Law in East Florida 1783–1821

Using primary sources from the East Florida Papers, this article explores colonial legality in St. Augustine and the Province of East Florida during the second Spanish period from 1783 to 1821. In addition to discussing the promulgation of the Constitution of Cádiz and its effects, the article reaches into legal records dealing with civil and testamentary cases to explore and to describe aspects of private law in this North American Spanish colony. Economic and social relations are revealed in the sources that are rich in legal information concerning slavery, family, religion, trade, and landholding. The article concludes that the sources are worthy of more detailed study that may shed light on these topics and may establish new paths in the historiography of law in North American Spanish colonies.

Colonialism · Constitution · Geography · Historiography · Inheritance (genetic algorithm) · Legal history · Political science · Principle of legality · Promulgation · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Historical Studies in Latin America · Historical Studies on Spain · History · Law