The United States government opened the Florida frontier to settlers at the close of the Second Seminole War. The Armed Occupation Act of 1842 gave 160 acres of land for free to men who were at least 18 years old, had firearms or cannons, and promised to stay on the land for five years. The hope was that these armed <a href="https://www.townchronicle.com/articles/worth-the-trip/south-floridas-last-plantation-house-has-endured-wars-hurricanes-and-history/">[…]</a>