1. Chapter 12 & 13 8-3 The New Government The Constitution

2. Tensions between the Upcountry and Lowcountry of SC Lowcountry Patriots First area settled in the state and plantation owners gre rich from export of rice and indigo Dominated by the planter elite whoe economic wellbeing depended on their slave holdings. Ravaged by British during the war taking slaves, livestock and goods British offered no payback after the war. Planters owed money to creditors in England they could not pay back. American government unable to pay for the goods it had commandeered during the fighting. Upcountry Loyalists Was called Backcountry\ Viewed as uncivilized because original settlers were traders and woodsmen. Subsitence farmers who worked the land Owned few slaves, no large plantations Ravaged by British during the war taking slaves, livestock and goods.

3. Economic Problems Poor crop yields made it even more difficult to recover economically. Problems persisted until the early 1800s when cotton became a new cash crop.

4. Upcountry’s Thoughts Larger white population living in the Upcountry, but most of the political power rested in the Lowcountry. Charleston was the capital so the Charleston elite had a greater influence on the government. Upcountry people had to travel very far to present issues to the legislature.

5. Lowcountry’s Thoughts Feared Upcountry did not support slavery. Cotton gin made cotton a good cash crop in the Upcountry and thus the Upcountry had greater need for slave labor. Compromise of 1808 agreed to reapportionment which meant that Representation was to be based equally on the white population and the amount of taxable property (slaves). Those areas with the most slaves had most control over the legislature but now both the Lowcountry and the Upcountry had their share of slaves which meant their share of political power.

6. South Carolina Constitution Adopted first constitution even before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Written by the provincial government and was to serve as the foundation of government until the disagreement with England could be resolved. Provided for a two house legislature: lower house elected by the people and the upper house elected by the lower house. President elected by the legislature and had the right to veto laws. Lowcountry had more representation in new government than did the Upcountry.

7. Excerpt From Constitution of South Carolina Constitution of South Carolina March 19, 1778 An Act for establishing the constitution of the State of South Carolina. Whereas the constitution or form of government agreed to and resolved upon by the freemen of this country, met in congress, the twenty-sixth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and: seventy-six, was temporary only, and suited to the situation of their public affairs at that period, looking forward to an accommodation with Great Britain, an event then desired; and whereas the United Colonies of America have been since constituted independent States, and the political connection heretofore subsisting between them and Great Britain entirely dissolved by the declaration of the honorable the Continental Congress, dated the fourth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, for the many great and weighty reasons therein particularly set forth: It therefore becomes absolutely necessary to frame a constitution suitable to that great event. Be it therefore constituted and enacted, by his excellency Rawlins Lowndes, esq., president and commander-in-chief in and over the State of South Carolina, by the honorable the legislative council and general assembly, and by the authority of the same: That the following articles, agreed upon by the freemen of this State, now met in general assembly, be deemed and held the constitution and form of government of the said State, unless altered by the legislative authority thereof, which constitution or form of government shall immediately take place and be in force from the passing of this act, excepting such parts as are hereafter mentioned and specified.

8. Second Constitution of South Carolina Written after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Included only a few changes. President would now be called the governor. Representation was more equally distributed. Church of England was no longer the official, state- supported church of South Carolina.

9. SC representatives were wealthy men from lowcountry (John Rutledge, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Lynch, Henry Middleton and Christopher Gadsden) John Rutledge served on the committee that drafted a letter to the British people explaining the colonist’s position. Lynch and Gadsden served on a committee which designed an agreement stating the colonists would not buy or sell any British goods. First Continental Congress

10. Continental Congress Representative John Rutledge Edward Rutledge Thomas Lynch, Jr. Henry Middleton Christopher Gadsden

11. Second Continental Congress SC delegation was a first split on issue of independence and voted against independence. Second vote, they voted in favor of independence. (no historical reason for this change) SC signers of the Declaration of Independence: Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, Thomas Lynch, Jr., and Thomas Heyward,Jr. Henry Laurens served as president of the Continental Congress and on the committee that negotiated the Treaty of Paris.

12. Signers from SC-Declaration of Independence Edward Rutledge Arthur Middleton Thomas Lynch, Jr. Thomas Heyward

13. President of the Continental Congress and On the Committee that negotiated the Treaty of Paris Henry Laurens

14. SC’s Role in the Writing of the Constitution in 1787 Philadelphia Convention: called to solve the problems of the government under the Articles of Confederation. Henry Laurens and Charles Pinckney were selected as delegates. Laurens was unable to attend due to illness. South Carolina supported the establishment of a stronger national government in a new constitution. SC supported the creation of a three branch government with a legislature, judiciary, and executive branch. SC supported the plan that based representation on population supported by large states. This would give SC and other populous states more voice in the new government.

15. SC’s Role in the Writing of the Constitution in 1787 SC supported the Great Compromise that provided for equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. SC wanted slaves to be counted in determining representation in the new government. Northern states did not want slaves counted. SC did not support the Three-Fifths Compromise that resolved this debate. SC objected to any regulation of exports since SC exported its cash crops and feared any control of the international slave trade. Compromise reached: the federal government would not tax exports or attempt to regulate the international slave trade for at least 20 years.

16. South Carolina Ratifying Convention Held in Charleston despite the fact that the state capital had already been moved to Columbia. Lowcountry elite had more representation and it was easier for even non delegates to influence the proceedings held int heir city. Backcountry men lived too far away to have a voice. Anit-Federalists were backcountry opponents of the new constitution and opposed a stronger federal government. They feared the elite would have too much power in such a government and abuse the rights of individual. They also feared the national government would be located far wasy from the people who had enough trouble influencing their own state government.

17. 8 th State to join the United States of America Charles Pinckney and other members of the elite, who called themselves Federalists, argued for a strong government that could be influential in foreign affairs and establish better trade relations that would restore economic stability. The anti-Federalists were outvoted and South Carolina ratified the Constitution, thus making it the 8 th state to join the United States of America.