Conch Republic

The Conch Republic is an imaginary nation in the Florida Keys, after Key West and nearby islands pretended to secede from the United States of America. This has been described as "tongue-in-cheek", but it was motivated by frustration over genuine concerns.

Related Topics:
Florida Keys - Key West - Secede - United States of America - Tongue-in-cheek

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In 1982, the United States Border Patrol established a roadblock and inspections point on U.S. Highway 1, which runs north from Key West over a series of causeways and is the Keys' only land link to the mainland. Vehicles were stopped and searched for narcotics and illegal immigrants. The Key West City Council complained repeatedly about the inconvenience for people traveling from Key West and said it hurt the Keys' important tourism industry. As a matter of a fact, Eastern Airlines, which had a hub at Miami International Airport, saw a window of opportunity open when the roadblocks were established, and, as a consequence, Eastern became the only airline to establish jet service to Key West International Airport, figuring that travellers from Key West to Miami would rather fly than wait for the police to search their cars at the roadblocks.

Related Topics:
1982 - United States Border Patrol - U.S. Highway 1 - Narcotics - Illegal immigrant - Tourism - Eastern Airlines - Miami International Airport - Airline - Jet - Key West International Airport

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After the complaints from the Key West City Council went unanswered by the Federal Government and attempts to get an injunction against the "blockade" failed in court, Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow and the city council declared the independence of the Conch Republic on April 23, 1982. Since the Federal Government had set up the equivalent of a border station as if the Keys were a foreign nation, they said, the Keys might as well become one. Mayor Wardlow was proclaimed Prime Minister of the republic, which declared war against the U.S. (symbolically breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man in a navy uniform), quickly surrendered (after one minute), and applied for foreign aid (in the amount of one billion dollars). These actions generated great publicity for the Keys' plight. The roadblock and inspection station were removed soon afterward.

Related Topics:
Injunction - Dennis Wardlow - April 23 - 1982 - Prime Minister - Declared war - Foreign aid - Dollars

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The Conch Republic issued its own postage stamps (or perhaps cinderellas, stamp like labels).

Related Topics:
Postage stamp - Cinderella

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