PART III

The Revolutionary War

AS THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR spread south and west on the continent and drew in other European kings, it was time for the people of the Gulf Coast to decide where their allegiances lay. As people chose whether to fight and for whom, they considered which side could best forward their own prosperity without impinging too much on their independence. British and Spanish leaders needed to persuade not only allies but also their own people to take up arms.

The empires’ needs put power in the hands of the Gulf Coast’s people. Those who were not firmly in either camp required those who wanted their help to persuade them that it was in their interest. And, of course, anyone who committed to one side or the other also risked becoming dependent on its fate.