Western Hemisphere 47
with the United States, where Spain acknowledged that curbing the Seminoles and
other Native American tribes was a Spanish responsibility. How that was to be deter-
mined was vague. The issue was later settled with the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.
The treaty, which became law in 1821 following the exchange of ratifications, aimed
to establish a clearer border between the United States and Spain. In exchange for
ceding all of Florida to the United States (and most of Louisiana), the United States
agreed to acknowledge Spanish claim to everything from modern-day Texas to
California. The border was formally drawn between Spain and United States along the
Sabine River (which now delineates Texas from Louisiana), Red River and Arkansas
River and the 42nd Parallel North.
Coding changes: End Date changed from May 30, 1818.
MID#1566
Dispute Number: 1566
Date(s): May 1850 to July 8, 1850
Participants: 230 Spain/2 United States of America
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: By the 1850s, the United States had developed antipathy toward Spain and
its presence in Latin America. At the mass-level, this elicited some reckless behavior
in the South. Southerners, upset by the balance of power tipping toward the North, saw
Cuba as precious territory for pro-slavery interests. In May 1850, Narciso Lopez—a
Venezuelan-born Spanish general who repeatedly tried to liberate Cuba from Spain—
led a filibustering expedition from New Orleans, including numerous Americans, to
Cuba to launch a raid on Cardenas and Contoy (off Mexico). In this latter raid, Spain
captured approximately 50 Americans who were abandoned by Lopez off Contoy and
made to be tried in the courts. The US Secretary of State, John Clayton, protested
and urged for war, but President Zachary Taylor opted for a diplomatic solution with
Madrid’s representative in Washington. However, the United States did send a war-
ship to the region to underscore the gravity of the situation. On July 8, all but the cap-
tain and two members of his crew were released. The following October, the Queen
of Spain pardoned all three as a gesture of friendship.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from June 1850. End Date changed from Miss-
ing. Outcome changed from Unclear.
MID#1565
Dispute Number: 1565
Date(s): February 28, 1854 to April 8, 1854
Participants: 230 Spain/2 United States of America
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Spanish authorities detained the American merchant ship Black Warrior
at port in Havana, Cuba. The incident occurred amid the backdrop of increasing
Spanish frustration with filibustering expeditions led by American privateers (acting