| The Conch Republic In 1982, the U.S. Border Patrol set up roadblocks at Florida City, at the foot of the Florida mainland, blocking all access to and from the Florida Keys. They said they were looking for illegal immigrants and illegal drugs, but they caused a tremendous traffic backup, adversely affecting both tourists and Keys residents. Keys residents, led by then Key West mayor, Dennis Wardlow decided that, since the Border Patrol guards the borders of the United States, they must consider that the U.S. border extends only to the tip of the mainland, and that the Keys are not part of the United States. They agreed that, since the United States is considering us as a foreign nation, they seceded from the United States and formed the Conch Republic. Then the first thing the Conch republic did was to declare war on the United States by attacking a Coast Guard cutter with stale Cuban bread. The Coasties had no idea what was going on, but knew they were under attack by non-lethal projectiles. They responded by counterattacking with non-lethal water cannon. The Conch Republic immediately surrendered and asked for reparations as a conquered nation, in the amount of one million dollars. The reparations had never been paid until -- but that's another story. The battle between the Conch Republic and the Coast Guard is still commemorated annually as the Great Sea Battle. |