1. The Revolutionary War in South Carolina
8.2.5
Summarize of the role of South Carolinians in the course of the American Revolution.

2. After the Olive Branch Petition
King George sends 20,000 troops to the colonies…
½ are sent to New York (Major port city in the North), but after Britain’s defeat at Saratoga, NY, the British turn their attention to South Carolina.
½ are sent to Charleston (Major port city in the South)

3. “Don’t Tread on Me” Flags
Revolutionary Flags
“Don’t Tread on Me” Flags
Join or Die Flag

4. Different Points of View
In the early months of the war, most of the people in the Lowcountry were in favor of fighting the British and achieving independence.
Many in the Backcountry, especially the old Regulators, were not so enthusiastic…they still mistrusted the wealthy Lowcountry planters.

5. Key conflicts of the American Revolution took place in South Carolina and affected the outcome of the war.

6. Different Points of View
Loyalist = an American colonist who stays loyal to the British and King George III.
Patriot = an American colonist who opposes the British and wants to be independent of Great Britain.

7. South Carolina’s New Government
March 26, 1776 – South Carolina’s Second Provincial Congress (which replaced the royal governor), adopts a new constitution for the state
The leader of the state was known as the President of South Carolina
The first “president” of the state was John Rutledge

8. The President of South Carolina – John Rutledge

9. The British Try to Capture Charles Town…Part One
Early 1776 – Patriot Leaders in Charles Town hear that the British might try to capture the city
On Sullivan’s Island, Patriots under Colonel William Moultrie build a fort from palmetto logs to protect the city called Fort Moultrie.
On June 28, 1776, a fleet of British ships attacked the fort

10. Palmetto Trees along the SC Coast

11. The British Try to Capture Charles Town…Part One
The British ships pounded the fort for hours, but the palmetto logs were soft and absorbed most of the British shots
Meanwhile, the Patriot cannons severely damaged many of the British ships
Eventually, the British give up…Charles Town is saved!

12. The Battle of Sullivan’s Island

13. The British Try to Capture Charles Town…Part One
During the battle, the flag flying over the fort was shot down
Sergeant William Jasper jumps up and puts the flag back up on top of the wall
He becomes the first state hero

14. William Jasper at the Fort

15. SC State Flag
Crescent- from the hats of the soldiers that fought at the fort
Color- comes from the color of the Patriot soldiers uniforms
Palmetto Tree- Put on to “honor” the spongy nature of the tree which helped absorb all the British shots

16. Crescent
Color
Palmetto Tree

17. The British Try to Capture Charles Town…Part Two
For more than two years after the battle at Sullivan’s Island, there was little fighting in SC…
…until the British decided once again to capture Charles Town
Fall of Charleston (May 12, 1781)- Terrible Patriot defeat; the Patriot Army surrenders (5,000 men), Charleston harbor was blockaded and supply lines cut off.

18. Captured in Charles Town were Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr
Captured in Charles Town were Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., and Arthur Middleton, as well as Lt. Gov. Christopher Gadsden
They were all sent to prison in St. Augustine, Florida
The British hoped that SC Loyalists would help them control the state but the Patriot partisans will form new fighting militias all over the state

19. Disaster at Camden
Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780)- Patriot forces in SC under General Horatio Gates suffer a terrible defeat.
Now almost all of South Carolina controlled by the British!

20. Disaster at Camden
Out of 4100 Patriot Army troops, only 700 survive and retreat back to safety.
Horatio Gate’s command of southern army of the Continental Army transferred to Nathaniel Greene who used the partisans to his advantage, “mobile war” technique.

21. Camden, SC

22. IMPORTANT SC’ers
With the Southern Patriot army destroyed, several SC fighters like Francis Marion and Thomas Sumter led a guerrilla war against the British

23. IMPORTANT SC’ers
Men like Francis Marion (Swamp Fox), Andrew Pickens (Wizard Owl), and Thomas Sumter (the Gamecock) kept Patriot morale up and continually bothered the British in SC.

24. Andrew Pickens
Francis Marion
Thomas Sumter

25. Patriot Victories in SC
The Battle of King’s Mountain 1780– A small Patriot army wipes out a small part of the British/Loyalist army in SC. A turning point in the war because the British began to retreat from the Upcountry!
Every British/Loyalist in this small army is killed or captured, to retaliate for the harsh treatment of Patriots by the British.

26. Patriot Victories in SC
Battle of Cowpens 1781 – Another small Patriot army surprises the British and completely defeats them under the leadership of partisan, Andrew Pickens.

27. Patriot victories in SC
Battle of Eutaw Springs many British officers taken as prisoners and seen as a victory for partisan forces.

28. The End of the Revolution
In October 1781, the main British Army surrenders at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the American Revolution.
The last British troops leave Charles Town in December 1782.