From Royalty To Independence

1752– 1783Chapter 11

SS8H3

Analyze the role of Georgia in the American Revolution.

SS8H4

Describe the impact of events that led to the ratification of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Including: Georgia Constitution of 1777, The Articles of Confederation (Strengths, weaknesses, revisions), Constitutional Convention of 1787, Abraham Baldwin, William Few

SS8H5Explain significant factors that affected the

development of Georgia as part of the growth of the United States between 1789 and 1840.

Including: UGA, Louisville, Baptist & Methodist churches, land policies (headright system, land lotteries, & the Yazoo land fraud), cotton gin, railroads, Alexander McGillivray, William McIntosh, Sequoyah, John Ross, Dahlonega Gold Rush, Worcester v. Georgia, Andrew Jackson, John Marshall, the Trail of Tears.

Governmental StatusGovernmental Status • Proprietary Colony: governed by a Board of Trustees

(ceased in 1752)• Royal Colony: colony directly governed by the King

(1752)– some people returned who had left under Proprietary

rule– Naval Captain John Reynolds, first royal governor (1754)– Reynolds introduced the idea of self-government– Two-chamber legislature: bi-cameral

• Commons House of Assembly (Lower House) • Governor’s Council (Upper House)

– Court of Conscience settled disputes (justice of the peace)

– Only people owning 50 or more acres of land could vote

Review

In the rest of North America: 1754 In the rest of North America: 1754

• Spain - claimed Florida & Mexico• France – claimed Louisiana to the

Great Lakes, parts of Canada • Great Britain - 13 colonies

Review

7 Years War

FRANCE

• Feared England would gain more power

• Stronger army with more experienced leadership

• Allies with Indian tribes• Claimed Ohio River Valley

Area– Build several forts– Indians sided with French

England• Feared France would gain more

power• Better navy• Allies with Indian tribes• Claimed Ohio River Valley Area• VA Gov sent Captain George

Washington w/ soldiers to Fort Necessity (near today’s Pittsburgh); a battle erupted

Review

7 years war:

• War spread to Europe – 1758 - British controlled the Ohio River Valley Area

• Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the war:– GA’s Western boundary = Mississippi River– Proclamation of 1763 (King George III): GA’s

southern boundary = St. Mary’s River– Georgia colonists could not settle west of the

Appalachian Mountains – Cherokee & Creek tribes gave up land claims

north of Augusta and in the coastal region

Review

Pre-Revolutionary War ActsGreat Britain needed money to pay debts from collected in 7 years war

Sugar Act (April 1764)

• Tax on sugar & molasses imported from the West

IndiesStamp Act

(March 22, 1765 – March 18,1766)• All documents must contain a

revenue stamp to be legal. All Deeds, wills, marriage licenses, even newspapers were affected.

• Georgia’s stamp master served 1 day in Jan. 1766

Declaratory Act (March 18, 1766)

• Parliament declares sovereignty over colonies in all cases

• Enacted on the same day as Stamp act repealed

• Enacted to keep England from losing face for giving in to the colonies

Copy me!

Pre-Revolutionary War ActsWhat forced the colonist to go to War with their Mother country?

How did these acts affect Georgia?

Intolerable Acts: (March – June 1774)• Coercive Acts• Closes Boston Harbor• Eliminates current government of Massachusetts• Restricts many other government meetings• Convening of 1st Continental Congress (Sept.,

1774)

Copy me!

Georgia’s First AssemblyGeorgia’s First AssemblySavannah - 1755Savannah - 1755

• Passed bills to repair and build roads• Organized a militia• Codes created to limit rights of slaves• Captain Henry Ellis (1757)

– Believed Savannah was one the world’s hottest places

– Colonists immigrated to GA from SC and West Indies– Offered large land grants (increased slavery – 3,600 by 1759)

– Economy flourished = more farms & goods to buy – 1761, Ellis - Royal Gov. of Nova Scotia

Copy Me!GA’s Response

ProtestsProtests• Liberty Boys -

Georgians who came together to oppose the Stamp Act (“Sons of Liberty” – “Liberty Brawlers”)– Met in taverns, such as

Savannah’s Tondee’s Tavern

– Georgia only colony to actually sell the stamps

• Governor Wright - disbanded the assembly trying to end protests

• Noble Wimberly Jones - speaker of GA assembly - led Townshend Act protests– Townshend Acts: placed

import taxes on tea, paper, glass, and coloring for paints

• Elijah Clarke, William Few and George Wells signed Augusta petition stating that they disagreed with the course being taken by the Radicals

Copy Me! GA’s Response

Georgia’s Second Provincial CongressGeorgia’s Second Provincial Congress

• Tondee’s Tavern (Savannah - July 1775)

• Archibald Bulloch, John Houston, Noble Wimberly Jones, and Reverend John Zubly chosen to represent GA in Philadelphia

• Delegates given no specific instructions; told to make best decisions for Georgians

• Governor Wright fled colony in early 1776; Council of Safety established “Rules and Regulations” to govern Georgia

Copy Me!GA’s Response

Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Paine’s (“Common Sense”) = colonies break from Great Britain

• Other pamphlets, including “The Crisis” influenced opinion

• August 2, 1776: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton sign the Declaration of Independence

• The Declaration meant the colonists were one nation; Georgians prepared for war

Copy Me!Colonies Response

GA’s First ConstitutionGA’s First Constitution• About 1/3 of Georgians loyal to Great

Britain; (Tories)• Whigs influenced state constitution:

– allowing separation of powers– giving citizens rights to agree how they were

governed

• Constitution adopted at Constitutional Convention in Savannah (May 1777)– Created Eight counties : Burke, Camden,

Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Richmond, Wilkes, & Liberty

– Limited Governor’s power– Power = Executive Council (12 legislators)– Council could overrule the governor’s decisions

• John Treutlen appointed GA’s first governor• Constitution changed in 1789

Colonies ResponseColonies Response1st Continental Congress

• Philadelphia (Sept.1774) - protest “Intolerable Acts” placed against the Mass. colonists

• Georgia was not represented

• Urged creations of “Committees of Safety”

• Agreed to stop all trade with Britain

• Carried on its work in secret • “Provincial Congress”

(Savannah – Jan.1775) less than half GA’s parishes represented

2nd Continental Congress

• Philadelphia (May 10, 1775) after Lexington & Concord battles

• Drafted petition for King George III - asking for end of unfriendly steps against the colonies

• King refused to accept petition• Authorized Continental Army• Lyman Hall (GA) arrived late

(GA representatives: Lyman Hall, George Walton, Button Gwinnett)

Copy Me!

The Articles of ConfederationThe Articles of Confederation

• First U.S.A. Constitution• Ratified - July 4, 1776• Went into effect – Jan.1781(approved

by MD & VA)• Very Weak document – Very little

power given to the Federal government

American Revolution American Revolution Georgia Battles (11) Georgia Battles (11)

• Savannah captured by British troops (Dec.1778) - lootings, murders, & burnings occurred

• Sunbury port captured (1779)• Augusta attacked• Georgia militia not effective against well-

trained British troops• Governor Wright eventually returned from

Great Britain to govern Georgia

American RevolutionAmerican RevolutionGeorgia Battles (11)Georgia Battles (11)

Battle of Kettle Creek (1779)

• Colonel Elijah Clarke led Georgia Militia,– defeated 800 British

troops near Washington, Georgia

– Great victory for morale of the militia & Georgians seeking independence

– Won badly-needed weapons & horses from British

Siege of Savannah (1779)

• 15,000 Americans and 4,000 French attacked– (Oct. 9) = 1,000 American

& French deaths (less than an hour)

– 40 British troops died• Savannah remained

under British control for nearly four more years

• Guerrilla warfare continued in the GA backcountry

American RevolutionGeorgia Battles (11)

Battle at Briar Creek:• Fought along the Sav. River• Colonel Samuel Elbert (outnumbered &

lacking arms) defended their camp against British

• Short battle (1 day)• 400 Americans; less than 12 British• Elbert captured – British Prison (later elected

gov)

The War EndsThe War Ends• Elijah Clark (Georgia Militia & Continental

Army) regain Augusta from British (June 1781) - 11 battles fought in GA

• George Washington (&French) - force British surrender at Yorktown, VA (Oct.1781)

• British leave Savannah (1782)• Treaty of Paris (Sept.1783) ends war

– Signed by: US, Great Britain, & France

Georgia CrackersGeorgia Crackers• People from VA, NC, & SC

• Viewed as “undesirable people” by plantation owners

• Lower class nicknamed “Crackers” = insult

• Crackers - not welcome

• Believed to be law breakers

Governor James Wright Governor James Wright

• Wanted to expand Georgia’s western lands to settlers

• Strengthened Savannah’s defenses (palisades)

• Sunbury = GA’s official port of entry• Land purchases increased greatly• More schools established (upper class only)

Georgia Wartime HeroesGeorgia Wartime Heroes

• Nancy Hart: – Captured British loyalists bragging of murdering

an American colonel– Hart County – only county named for a woman

• Austin Dabney:– Wounded at Kettle Creek– Saved Elijah Clarke’s life during battle

Pop-Quiz – 3rd period1. Which was NOT a name used to identify the

British during this time period: Lobsterbacks, redcoats, minutemen, regulars

2. What battle is the 1st major victory for the Patriots in Georgia?

3. How many battles took place in Georgia?4. Who signed the Treaty of Paris?5. Where was the first battle of the American

Revolution?

Pop Quiz – 4th period1. How many battles took place in Georgia?2. Where was the first battle of the American

Revolution?3. What was the major weakness of the

Articles of Confederation?4. In which congressional congress was the

Declaration of Independence written?5. Who signed the Declaration from Georgia?

Pop quiz - 5th Period1. Why was Georgia reluctant to join the

rebellion?2. How many battles occurred in GA during the

American Revolution?3. Which was NOT a name used to identify the

British during this time period: Lobsterbacks, minutemen, regulars, redcoats.

4. What battle is the 1st major victory for the Patriots in Georgia.

5. Who signed the Treaty of Paris?

Pop quiz - 6th period1. Where was the last battle of the American

Revolution fought?2. How many battles were fought in Georgia?3. Name two major battles fought in Georgia

during the Revolutionary War.4. What was a major weakness of the Articles

of Confederation?5. In which congressional Congress session was

the Declaration of Independence signed?