Research Symposium

BIO

Stephanie Leon is a first-year Presidential Scholar at Florida State University, majoring in Political Science. Originally from Homestead, Florida, she is a first-generation student and a proud member of the CARE program. Stephanie is passionate about service, advocacy, and social justice. She serves as the President of the Broward, Landis, and Gilchrist Hall Council and is a member of the Incoming Class Representatives Committee for the Presidential Scholars Program. Additionally, she is a participant in the Applied Politics and Policy Learning Experience. After completing her undergraduate studies, Stephanie hopes to attend law school to further her education and work towards creating meaningful change in the legal field.

The Forgotten Front: Prisoners and Patriots in Revolutionary St. Augustine (1780-1781)

Abstract

The American Revolution was not only a fight for independence but also a struggle over justice, loyalty, and national identity. While Patriots sought to break free from British rule, the Crown used imprisonment and exile as tools to suppress rebellion. This research examines the experiences of prisoners of war and exiled Patriots in St. Augustine, Florida, a critical yet often overlooked Loyalist refuge. As one of the few colonies that remained under British control, East Florida became both a prison for captured revolutionaries and a place of forced exile for Patriot leaders removed from their communities.
Drawing on letters, diaries, government records, and contemporary accounts, this study explores the conditions of imprisonment, the legal and political motivations for exile, and the broader implications of these measures on wartime justice and post-war reconciliation. It also investigates how displaced Patriots resisted, adapted, or reintegrated into American society during imprisonment and after the war. By revisiting these narratives, this research provides a deeper understanding of the Revolution’s civil war dynamics and highlights St. Augustine’s role in shaping early American concepts of justice, punishment, and national belonging.

Keywords: American Revolution, History, St. Augustine