The contribution of Florida to the southern cause during the civil war would appear to have been quite minimal. The least populous state to secede, the military resources it was able to commit were tiny in comparison to that of the other southern states. Florida had no strategically significant waterways, railways or cities. No major battles were fought in the state during the course of the four years of war.
Taking a different perspective, Steven Foulston will argue that, in fact, the importance of Florida during the civil war era was out of all proportion to its population and apparent military insignificance.
Its importance during the secession crisis will be examined, to demonstrate how, had events taken a different turn, and geography been slightly different, perhaps we would now be referring, not to the civil war era as extending from ‘Fort Sumter to Appomattox’ but as one which started at Fort Pickens. Steven will also seek to demonstrate how key aspects of northern and southern war strategy were specifically aimed at controlling events in this, the most southerly of southern states.
Though Steven has only been a member of the Round Table for the last four years, he has long taken an interest in the civil war era. He is an ex-history teacher and a graduate of the London School of Economics with a degree in international history with a particular focus on the twentieth century inter-war period.
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The Venue
The Civil Service Club is situated in Great Scotland Yard, near Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross railway station, Charing Cross Underground Station (Northern and Bakerloo lines), Embankment Underground Station (Circle and District, Northern and Bakerloo lines). Click here for website