The Independence Movement in Georgia

Questions to accompany text pages 119-121

1. What happened in Georgia when news of Lexington and Concord reached patriots in Savannah?

Excited—raided Georgia’s store of gunpowder, royal government began to fall apart

2. For what reasons was Georgia not quick to join in the independence movement?

• Much younger than other colonies

• Not a long history of self government

• Coastal Georgians wealthy from trade with Britain

• Colony grown and prospered under Governor Wright

3. What areas of Georgia wanted independence and what did not?

• Coastal Georgia mainly loyalist

• Inland, backcountry more patriot

4. Describe both patriots and loyalists and give examples.

Loyalist

• Older• First generation• Noble Jones and James

Habersham• More coastal

Patriot

• Younger• Born in Georgia• Noble Wimberly Jones

and Habersham sons• Backcountry

5. What was the “Provincial Congress”?• Met July 1775

• Delegates from parishes meet in Savannah

• Vote to join other colonies in complete trade boycott

• Set up “Council of Safety” to enforce boycott

• Functioned as temporary government for Georgia

6. What happened to Governor Wright when the Patriots took control?• Arrested in January

1776 but he escaped to British warship

• Returned in 1779 to Savannah to restore royal authority

• Only colony where king’s authority restored

7. What was the reaction in Georgia to the Declaration of Independence?

• Reached Georgia a month after signing

• Declaration read publicly in Savannah

• News greeted to cannon fire and mock funeral for King George III

• Loyalists (Tories) leave Georgia for Florida or British islands in Caribbean

8. How and why does Button Gwinnett die?

• Conservatives and radicals collide

• Conservative McIntosh called Gwinnet a scoundrel and lying rascal

• Gwinnet challenged him to a duel

• Exchanged shots, both wounded, Gwinnett dies

9. Where were the first (two) battles of the Revolution?

• Lexington and Concord

• Bunker Hill

10. Where were the early battles of the Revolution?

• Montreal—patriot victory

• Quebec—patriot defeat

• Trenton and Princeton—patriot victory--surprise Christmas night

11. What is the make-up of the Georgia population in support of the war?

• 1/3 Whigs (Patriots)

• 1/3 Tories (Loyalists)

• 1/3 neutral