2. Regulators were small backcountry farmers (yeomen) living in the western side of the state, what is now the piedmont, that tried to regulate corrupt government and high unfair taxes.

3. The frontier was between Statesville and Hickory, beyond Hickory was Indian land in the 1760’s. Hickory

4. Government officials in the backcountry, including sheriffs, land agents, register of deeds and others began charging yeomen extra taxes illegally. Edmund Fanning, a Government official in Orange county, was one of the most hated and corrupt backcountry governmental officials in colonial North Carolina

5. Many small farmers were poor and didn’t have the money to pay. If they didn’t pay, sheriffs would jail them or seize property such as horses and land as payment. Typical backcountry yeoman house

6. These farmers began to band together and riots broke out in several backcountry counties in 1766.

7. Regulator County Hotbeds Rowan Anson Cumberland OrangeGranville

8. Regulator County Hotbeds Rowan Anson Cumberland OrangeGranville

9. In 1765, Regulators attacked groups of surveyors over confiscated land in Mecklenburg county, this became known as the War of Sugar Creek.

10. 1767, the colonial assembly approved the building of Tryon Palace. Farmers were upset at the new tax. The Palace was completed in 1770 and Governor Tryon was moved in.

12. In 1768, riots broke out in several counties including Salisbury, where Regulators broke the jail open and freed the prisoners and then burned it down.

13. In 1768, 3,700 Regulators faced off with the colonial militia at Hillsborough in Orange county. It ended peacefully, however when the Governor Tryon convinced the Regulators to disperse.

14. In 1770, 150 Regulators overran the courthouse in Hillsborough, dragged Edmund Fanning out into the street and publicly whipped him. Then they broke in and trashed his home.

15. On May 9, 1771, 9 young men from Concord, darkened their faces and sabotaged a colonial government gun powder wagon headed through Concord and Salisbury toward Hillsborough.

16. On May 16, 1771, The Regulators fought the colonial militia led by Governor Tryon at Alamance Creek in Orange county. vs.

17. The Regulators were defeated in a 2 hour battle. Although the Regulators outnumbered the militia 2,000 to 1,500, the Regulators had little ammunition, were under equipped and lacked military leadership. Battle of Alamance Video

18. 2013 Field Trip to Alamance Battleground

20. This defeat ended the Regulator movement. All but 7 Regulators were pardoned, 6 of the Regulators were hanged a month later.