Georgia and the American Experience Chapter 5: From Royalty to Independence, Part 2 Study Presentation Mr. Smith’s Classes

Georgia and the American Experience Section 3: The Call for Independence Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period

Section 3: The Call for Independence ESSENTIAL QUESTION –How was Georgia’s role in the Revolutionary War affected by the attitudes of the colonists?

Section 3: The Call for Independence What words do I need to know? –Tories –Patriots –Boycotts –Proclamation of 1763 –Liberty Boys –Acts (Sugar, Stamp, Townsend, Quartering)

Americans were for the most part happy with their lives in the colonies. They enjoyed freedom of religion, the opportunity to work and prosper, and were proud to be part of the British Empire.

Colonists Become Unhappy with British Acts Great Britain needed money; much debt and security expenses resulted from the French and Indian War Sugar Act: tax on sugar and molasses imported from the West Indies Stamp Act: tax on newspapers, legal documents, and licenses Georgians disapproved of these acts

King George III was not a tyrannical king. He was overtaken by events that he could not control: debt from the French and Indian War and Parliamentary demands that the colonists pay for the war since they gained the most from the British victory. He also failed to realize that many colonists considered themselves just as American as they were British.

King George III’s hobby was pig farming!

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, took the colonists’ side in Parliamentary debates over taxation. He maintained that Americans should not be subject to any taxes that were not levied on all British subjects.

The Boston Tea Party led to the Quartering Act.

The Quartering Act required colonists to house and feed British Troops at their own expense.

Paul Revere’s woodcut of the “Boston Massacre.” Only a few Americans were killed, among them Crispus Attucks, a free black.

The Liberty Boys Georgians who came together to oppose the Stamp Act Part of larger group, the “Sons of Liberty” Some called them “Liberty Brawlers” Met in taverns, such as Savannah’s Tondee’s Tavern Georgia only colony to actually sell the stamps Stamp Act was eventually repealed Tondee’s Tavern, Savannah

Protests Increase Noble Wimberly Jones, speaker of Georgia colonial assembly, led Townshend Act protests Townshend Acts: placed import taxes on tea, paper, glass, and coloring for paints “No taxation without representation” Governor Wright disbanded the assembly to try to end the protests

Continental Congress Met in Philadelphia in September 1774 to protest “Intolerable Acts” levied against the Massachusetts colonists Galloway Act Georgia was not represented Urged colonies to establish “Committees of Safety” Agreed to stop all trade with Britain Carried on its work in secret “Provincial Congress” held in Savannah in January 1775; less than one-half of Georgia’s parishes were represented

The English saw the colonies in much the same way a parent would see unruly children.

Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period ESSENTIAL QUESTION –Why was there an American Revolution?

Section 4: The American Revolution What words do I need to know? –Second Continental Congress –Declaration of Independence –ratify –Articles of Confederation –siege –Treaty of Paris (1783)

Second Continental Congress Met in Philadelphia after Lexington and Concord battles Authorized Continental Army Georgia’s Lyman Hall arrived in May 1775 (1 st Georgian to go to Congress) Patrick Henry – “Give me liberty or give me death!”

England was very upset with the colonists’ creation of the Continental Army.

The British planned a surprise attack on Lexington, a storage place for colonial arms. Paul Revere overheard these British plans. On April 18th, Revere rode out in the middle of the night to warn colonial militia of the approaching British.

After being routed at Concord, American militia fought off British troops at Concord. (“the shot heard round the world”)

Antique Revere silver service Revere’s home, Boston, MA

Georgia’s Second Provincial Congress Held at Tondee’s Tavern in Savannah in July 1775 Archibald Bulloch, John Houstoun, Noble Wimberly Jones, and Reverend John Zubly chosen to represent Georgia 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

Declaration of Independence Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” pamphlet encourage colonies to break from Great Britain; sold more than 500,000 copies 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 The American strategy

John Locke – governments derive their power from the consent of the governed.

Battle of Trenton Washington's defeat of Hessian troops gave American morale a great boost.

Hessian troops were German mercenaries and considered to be the best-trained and discipline troops in the world.

John Paul Jones, captain of Bonhomme Richard, defeated the British frigate Serapis.

Georgia’s First State Constitution About one-third of Georgians remained loyal to Great Britain; they were called Tories The Whigs influenced a state constitution allowing separation of powers and giving citizens rights to agree how they were governed May 1777: Constitution adopted at Constitutional Convention in Savannah Eight counties formed: Burke, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Richmond, Wilkes, and Liberty

The 1777 Georgia Constitution The governor’s power was limited Executive Council (12 legislators) held greatest power Council could overrule the governor’s decisions John Treutlen appointed Georgia’s first governor Georgia’s 1777 Constitution changed in 1789

The Articles of Confederation First Constitution of the United States of America Ratified (approved) on July 4, 1776 Went into effect in January 1781, when ratified by Maryland and Virginia Major Weakness – Congress could not collect taxes

Revolutionary War Fighting in Georgia Savannah captured and looted by British troops in December 1778; lootings, murders, and burnings occurred Sunbury port captured in early 1779; Augusta was also attacked Georgia militia not effective against well- trained British troops Governor Wright eventually returned from Great Britain to govern Georgia

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 and Georgians seeking independence Won badly-needed weapons and horses from the British

Siege of Savannah (1779) 15,000 Americans and 4,000 French laid siege to Savannah Attack on October 9 resulted in 1,000 American and French deaths in less than an hour; only 40 British troops died Polish Count Casimir Pulaski killed Savannah remained under British control for nearly four more years Guerrilla warfare continued in the Georgia backcountry

French map from the Siege of Savannah Sergeant William Jasper Monument, Savannah

Georgia Wartime Heroes Nancy Hart single-handedly captured a group of British loyalists who bragged of murdering an American colonel; Hart County is the only county named for a woman Austin Dabney fought with distinction and was wounded at Kettle Creek; he also saved Elijah Clarke’s life during that battle

Nathanael Greene was one of Washington's best generals. He lived in Savannah after the war and died at his plantation, Mulberry Grove. He and a son, George Washington Greene, are buried underneath the Greene monument in Johnson Square. Greene was the only person other than Washington to hold the rank of General for the duration of the war.

The War Ends Elijah Clarke, the Georgia Militia, and the Continental Army regained Augusta from British in June 1781; 11 battles or skirmishes fought in Georgia during the war George Washington, with French help, forced British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in October 1781 (French contributions: navy, money) British left Savannah in the spring of 1782 Treaty of Paris (September 1783) ended war; treaty was signed by United States, Great Britain, and France

Lord Cornwallis was forced to surrender to Washington when he lost the Battle of Yorktown.