1. North Carolina Constitution
December 18, 1776
Created a General Assembly, House of Commons and a Senate
Each County elected two members to the House of Commons and one member to the Senate. All free men who paid taxes, could vote for House member. But only those who owned at least 50 acres of land could vote for senators.
Not Allowed to hold office: clergymen, Roman Catholics, Jews, and atheists.

2. War in the North
By November 1776, Long Island, New York City, and Fort Lee in New Jersey were under British control.
Washington led his army through New Jersey and across the Delaware river into Pennsylvania.

3. War in the North
On Christmas night 1776, Washington attacked a group of Hessians—German soldiers fighting for the British—stationed in Trenton.
Washington crossed the Delaware river surprising the Hessians and won the Battle of Trenton.

4. War in the North
The British sent three armies to meet in Albany and cut off New England from the remainder of the colonies.
The plan fails
Battle of Saratoga: October 17, The Patriots win the battle marking the turning point of the American Revolution.

5. War in the South
By 1778, The British had not restored royal authority in the middle colonies.
December 1778: The British army (by sea) captured Savannah and restored royal authority in Georgia.
Spring 1779: 13,000 men capture Charles Town.

6. Lord Cornwallis
Orders: to hold Georgia and South Carolina, and retake North Carolina.

7. 1780 A hot and humid summer North Carolina prepares for invasion
George Washington sent General Horatio Gates to Hillsborough with 2,000 men.

8. June 20th, 1780: Battle of Ramsours Mill
Near Present Day Lincolnton
Loyalists vs Patriots
400 American militia defeated 1300 Loyalists
Fought between neighbors
Significant because it lowered loyalist morale

9. Battle Of Camden August 16, 1780 Cornwallis vs Gates
1,500 British vs 3,700 American
Humiliating defeat for the Americans

10. North Carolina Invaded
On September 8, 1780: Lord Cornwallis finally set out from Camden for Charlotte
Cornwallis found that few Loyalists rose to support him; instead Patriots followers rose to attack him along the whole way.
By the time Cornwallis reached Charlotte, he had decided that he was in the “hornets nest” of the revolution.

11. Battle of Charlotte Battle of Charlotte: September 26, 1780
Led by William Davie
The battle takes place at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. (Now Trade and Tryon BOA building)
Small skirmish, upon which Cornwallis occupied Charlotte.

12. General Tarleton
Nicknamed “The Butcher” “Bloody Ban”

13. Battle of Kings Mountain
British Major Patrick Ferguson was sent by Cornwallis with 1,100 men towards the mountains.
Mission: To raise more troops and protect the main armies flank.
The Over-Mountain Men chased Ferguson and his men up Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780.
They killed Ferguson and 119 of his men. The rest were captured or wounded.
Significance: Caused Cornwallis to retreat back to South Carolina. Victory stopped the invasion of NC.