The earliest I can locate the two words “deep” and “state” where they arise side by side without a hyphen goes to the last decade of the eighteenth century. This “deep state” however was associated with physical and mental ailments. For example, a person may be in a “deep state of intoxication”[1] or in a “deep state of confusion.”[2]
Jackson led the war against the Seminole 1817-1818 while Florida was held by Spain.
It would be another generation whereby “deep state” meant something that deals with a clandestine government, of sorts. For this, we need to go to Baltimore and the prolific writer Hezekiah Niles. The Niles’ Weekly Register used the term “deep state” to refer to Spain. Here, Niles charged Spain’s Catholic king with practicing a “deep state trick at procrastination”[3] concerning the Floridas, a territory highly wished for by the young United States. When Niles published this piece, Spain still held Florida, a place where Seminoles and escaped slaves resisted any American encroachments. Andrew Jackson would, in fact, invade Florida the following year. Perhaps this is America’s first foray against “deep state” popery? Removing a Catholic European power that often protected Seminole and slaves may not have the teeth of the “Illuminati,” but we can all agree the term has taken on additional weight and meanings since then.