The American RevolutionChapter 8

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•What did colonists want King George III to do?

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Stirrings of a RevolutionAngry Colonists•Angry over being Angry over being taxed to pay for the taxed to pay for the French & Indian WarFrench & Indian War•Complained that their Complained that their rights as British rights as British citizens had been citizens had been violatedviolated•Wanted King George III to recognize those rights•Some of the colonists started to think that freedom from Great Britain would be the best idea.

King George III of England

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Colonial opinion about freedom different…

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Stirrings of a RevolutionAmerican colonists disagreed about what the colonies should do about Great Britain. •Some wanted to Some wanted to become independent. become independent. •Those faithful to the Those faithful to the king thought that talk king thought that talk about becoming about becoming independent was independent was treasontreason..

Colonists who were accused of treason could be locked in a pillory for everyone to see.

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Who had the political power in South Carolina?

What was the name of the new government created by the General Committee of 99?

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Stirrings of a RevolutionSouth CarolinaoThe people with the most political power were wealthy were wealthy Low Country landowners. Low Country landowners.

o Many were Patriots who thought they needed to be free free from Great Britain.

oBy 1774, Patriots were getting tired of Great BritainoSouth Carolina’s General Committee of 99 created a new governing body for South Carolina called the called the Provincial Provincial Congress.Congress.

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Stirrings of a RevolutionIn 1776:

The Provincial Congress adopted South Carolina’s first constitution

Would serve as the foundation of the government until the disagreements with Great Britain could be resolved

Adopted before the Declaration of Independence was signed

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Define bicameral

What three things did the 1776 South Carolina Constitution establish?

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Stirrings of a RevolutionThe constitution created a

bicameralbicameral legislation (one that one that has two houseshas two houses):):

1.1.A lower house legislature of A lower house legislature of representatives that were elected by representatives that were elected by the people of the colonythe people of the colony

2.2.An upper house legislature that was An upper house legislature that was elected by the representatives of the elected by the representatives of the lower houselower house

3.3.A president of the colony, elected by A president of the colony, elected by the upper house, who could veto lawsthe upper house, who could veto laws

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What did the Low Country patriots do in the 1776 constitution to make sure that they kept the political power?

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Stirrings of a RevolutionThe problems that existed between Low Country Low Country colonists and Up CountryUp Country colonists could be seen in South Carolina’s first constitution.

•The Low Country wanted to keep the power in the hands of the patriots and the elite (rich)

•Wrote the constitution so the Low Country Wrote the constitution so the Low Country would have more representation in the would have more representation in the legislature.legislature.

Middleton Plantation, Charleston,

SC

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Stirrings of a RevolutionAt the 1st Continental 1st Continental

Congress Congress (1774)

South Carolina representatives were Low Country elite and they served important roles

• John Rutledge John Rutledge helped to draft helped to draft a letter to the British people a letter to the British people explaining the colonial positionexplaining the colonial position•Thomas Lynch Thomas Lynch and Christopher Christopher Gadsden Gadsden designed an designed an agreement stating the agreement stating the colonists would not buy or sell colonists would not buy or sell British goods.British goods.

John Rutledge

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Stirrings of a Revolution

The American fighting forces were broken into three main categories:The Continental Army (the official army)

The Militia (volunteer soldiers)

The Partisans (guerilla warfare fighters)14

Stirrings of a RevolutionBefore the 1st Continental Congress ended:Plans were made toPlans were made to increase the colonial increase the colonial militiasmilitias in case Great in case Great Britain declared war. Britain declared war. In South CarolinaSouth Carolina: The Provincial The Provincial Congress Congress began began preparations for a preparations for a stronger militia. stronger militia.

Militia men were volunteers, they were not professional soldiers. They used their own guns and usually did

not have uniforms.

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Stirrings of a RevolutionThe plan for a stronger

militia was a good idea. Britain found out that colonists were stock piling weapons in the towns of Concord and Lexington, Concord and Lexington, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe British’s attempt at taking the gunpowder left several colonists dead, and the rest of the colonists angry.

Known as the battles of …

Lexington & ConcordLexington & Concord16

What group met after the battles of Lexington and Concord?

How did South Carolina originally feel about fighting for independence?

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Stirrings of a RevolutionThe 2nd Continental The 2nd Continental Congress met in Philadelphia Congress met in Philadelphia after the battles of Lexington after the battles of Lexington & Concord & Concord •The colonists had to discuss the topic of independence •At 1st, all of the colonies had concerns about voting for independence

South Carolina voted South Carolina voted againstagainst fighting for fighting for independence.independence.

“Founding Fathers” by John Buxton

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Stirrings of a RevolutionWhen a When a second vote second vote was taken, was taken, SC voted SC voted yesyes, along with 11 , along with 11 other colonies other colonies

• New York, the only colony to have more loyalists, than SC, did not vote did not vote

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration was signed, included were the signatures of SC delegates:

Edward Rutledge, Edward Rutledge,

Thomas Lynch Jr., Thomas Lynch Jr.,

Thomas Heyward Jr., & Thomas Heyward Jr., &

Arthur Middleton Arthur Middleton

The Declaration of Independence

listed the complaints of the colonists against the British

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How did the Declaration of Independence change the focus of the struggle between the colonies and Britain?

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Stirrings of a Revolution

Declaration of Independence

ChangedChanged the focus of the the focus of the struggle struggle from a fight for from a fight for equality to a fight for equality to a fight for freedomfreedom

Some South Carolinians felt that the temporary constitution needed to be replaced by a more permanent one

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The three changes that the 1778 South Carolina Constitution made…

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Stirrings of a Revolution In 1778, a new constitution was adopted1.It changed the “president” “president” of the state to “governor”“governor”2.The representation in legislature was to be more evenly distributed3.The Church of England would no longer be the official, state-supported church of South Carolina

John Rutledge was the first South Carolina

“president”

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How did the large loyalist population in South Carolina create a problem for the state?

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The War BeginsAfter the Declaration of Independence was signed…

Many South Carolinians signed up for the armies of both sidesboth sidesThe only colony with more loyalists than South

Carolina was New York

This caused a civil war This caused a civil war

within the colonywithin the colonyThere were There were overover

137 battles and skirmishes 137 battles and skirmishes

within South Carolina alonewithin South Carolina alone

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PatriotsPatriots

LoyalistsLoyalists

NeutralsNeutralsDescribe the attitudes towards freedom of the German immigrants in the Up Country

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The War BeginsThe state was divided into 3 3 main groups: patriots,patriots, loyalists, loyalists, and neutrals loyalistneutrals loyalist.

PatriotsPatriots were colonists who supported were colonists who supported the Continental Congress and the Continental Congress and independenceindependence

Most were from the Low Country and served in local militias

LoyalistsLoyalists were loyal to the king Were mostly found in the Up CountryPatriots nicknamed loyalists “Tories”

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The War BeginsMany people who lived in the Many people who lived in the Up Up

Country Country were were not true not true loyalistsloyalists They didn’t care who was in They didn’t care who was in

charge, they wanted to live their charge, they wanted to live their life without anyone interferinglife without anyone interfering

These neutralsneutrals were typically German immigrants who had… no allegiance to the king or no allegiance to the king or the principals of freedom and the principals of freedom and

democracydemocracy28

Why was British capture of Charles Town important (what did they want to do)?

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The War BeginsIn June of 1776 In June of 1776

Before the Declaration of Independence was signed

The British decided to The British decided to capture Charles Town and capture Charles Town and

use it as a base to use it as a base to launch attacks into launch attacks into other coloniesother colonies While the British were waiting for reinforcements, they decided to capture the unfinished fort on Sullivan’s Island

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The British 3 part strategy to capture Sullivan’s

Island

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The War Begins

British battle map of Sullivan’s Island32

The War Begins The British had a three

part strategy: 1.3 ships would be stationed on the islands southwest side 2.9 ships on the southeast side 3.British troops were to march overmarch over from Long Island and attack the fort

Unfortunately, their strategy fell apart,

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Describe what actually happened during the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

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The War Begins1.1. The 3 British ships on the The 3 British ships on the

southwestsouthwest got stuck in got stuck in the mud and became the mud and became easy targets for the easy targets for the Patriot guns. Patriot guns.

2.2. The other 9 ships had to The other 9 ships had to sail in deep water to keep sail in deep water to keep from running agroundfrom running aground

Which meant they had to travel directly in front of travel directly in front of American gunsAmerican guns

3.3. The troops The troops could not could not wade from Long Island to wade from Long Island to Sullivan’s Island because Sullivan’s Island because the water was the water was too deep too deep and and their gunpowder their gunpowder would get wet. would get wet.

Even today, boats still get stuck in the mud, and the British were using

much bigger boats!

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The War BeginsThe colonists were not expecting the unfinished fort to survive a British attack

But to their surprise it did

The fort was made The fort was made of Palmetto logsof Palmetto logs

which were which were spongy spongy

Cannon balls Cannon balls either bounced off, either bounced off, or became stuck or became stuck

Providing armor Providing armor for the fortfor the fort

Palmettos are very spongy because of their fibrous trunks. The logs were fitted together and filled with sand to create

the walls of the fort.

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Describe the symbols on the South Carolina flag and why they are there.

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The War BeginsSouth Carolina South Carolina added added the the Palmetto tree Palmetto tree to to the flag of South the flag of South Carolina Carolina in recognition recognition of this important of this important contributioncontribution

TheThe crescent crescent on the on the flag is flag is notnot a crescent a crescent moonmoon

But a reproduction of But a reproduction of the the crescent worn on crescent worn on the hats of the soldiers the hats of the soldiers known as a gorgetknown as a gorget.

Patriot uniform

Crescent moon

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Sgt. William Jasper at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island

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The War BeginsDuring the Battle of Fort During the Battle of Fort Sullivan, the flag flying Sullivan, the flag flying over the fort was hit by over the fort was hit by a cannon ball and fell a cannon ball and fell outside the fort. outside the fort. Worried that men would lose their courage when they saw the flag fall…

Sgt. William Jasper ran Sgt. William Jasper ran outside the fort, outside the fort, grabbed the flag, and grabbed the flag, and tied it to a cannon swab tied it to a cannon swab and put it back up where and put it back up where everyone could see it.everyone could see it. 40

The Three Phases of the Revolutionary War

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3 Phases of the War1.1. Most of the battles in Most of the battles in

the 1st phase happened the 1st phase happened in New Englandin New England

2.2. After the British were After the British were defeated at Trenton defeated at Trenton and Saratoga, they and Saratoga, they decided to try again to decided to try again to capture Charles Town.capture Charles Town.

3.3. The 2nd phase of the The 2nd phase of the war took place in the war took place in the SouthSouth– Charles Town wasn’t so

lucky

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The British capture of Charles Town

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The Southern CampaignsThe British siege The British siege (surrounded and cut off (surrounded and cut off all of the supplies) all of the supplies) Charles TownCharles TownThe Patriot troops, who were trapped on the peninsula, were forced to surrender

After the harbor was blockaded and supply lines were cut off

Map from 1711 showing the Charles Town Harbor

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Why did the British want to recruit people who lived in America?

What did the British hope that southern loyalists would do?

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The Southern Campaign

Because Great Britain was so far away, it was Because Great Britain was so far away, it was expensive to send ships and supplies to the expensive to send ships and supplies to the colonies. colonies.

To help save money, the British wanted to find To help save money, the British wanted to find people already in the colonies to help them fightpeople already in the colonies to help them fight

After losing at Saratoga and Trenton, the British moved to South Carolina.

They thought that South Carolina’s large number They thought that South Carolina’s large number of loyalists & neutrals would help them control the of loyalists & neutrals would help them control the state & win the war.state & win the war. 46

Why the British did not get the southern loyalist support that they wanted:

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The Southern CampaignIf the British had treated the colonists with respect, they might have gotten the colonial support they wanted. Instead, the British the British treated the colonists treated the colonists harshly, burning harshly, burning churches, looting or churches, looting or confiscating homes, confiscating homes, and harassing and and harassing and mistreating the mistreating the colonistscolonists.

The remnants of Old Sheldon Church still stand near Yemassee, SC.

The church was burned in both the American Revolution and the America

Civil War.

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The Southern CampaignBanastre Tarleton Banastre Tarleton

British colonel who earned a reputation for being mercilessAt the Battle of Waxhaws, At the Battle of Waxhaws, Tarleton allowed his troops to Tarleton allowed his troops to murdermurder surrendering Virginians surrendering Virginians After this event, he became known as Bloody Banastre Tarleton Instead of scaring the Instead of scaring the Americans into giving up their Americans into giving up their fight, he made them angry and fight, he made them angry and many neutrals and some many neutrals and some loyalists joined the patriot loyalists joined the patriot cause.cause.

Bloody Banastre Tarleton

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The British convinced the Native Americans to get involved in the Revolution because…

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Contributions to the War EffortNative Americans

The British were, able to convince Native Americans to join the war

At first, the Native Americans avoided getting involved

Helped after the British the British promised to return control promised to return control of the west to the Native of the west to the Native AmericansAmericans Supporting the British, the Cherokee attacked colonists 51

What did the British promise to the slaves who would fight with the loyalists?

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Contributions to the War Effort

African Americans •The British promised promised freedom to slaves who freedom to slaves who fought against the patriots fought against the patriots

• Although most of them remained slaves in the South

• The slaves did not get the freedom that they were expecting•Some were taken and sold back into slavery

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African Americans and Slaves

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Contributions to the War Effort

African Americans Some slaves served in the

Continental Army (PATRIOTS)Continental Army (PATRIOTS)At first, South Carolina was afraid of

slave revolts and did not want to allow slaves to work in non-military jobs like cooking, cleaning, tending horses

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Contributions to the War Effort

A need for more manpowerLaws were changed to allow 1/3 of Laws were changed to allow 1/3 of the militia to be made up of slavesthe militia to be made up of slaves, but…

Slaves were Slaves were notnot allowed to be allowed to be soldierssoldiers

Slave held non-military jobs like Slave held non-military jobs like cooking, cleaning, tending horsescooking, cleaning, tending horses

Unlike Britain, South Carolina did did not offer slaves their freedomnot offer slaves their freedom in in exchange for their military serviceexchange for their military service

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Roles of women during the war

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Contributions to the War Effort Women

•Took active roles on both sidesboth sides of the war •Women managed Women managed farms and plantations farms and plantations (the men were fighting)

• Some served as Some served as messengers, nurses, messengers, nurses, and gave their houses and gave their houses and their fortunes to and their fortunes to support the causesupport the cause•In order to protect their reputation, women would NOT cook for camps full of soldiers

Emily Geiger memorized a secret message and kept it out of the hands

of British.

Rebecca Motte

sacrificed two of her houses to

the Revolution.

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Partisans

guerilla warfare tactics

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Battle for the Back CountryMany men enlisted in the Continental ArmySome men joined small small militia groups known as militia groups known as partisanspartisansPartisansPartisans were patriots who fought using guerilla warfare tacticsguerilla warfare tactics“hit and run” hit and run” ambushes, attacking the ambushes, attacking the British and escaping British and escaping before they could before they could retaliateretaliate

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Battle for the Back CountryThe 3 main partisan

leaders1. Thomas Sumter 1. Thomas Sumter ““the Gamecock” the Gamecock” From the Back Country

2. Francis Marion 2. Francis Marion ““the Swamp Fox” the Swamp Fox” From the Northeast corner of SC (near Myrtle Beach)

3. Andrew Pickens 3. Andrew Pickens ““the Wizard Owl” the Wizard Owl” From the Up Country

Thomas Sumter

Francis Marion

Andrew Pickens

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Battle for the Back CountryThomas Sumter Thomas Sumter started started his career as a partisan his career as a partisan leader when his house leader when his house was burned by British was burned by British soldiers. soldiers. He responded by rallying back country men into a partisan fighting force.Sumter and his troops attacked British supply lines in the Upcountry, frustrating the British and giving hope to the Patriots.

Thomas Sumter was so important to the war, Fort Sumter in the Charleston

Harbor was named after him.

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Battle for the Back CountryFrancis Marion Francis Marion used similar methods on the British.

Marion earned his Marion earned his nickname by nickname by disappearing into the disappearing into the swamps after attacks.swamps after attacks.

Andrew Pickens Andrew Pickens earned earned his nickname from the his nickname from the Native Americans in Native Americans in the Upcountry.the Upcountry. These limestone cliffs have caves that open

from the top down into the river (the hole at the water line).

Francis Marion and his troops would use these cliffs to “disappear” from the following

British army.63

The Battle of Camden

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Battle for the Back CountryThe Battle of Camden The Battle of Camden

A major A major defeatdefeat for the regular for the regular Continental ArmyContinental ArmyThis loss meant that British now This loss meant that British now controlled controlled almost all almost all of S. Carolina of S. Carolina

This could have been avoided if American General Gates had traveled slowly so troops could rest and get supplies.

In addition to the troops being hungry and tired, the North Carolina militia men involved in this battle were not trained to deal with regular British forces.

The Militia panicked and fled, The Militia panicked and fled, leaving the Continental Army to be leaving the Continental Army to be defeateddefeated..

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The Battle of King’s Mountain

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Battle for the Back CountryKing’s MountainKing’s Mountain

The turning point for the American Revolution in the South Loyalist forces were camped out on the mountain. Mountain men from North & South Carolina attacked the British troops from behind rocks and trees. The British lost a lot of men & tried to surrender, but were offered no quarter by Patriots in retaliation for British (especially Bloody Tarleton’s) actions toward the colonists.After this battle, the British started to retreat from the Up Country.

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Battle for the Back CountrySoon after the British defeat at King’s Soon after the British defeat at King’s

Mountain, the Mountain, the Continental Army Continental Army and and partisanpartisan groups groups cooperatedcooperated at the at the

Battle of CowpensBattle of Cowpens.. Partisan groups had a reputation among Partisan groups had a reputation among

the British troops of running awaythe British troops of running away The American commander was counting The American commander was counting

on this reputation as he created the on this reputation as he created the battle planbattle plan.

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Battle of CowpensBattle of Cowpens

Diagram of Cowpens battle events69

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The Battle of Cowpens

How was the militia reaction at Cowpens similar to what they did

at Camden?What did the British do after the

Battle of Cowpens?

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Battle of CowpensBattle of CowpensThe partisans, under the leadership of Andrew PickensAndrew Pickens, led the attack They fired two volleys and then fled the field

Tricking the British into thinking that the Americans were retreating.

The partisans had lured the British into a traptrap The British were soundly defeated and pulled out of South Carolina heading to Virginia. The Battle of Cowpens was the The Battle of Cowpens was the beginning of the end of the beginning of the end of the British in America. British in America.

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Henry Laurens

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The End and the BeginningAfter leaving S. C., British troops were soon cornered in Yorktown, Virginia and forced to surrender. South Carolinian Henry Laurens, president of the Continental Congress, was on the committee that negotiated the Treaty of Paris

which ended the American Revolution and opened the door for the new nation of America.

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