(EVENTS, PEOPLE, AND BATTLES) The Road to the AMERICAN REVOLUTION (EVENTS, PEOPLE, AND BATTLES)

How did the Georgia colonists feel? Many colonists did not like the taxes imposed by Britain, but Georgia had been very prosperous and grown under British rule. Merchants relied on British trade. Many colonists felt like they should be able to take part in making the laws. Georgians also still feared attacks by the Native Americans if they were not protected by Britain. CAN YOU THINK OF OTHER REASONS?

1774 First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia- Georgia did not send a delegate Why do you believe that Georgia was not present at the 1st Continental Congress

First Continental Congress 1774- Philadelphia Reps- all colonies except GA Passed resolves- intentions: Boycott all British trade until Intolerable Acts repealed Told MA colonists- form gov’t and hold all taxes until act repealed Encouraged colonists- arm selves- form militias

Georgia’s Response to the Acts NO delegates to the First Continental Congress Most Georgians followed old rules A minority group of 30 men met twice at Peter Tondee’s Tavern about the Acts LIBERTY BOYS http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid10172900001?bctid=1697222356 GA felt needed to keep good relations with the British- military and economy

A Colony Divided Loyalists- Colonists who supported Great Britain Patriots- Colonists who supported the revolution Even at the point of the first battle in the war for independence, many Georgians were undecided as to who they supported

The Shot Heard Round the World April 1775 Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the Revolutionary War Colonists had to decide whether they were Loyalists (loyal to Britain) or Patriots (rebelled against Britain) Loyalists were also called Tories Patriots were also called Whigs

Paul Revere’s House

Old North Church

Boston North End- near Paul Revere’s House

Loyalists and Patriots in GA Loyalists (Tories) most numerous in GA- felt England was helping them Quakers and the Salzburgers Many in coastal Georgia since merchants Patriots (Whigs) hated the taxes imposed on them Scots around Darien, the Jews in Savannah Upcountry area, Augusta

Moving Towards Independence

The Second Continental Congress 1775 Reps met in Philadelphia and voted to cut off trade with GA because of its early actions and lack of action. A Continental Army is created and George Washington is General.

GA and the 2nd Continental Congress 3 representatives to be sent to Philadelphia. Georgia joined the other colonies and : 1-boycott of British goods and 2-threatened to declare independence if not given rights as Brit citizens

Decision of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence Georgia delegates signed the Declaration Lyman Hall Button Gwinnett George Walton July 4, 1776, Congress adopted the document August 2, 1776, Congress signed the document

Button Gwinnett Planter who was elected to Georgia’s Commons House of Assembly in 1769 Joined the Continental Congress in 1776 Helped pass Georgia’s first constitution in 1777, and was appointed Georgia’s Commander in Chief Died May 19, 1777 In a dual with another military leader

George Walton Patriot- Very active in the revolutionary government Captured by British in Savannah in 1778 1779 released and elected Governor of colony Served again as representative in congress In early years of republic, he served as Chief Justice of Georgia, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, part of the electoral college, governor, US Senator, and justice of state superior court.

Lyman Hall Owned plantation in Georgia Elected to Continental Congress involved in provisioning food and medicine for the Revolutionary Armies Fled to Connecticut when his property was burned by British and he was accused of High Treason returned to Georgia in 1782, to reclaim his lands, was elected to the House of Assembly in 1783 and then elevated to the office of the Governor

Georgia Takes Action Nobel W. Jones and Joseph Habersham led a group of Patriots in stealing 600 pounds of “royal” gunpowder in Savannah. Governor Wright sent a letter to England requesting more troops, but the South Carolinians intercepted it and sent a fake letter saying things were okay in GA. Provincial Congress to govern

Fighting In Georgia Battle of the Rice Boats – 1776 Took place in the Savannah Harbor-PATRIOTS burned rice boats to keep the British from getting the rice- Gov. Wright captured and left on British ship Three attempts to capture land in East Florida Battle of Savannah - December 1778 - 700 Patriots against 2000 British The British troops captured Savannah, Wright returns as Governor Britain captures Sunbury, Midway and then Augusta-The Creek helped them gain control of Georgia

Fighting In Georgia Battle of Kettle Creek – January 1779 Patriots with Colonels Elijah Clarke and Austin Dabney, along with General Nathaniel Greene from South Carolina defeated the Loyalist militia at Augusta small battle, showed Patriot power Patriots gained ammunition, guns, horses Success won over many neutral colonists Ended British threat in back country

Siege of Savannah-Fall 1779 Patriots attempt to retake the city of Savannah Three week battle Attack failed 1000 Patriots/allies killed SAVANNAH UNDER ATTACK: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid10172900001?bctid=1672104368

End of the War Colonel Elijah Clarke led GA and SC troops in taking back Augusta, June 1781 British General Cornwallis was defeated at the Battle of Yorktown- last battle- Oct. 1781 Spring 1782 - British troops gave up Savannah and left Georgia The signing of the Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolution-1783

Important People of the Revolutionary War Era Austin Dabney – Free man of mixed parentage – Fought at Kettle Creek and was wounded – Revolutionary War hero, 1st Black to own land in GA Nancy Hart – Held 5-6 British soldiers or Tories at gunpoint in her house – Hart County is named for her and is the only county in GA named for a woman THE NANCY HART STORY http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid10172900001?bctid=1672039382

Creating a Government FOR THE COUNTRY: FOR THE STATE: ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 1778 FOR THE STATE: FIRST GEORGIA CONSTITUTION 1777

Articles of Confederation First form of a constitution Button Gwinnett helped in writing them Congress could declare war, sign treaties, deliver mail, and create money States had the most power but only one vote each in Congress

Weaknesses of the Articles Congress could not collect taxes, so it couldn’t pay for the war Congress could not control trade or enforce laws Congress could not pay the soldiers, so they gave many of them land instead Shay’s Rebellion showed that the Articles needed to be revised

Constitutional Convention of 1787 This convention was held to write a new Constitution 2 Georgia reps who signed Constitution: 1-Abraham Baldwin and 2-William Few

GA’s State Constitution Georgia’s first constitution set up a unicameral legislature (1 house) Georgia’s second constitution set up a bicameral legislature (2 houses) The bicameral consists of a Senate and a House of Reps. Also, GA set up 3 branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive