Confederate settlements in British Honduras
Encyclopedia
The Confederate Settlements in British Honduras are a cultural and ethnic sub-group in Belize
, formerly known as the colony of British Honduras
. They are the descendants of Confederates
who fled to British Honduras with their families during and after the American Civil War
.
As the American Civil War erupted, colonial leaders saw an opportunity to profit from the sale of arms and weapons to the Confederate States. Soon a profitable trade in arms to Americans boosted the colonial economy and British Honduras became sympathetic to the Confederate cause. The colonial governor and other officials were also interested in recruiting American Southerners who were knowledgeable in cotton
and sugar
. Confederate immigrants were offered substantial subsidies and tax breaks. General Robert E. Lee
and former Mississippi Governor John J. McRae
advised Southerners not to flee to Central America
but many ignored their advice and attempted to establish a new plantation economy in the English speaking colony. Many Southerners who took the governor's offers of land at a reduced price were wanted by American authorities for crimes, and many had simply lost everything during the war. Evidence suggests that more Confederates fled to British Honduras than any other destination, in part because they could easily acclimate to the English speaking colony. This is also the reason they have not maintained a distinct cultural identity like those who went to places like Brazil
. In many cases the Confederates attempted to cultivate cotton, but the inhospitable climate and ravenous insects stifled the effort.
Some of the most famous Confederates who went to British Honduras were Colin J. McRae, former Confederate Financial Agent in Europe and Joseph Benjamin, brother of Confederate Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin
. Historian and author Donald C. Simmons, Jr.
, published a book in 2001 about this now famous episode in American and British Honduran history. The book, published by McFarland and Company Publisher of North Carolina, is entitled Confederate Settlements in British Honduras.
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, formerly known as the colony of British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
. They are the descendants of Confederates
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
who fled to British Honduras with their families during and after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
As the American Civil War erupted, colonial leaders saw an opportunity to profit from the sale of arms and weapons to the Confederate States. Soon a profitable trade in arms to Americans boosted the colonial economy and British Honduras became sympathetic to the Confederate cause. The colonial governor and other officials were also interested in recruiting American Southerners who were knowledgeable in cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
. Confederate immigrants were offered substantial subsidies and tax breaks. General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
and former Mississippi Governor John J. McRae
John J. McRae
John Jones McCrae was the 21st governor of Mississippi, from 1854 to 1857. He was a Democrat. He also represented Mississippi in the United States Senate in 1851 and 1852, in the U.S. Congress in the 35th and 36th congresses, and in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War.-External...
advised Southerners not to flee to Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
but many ignored their advice and attempted to establish a new plantation economy in the English speaking colony. Many Southerners who took the governor's offers of land at a reduced price were wanted by American authorities for crimes, and many had simply lost everything during the war. Evidence suggests that more Confederates fled to British Honduras than any other destination, in part because they could easily acclimate to the English speaking colony. This is also the reason they have not maintained a distinct cultural identity like those who went to places like Brazil
Confederados
The Confederados are an ethnic sub-group in Brazil descended from some 10,000 Confederate Americans who immigrated chiefly to the area of the city of São Paulo, Brazil after the American Civil War...
. In many cases the Confederates attempted to cultivate cotton, but the inhospitable climate and ravenous insects stifled the effort.
Some of the most famous Confederates who went to British Honduras were Colin J. McRae, former Confederate Financial Agent in Europe and Joseph Benjamin, brother of Confederate Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin
Judah P. Benjamin
Judah Philip Benjamin was an American politician and lawyer. Born a British subject in the West Indies, he moved to the United States with his parents and became a citizen. He later became a citizen of the Confederate States of America. After the collapse of the Confederacy, Benjamin moved to...
. Historian and author Donald C. Simmons, Jr.
Donald C. Simmons, Jr.
Donald C. Simmons, Jr. author and filmmaker, serves as Professor and Dean of the College of Public Service, Leadership and Graduate Studies at Dakota Wesleyan University, as well as executive director of their George McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service. He has held numerous elected...
, published a book in 2001 about this now famous episode in American and British Honduran history. The book, published by McFarland and Company Publisher of North Carolina, is entitled Confederate Settlements in British Honduras.
External links
- http://www.lib.usm.edu/~spcol/ University of Southern Mississippi Special Collections
- http://www.belizehistorian.com/cw Website listing some of the family names of immigrants to British Honduras.