dec 10, 1810 - Seizing of Baton Rouge

Description:

American settlers in West Florida seized the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge and asked the federal government to annex the captured territory to the United States. President James Madison agreed and began planning to get the rest of Florida as well. This desire for Florida became a motivator for war with Britain, as the Spanish were allies with the British and a war with the latter may provide pretext for taking this territory.