U.s. Army Command and General Staff College

Second Seminole War - Establishing Favorable Conditions for Conflict Resolution U.s. Army Command and General Staff College

This monograph explores why the Second Seminole War required seven years to reach conflict termination. To create conditions for favorable conflict resolution, the Army transformed from a peacetime establishment, adapted its tactics to satisfy the public expectation of a just war, and required a whole of government approach to isolate the Seminoles from outside support. Understanding these issues is significant for operational planners, because creating conditions for conflict resolution is the purpose of Unified Land Operations. Setting these conditions required a significant investment of thought, effort, and time. During the first period of the war, commanders adapted the Army to the unique Florida environment and Seminole way of fighting in order to establish a base of operations and effective tactics. Having seized the initiative, the next commanders adjusted their tactics to meet public expectations of a just war, which allowed the Army to maintain freedom of action free of Congressional inquiries and gain a position of advantage against the adversary. With these conditions established, the final commander increased the tempo of operations while the Secretary of State diplomatically isolated the Seminoles from outside support. With these favorable conditions established and security on the U. S. southern border achieved, the President ended the conflict.