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Mrs. EbyGA Studies

The Revolutionary War Period

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The Call for Independence• Objective: SS8H3 The student will analyze the

role of Georgia in the American Revolution.− Explain the immediate and long term causes of

the American Revolution and their impact on Georgia including the French & Indian War (aka Seven Years War), Proclamation of 1763, Stamp Act, Intolerable Acts, and the Declaration of Independence.

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The Call for Independence• In the 15 years leading up to the Revolutionary

War, many colonists grew tired of living under British rule− Many new taxes were placed on colonists to cover

expenses of French & Indian War− Colonies were no longer allowed to trade with any

country other than England− Older colonies struggled more with the new rules

than Georgia (most of its expenses were covered by parliament)

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New Taxes• All of the colonies were unhappy with the new

taxes imposed by Britain − Sugar Act − Stamp Act

• Liberty Boys came together to oppose it in GA− Townshend Acts: Georgians began to react after

this legislation was passed

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Protests Increase• Protests against England were more open in the

other colonies than they were in GA− Slogan “No taxation without representation”

became popular− People stopped painting their houses to protests

Townshend Act− Colonists turned to drinking coffee instead of tea− “Boston Massacre” occurred when British soldiers

fired into the crowd after being hit with snowballs (5 were killed)

− Boston Tea Party occurred (Protest against the Tea Act of 1773)

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Intolerable Acts:• To punish MA colonists after the Boston Tea

Party, England enacted four laws known as the Intolerable Acts− Port of Boston was closed− Colonists could not meet without governor

approval− Criminals would be tried in British court rather

than colonial courts− Quartering Act

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Reaction to Intolerable Acts• Although these acts were aimed at MA, colonists

from every colony (except GA) gathered to protest them in Philadelphia, PA

• They organized the Continental Congress− Two distinct groups existed: one who wanted to

separate from Britain, & one that wanted to remain with Britain, but wanted the rules to change

− They agreed to stop all trade with Great Britain & to set up committees of safety (which would enforce the boycott)

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Georgia’s Reaction: A Colony Divided• Anti-British sentiment was growing in GA, but

the colony was heavily dependent upon Britain• A group met to discuss their reaction to the

Intolerable Acts, but no delegate was sent to the Continental Congress− They sent a resolution to Parliament to say the

Intolerable Acts did not agree with the “Rights and Privileges of an Englishman”

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Objectives:• SS8H3: The student will analyze the role of

Georgia in the American Revolution.− Explain the immediate and long term causes of

the American Revolution & their impact on Georgia including…the Declaration of Independence

− Analyze the significance of people and events in Georgia on the Revolutionary War to include Loyalists, Patriots, Elijah Clarke, Austin Dabney, Nancy Hart, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton, Battle of Kettle Creek, and the siege of Savannah

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The shot heard ‘round the world• The battle of Lexington & Concord (in

MA) was the first battle of the war – April 1775

• It was May before news of the battle reached Georgia

• Georgians were now forced to take a stand on their feelings toward Britain−Protests increased−Tories were openly harassed & the

governor was ignored

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Preparing for War• Three weeks after the battle of Lexington &

Concord, the Second Continental Congress met− Sent petition to King George III asking him to stop

unfriendly steps against the colonies− Formed Continental Army which was to be led by

George Washington • Georgia sent a late unofficial delegate, Lyman

Hall (from Midway)• The other colonies were angered at Georgia for

its lack of support− Some suggested the youngest colony be punished

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Georgia takes action• A Provincial Congress met and decided the

colony should send representatives to Second Continental Congress− Lyman Hall, Archibald Bulloch, John Houstoun,

Noble Wimberly Jones, & Rev. John Zubly− Delegates were instructed to vote as they thought

best for the common good of Georgians

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New Georgia Government• Council of Safety met to prepare to form a new

government− They officially withdrew from Great Britain which

left Gov. Wright with no power− Wright was arrested by Patriots when he tried to

convince the colony to allow Britain to buy supplies from them

− Wright later escaped and left Georgia leaving the Council of Safety to govern• Council issued “Rules & Regulations” which were to

be used to govern until a more permanent document could be created

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The Declaration of Independence• In January of 1776, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense urged

colonists to separate from Great Britain− By the end of the year, 500,000 copies were sold− His writings influenced colonial thought & the Second

Continental Congress• July 4, 1776 – Second Continental Congress approved the

Declaration of Independence− Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson− 3 parts:

• Preamble (Introduction)• Body (27 grievances against King George III &

government)• Conclusion (Declared the colonies to be an independent

nation for all future times)− Three Georgians signed:

• Lyman Hall• Button Gwinnett• George Walton

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Reaction to Declaration• Declaration meant that the colonies were one

nation• Most in Georgia were excited by the Declaration

of Independence, but some returned to England• Georgians began to prepare for war

− Sent food & ammunition to the Continental Army− Began to strengthen Georgia militia

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• Georgia’s (&other colonies) new goal was statehood• This meant a new method of government must be decided• Work was begun on a new constitution

• Some wanted government to remain in control of wealthy landowners

• Some (Whigs) wanted everyone to have a chance to govern themselves

• Whigs won & new government was to based upon:• the separation of powers • the rights of citizens to agree with how they were

governed

Political Changes in Georgia

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Constitution of Georgia• May 1777-first state constitution was adopted in

Savannah• Eight counties were formed to replace parish system• New constitution replaced bi-cameral legislature with

unicameral legislature• Powers of the governor were extremely limited

− One-year terms− Selected by legislature instead of people− This left the 12 member executive council with most of

the power (they could accept or reject any governor proposal)

− John Treutlen, a Salzburger, was the first state governor

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Articles of Confederation• First constitution of United States (1781)• Ratified by Georgia in 1778

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Revolutionary War in Georgia• 1777 & 1778 – Georgian members of

Continental Army tried unsuccessfully to take over British controlled St. Augustine & parts of east Florida

• December 1778 – British troops attacked and took control of Savannah

• January 1779 – British troops took over port of Sunbury

• Georgia’s army was understaffed and poorly armed – there was little they could do to stop the British

• Georgia was again under British military rule− Governor Wright returned to take charge

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Battle of Kettle Creek• Morale in the colonies was low• February 1779 – Georgia finally had a victory• Rebel group led by Colonel Elijah Clarke

defeated a force of more than 800 troops at the Battle of Kettle Creek

• This battle was a minor one, but very important to GA− Gave the troops much needed weapons & horses

from British soldiers− Improved morale of militia

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Siege of Savannah• September 1779 – 4,000 French troops joined

American forces to lay siege to Savannah• October 1779 – American & French troops

attacked British positions− Attack failed− Over 1,000 American & French forces were killed− Savannah was to remain in British hands for 3 ½

more years

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Nancy Hart• Georgia’s most famous war heroine• In 1771, Hart’s neighbor, John Dooley, was murdered by

Tories• A few days later, five Tories stopped by Mrs. Hart’s house

& demanded she feed them dinner− She overheard them bragging about the murder

• She gave them whiskey to drink and sent her daughters to get help

• As she served them, Nancy Hart quietly took their rifles− One of the men noticed when she took the third rifle− When they went after her, Mrs. Hart shot one of the

men & took another rifle and held the rest at gunpoint until help arrived

− The rest of the Tories were eventually put on trial and hanged

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Battle of Yorktown• George Washington & the Continental Army

received help from the French to win this battle• French forces delayed the arrival of ships

carrying 6,000 British troops to Yorktown, VA• American forces won the battle and General

Cornwallis of Britain was forced to surrender• By 1782, British forces in Savannah believed

they could not defeat the Americans and left• The Treaty of Paris was signed by Great Britain,

France, and the United States in September1783− Independence was a reality!

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Blacks in the American Revolution• One of the men who fought alongside Elijah

Clarke in the Battle of Kettle Creek was Austin Dabney (freeborn mulatto)

• He had come from North Carolina with a man who did not want to serve in the militia, so he recommended Dabney serve in his place

• Dabney served honorably and was wounded in battle

• After the war, veterans were given land to repay them for their service− Some did not want Dabney to receive the land,

but he eventually did and made the land very profitable

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Blacks in the Revolutionary War• Other blacks served in the War• Virginia proposed freeing all slaves who were

willing to fight• Some people, fearing slave rebellion, were afraid

to arm slaves• Georgia & South Carolina were the only two states

to refuse to legalize slave enlistments• After the war, antislavery sentiment mounted

• Many blacks were given freedom & land after the war

• In the south, the decline of crops made farmers reluctant to free their slaves

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Looking Back at the Revolution• Clearly Britain began the war at an advantage:

− Strong central government− Better, more professional army− Strong Navy− Well-financed− Divided loyalty of colonists

• The colonists had a few advantages, but they could not be overcome by England:− Fighting on their home soil− British were far from home (difficulty getting

supplies)− No central area that could be captured (spread out)− Battle areas were forests & swamps unfamiliar to

British