Final answer:
In the 1830s, the Seminole Nation represented about half of the population of Florida. They provided shelter to self-emancipated enslaved people and played a significant role in the history of Florida during this time. Their resistance to removal led to the Second and Third Seminole Wars against the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1830s, the group that represented about half of the population of Florida was the Seminole Nation. The Seminoles were a Native American tribe that inhabited Florida, and they played a significant role in the history of the state during this time.
The Seminoles not only had their own population but also provided shelter to self-emancipated enslaved people, who became members of their tribes. Their resistance to removal and attempts to preserve their land led to the Second and Third Seminole Wars against the United States.
The population of the Seminole tribe, along with those who sought refuge with them, made up about half of Florida's population in the 1830s.