Name ______________________________ Core _________ Date ________________________
Celebrating St. Augustine
Unlike the Jamestown settlers, who arrived in the New World
to make money off the land, the St. Augustine arrivals
established their settlement for military purposes.
"They didn't come here to settle Florida. They didn't come
here to mine its riches. They didn't come here to colonize.
They came here to set up a military base that would prevent
their enemies from establishing a position from which they
could menace the treasure ships of Spain off the coast," said
Bill Adams, St. Augustine's director of Historic Preservation
and Heritage Tourism.
Jamestown, Virginia, received a lot of attention as it
Enemies seemed to be everywhere. St. Augustine's early
celebrated the 400th anniversary of its founding, but St.
settlers had to defend against French and British attacks,
Augustine, Florida, passed that milestone over four decades
sometimes hostile Native Americans, mosquitoes, disease,
ago. Originally a Spanish settlement, St. Augustine is the
pirates, and hurricanes. In 1672, to protect St. Augustine from
oldest city in the nation, and officials there say it's time for it
the British, the Spanish built a fort called the Castillo de San
to get the recognition it deserves.
Marcos.
St. Augustine marked its 442nd birthday from August 28
The Spanish did not completely isolate themselves,
to September 1. The celebration included historical re-
however. In 1738, they established Fort Mose, a community
enactments, entertainment, and a Thanksgiving feast. The
of ex-slaves about two miles north of the Castillo. It was the
Spaniards of St. Augustine and the Timucuan Native
first free-black community in what is now the United States.
Americans—not the English Pilgrims of Massachusetts—
About 100 men, women, and children lived in the settlement.
celebrated the first Thanksgiving in the New World. The
Most had been enslaved by the British and were given their
Pilgrims' feast took place in 1621; the St. Augustine feast took
freedom if they were able to escape and make their way to
place in September of 1565. Most Americans don't know
the Spanish territory. To live there, they had to serve in the
about the St. Augustine Thanksgiving. In fact, most Americans
Spanish militia and convert to Roman Catholicism.
are unaware of the history of St. Augustine.
St. Augustine was founded on September 8, 1565, by
St. Augustine was also the site of the first European birth
in the New World. The child, Martin de Arguelles, was born in
Spaniard Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his expedition of 500
either 1566 or 1567. Most Americans know about Virginia
soldiers, 200 sailors, and 100 farmers and craftsmen. Some
Dare, a child of English settlers who was born in North
brought their wives and children. The first schools, hospitals,
Carolina in 1587, but Martin de Arguelles is largely unknown.
and banks in what is now the United States were built in St.
Historians tend to compare St. Augustine with Jamestown,
Augustine.
since each was the first North American settlement for a
European country. St. Augustine experts, however, set their
city apart for an important reason—unlike Jamestown, which
is now a reconstruction for tourists, St. Augustine still exists as culture in North America," Adams pointed out. Historians
a real city, and people still live there.
"We are a living city," said former Mayor George Gardner.
have tended to "write the Spanish out of their history books
or diminish their contributions," he explained.
"This is the oldest town plan in the United States. It still exists. William Kelso, director of archaeology at Historic Jamestowne,
It is still intact. There are 36 buildings dating back to colonial
said he understands the importance of St. Augustine. He
times and 40 that were reconstructed for the city's 400th
attended the city's 400th birthday celebration in 1965.
birthday." Bill Adams says he believes that Americans should
"St. Augustine is an untold story, almost like Jamestown,"
know about and celebrate St. Augustine's contribution to
Kelso said. "All the colonies have something to add to the
history.
creation story of modern America."
"St. Augustine is not only the birthplace of European
culture and settlement in the United States, but of Spanish
Dictionary
isolate (verb) to separate from someone or something
milestone (noun) an important or significant event
re-enactment (noun) a recreation of an event that already occurred
Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the choice the best completes the statement. (2 points each)
1. Which of these happened after St. Augustine, Florida,
celebrated its 400th anniversary?
A. St. Augustine, Florida, built its first hospital.
B.
C.
St. Augustine, Florida, built fort Castillo de San
4. Based on information in the article, how is St. Augustine
different from Jamestown?
A. St. Augustine's settlers did not talk to the Native
Americans.
Marcos.
B. St. Augustine was destroyed and then rebuilt.
Jamestown, Virginia, had its first Thanksgiving
C. St. Augustine's history is well known by most
feast.
D. Jamestown, Virginia, had its 400th anniversary.
2. What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A. St. Augustine attracts many visitors who learn
Americans.
D. St. Augustine is still a living city with residents.
5. Which is the closest antonym for the word convert?
A. Falter
about its history and feel that its past is very
B. Lure
similar to that of Jamestown.
C. Overcome
B. St. Augustine had a huge 442nd to celebrate the
founding of the settlement for financial reasons.
C. St. Augustine celebrated its 442nd anniversary, but
many are unaware that it was the site of the first
Thanksgiving feast.
D. Maintain
6. The news article says all of the following except
__________.
A. St. Augustine was destroyed by the British and
then rebuilt by the Spanish.
D. St. Augustine was home to the Timucuan Native
B. St. Augustine was the site of the first banks,
Americans and to about 800 Spanish in 1621.
hospitals, and schools of the New World.
3. According to the article, why did Spain send Pedro
Menendez de Aviles to establish a settlement in St.
Augustine?
A. To set up businesses in the New World since
Spain's economy was poor
B. To prevent other countries from harming the
Native Americans there
C. To prevent enemies from being able to attack
Spain's treasure ships
D. To set up schools for Spanish children in the New
World
C. St. Augustine had a military fort called the Castillo
de San Marcos, built in 1672.
D. St. Augustine had many ships coming to it from
Spain carrying treasures.
7. The article states: Enemies seemed to be everywhere.
St. Augustine's early settlers had to defend against French
and British attacks, sometimes hostile Native Americans,
mosquitoes, disease, pirates, and hurricanes. Which
would be the closest synonym for the word hostile?
A. Unstable
B. Humane
C. Massive
D. Unfriendly
8. Which of these is a statement of opinion?
A. St. Augustine, Florida, has a more interesting past
than Jamestown.
B. The Spanish settlers of St. Augustine were mostly
soldiers, sailors, farmers, and craftsmen.
C. The Spanish settlers of St. Augustine sometimes
fought with the Native Americans who lived there.
D. St. Augustine, Florida, is an older American city
than Jamestown.
Thought Question: Suppose that you could help plan the next anniversary celebration for St. Augustine.
What events or displays would you plan? What historic information would you include? Support your answer with
details from the article, as well as ideas of your own. Write your answer in the box below. (5 points)