panhandle about 10,000 years ago. The Spaniard Juan Ponce de León stumbled ashore near Melbourne Beach in 1513. He called the place La Florida, the first permanent geographic name of European origin to be etched upon the maps of the American continent. Over three centuries of Spanish and English colonial history followed before the United States acquired Florida in 1821. The first state flag was raised over a new capitol in Tallahassee on May 26, 1845. Written to observe the sesquicentennial of statehood, this work will document the rich history of the Sunshine State for general readers, students, and scholars well into the twenty-first century. Contents
Introduction, by Michael Gannon
Original Inhabitants, by Jerald T. Milanich
First European Contacts, by Michael Gannon
Settlement and Survival, by Eugene Lyon
Republic of Spaniards, Republic of Indians, by Amy Turner Bushnell
The Missions of Spanish Florida, by John H. Hann
Raids, Sieges, and International Wars, by Charles W. Arnade
Pensacola, 1686-1763, by William S. Coker
British Rule in the Floridas, by Robin F. A. Fabel
The Second Spanish Period in the Two Floridas, by William S. Coker and Susan R. Parker
Free and Slave, by Jane Landers
Florida's Seminole and Miccosukee Peoples, by John K. Mahon and Brent R. Weisman
U.S. Territory and State, by Daniel L. Schafer
The Civil War, 1861-1865, by Canter Brown, Jr.
Reconstruction and Renewal, 1865-1877, by Jerrell H. Shofner
Prelude to the New Florida, 1877-1919, by Samuel Proctor
Fortune and The Paradoxical Twenties, by William W. Rogers
The Great Depression, by William W. Rogers
World War II, by Gary R. Mormino
Florida Politics in the Twentieth Century, by David R. Colburn
The African American Experience in Twentieth-Century Florida, by Maxine D. Jones
From Migration to A History of Florida Immigration, by Raymond A. Mohl and George E. Pozzetta
The Big Change in the Sunshine A Social History of Modern Florida, by Raymond A. Mohl and Gary R. Mormino
Michael Gannon, volume editor, is Distinguished Service Professor of History and director of the Institute for Early Contact Period Studies at the University of Florida. He is the author of Rebel Bishop (1964), The Cross in the The Early Catholic Church in Florida, 1513-1870 (UPF, 1965, 1983), Operation Drumbeat (1990), and the novel Secret Missions (1994); as well as the bestselling A Short History (UPF, 1993), which won a Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History.

Genres: History, Essays, American History

492 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 1996

About the author

(1928-April, 10, 2017)

Michael Gannon was a University of Florida history professor who was also a recognized expert on Florida history, particularly from its Spanish colonial founding through the Civil War. He spent most of his career in Florida.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Wendy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history of Florida. Experts write different chapters and you get a thorough understanding of Florida. Some of it is shockingly positive and negative. I learned so much history and how the nation came together as well. All of it was from the view of Florida though. Very good read.

[MBJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

is indeed a comprehensive history of Florida. But there is considerable overlap in the essays which form the basis for this book. I would have preferred a history that culled out some of the duplication. I do, nonetheless, commend the authors and editor for presenting so much information in one volume. The writing is not exciting, but the history is certainly fascinating. I am planning a long stay in Florida and wanted to have some background about its culture, people, and history. This book more than provided all that I was looking for, perhaps a bit too much!

[Clayton Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking the writings of many great historians and putting them together as a history of Florida makes this into an exceptionally well thought out and extremely fascinating read. If you want to know about Florida then this is the book you need to read.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting history of Florida

Interesting additional information about Florida. I would consider this a way to fill in many holes that are in normal histories of Florida

[H-Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history.

[Josh Liller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Consulted for research on a college term paper and a history presentation, plus some reading for general interest since I live in Florida.

This book is a mixed bag. The obvious comparison is to A History of Florida. "New History" is shorter, but spends more time on Florida before it was a part of the United States. This is also an compilation: 22 chapters by 20 different authors. Most of the chapters are chronological, but some cover a specific subject over a longer span of time. It seems like a good collection of contributors as I recognize many names of authors of other books about Florida history, but some are more enjoyable writers than others (as is typical for these kinds of books).

Gannon's and Tebeau's books have difference focus and neither is bad, but neither is a definitive one volume history of the state.

[PMB · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a series of essays on florida's history; each with a different author. the book is a little disjointed, but overall you get a thorough story of florida through the ages. i put it down after reading through the chapter dealing with Reconstruction, but will eventually finish it. one good thing about this book's format - you can't really lose your place. in fact, you'll enjoy this more if you approach each essay as a singular work, rather assume this a more linear history of my home state.

also, with multiple bibliographies from multiple writers, this is a great reference for further reading.

[Tome Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this one at the college book store where I worked as a Dean, the book was required reading in a local history class. I purchased it due to my love of history and found it to be a concise historical record of Florida. Probably why the professor chose it as the required text for their class.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read. Each chapter is short and written by an expert on that aspect of Florida history.

[Darryl Stangry · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a textbook, but still entertaining if you are a serious fan of FL history. Would recommend "Land Remembered" for a reader seeking more of historical fiction.

[Kristofer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florida's always been weird, and I love her.