1. (EVENTS, PEOPLE, AND BATTLES)
The Road to the
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
(EVENTS, PEOPLE, AND BATTLES)

2. How did the Georgia colonists feel?
Many colonists did not like the taxes imposed by Britain, but Georgia had been very prosperous and grown under British rule.
Merchants relied on British trade.
Many colonists felt like they should be able to take part in making the laws.
Georgians also still feared attacks by the Native Americans if they were not protected by Britain.
CAN YOU THINK OF OTHER REASONS?

3. 1774
First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia- Georgia did not send a delegate
Why do you believe that Georgia was not present at the 1st Continental Congress

4. First Continental Congress
1774- Philadelphia
Reps- all colonies except GA
Passed resolves- intentions:
Boycott all British trade until Intolerable Acts repealed
Told MA colonists- form gov’t and hold all taxes until act repealed
Encouraged colonists- arm selves- form militias

5. Georgia’s Response to the Acts
NO delegates to the First Continental Congress
Most Georgians followed old rules
A minority group of 30 men met twice at Peter Tondee’s Tavern about the Acts
LIBERTY BOYS
GA felt needed to keep good relations with the British- military and economy

6. A Colony Divided Loyalists- Colonists who supported Great Britain
Patriots- Colonists who supported the revolution
Even at the point of the first battle in the war for independence, many Georgians were undecided as to who they supported

7. The Shot Heard Round the World April 1775
Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the Revolutionary War
Colonists had to decide whether they were Loyalists (loyal to Britain) or Patriots (rebelled against Britain)
Loyalists were also called Tories
Patriots were also called Whigs

8. Paul Revere’s House

9. Old North Church

10. Boston North End- near Paul Revere’s House

11. Loyalists and Patriots in GA
Loyalists (Tories) most numerous in GA- felt England was helping them
Quakers and the Salzburgers
Many in coastal Georgia since merchants
Patriots (Whigs) hated the taxes imposed on them
Scots around Darien, the Jews in Savannah
Upcountry area, Augusta

12. Moving Towards Independence

13. The Second Continental Congress
1775
Reps met in Philadelphia and voted to cut off trade with GA because of its early actions and lack of action.
A Continental Army is created and George Washington is General.

14. GA and the 2nd Continental Congress
3 representatives to be sent to Philadelphia.
Georgia joined the other colonies and :
1-boycott of British goods and
2-threatened to declare independence if not given rights as Brit citizens

15. Decision of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence
Georgia delegates signed the Declaration
Lyman Hall
Button Gwinnett
George Walton
July 4, 1776, Congress adopted the document
August 2, 1776, Congress signed the document

16. Button Gwinnett
Planter who was elected to Georgia’s Commons House of Assembly in 1769
Joined the Continental Congress in 1776
Helped pass Georgia’s first constitution in 1777, and was appointed Georgia’s Commander in Chief
Died May 19, 1777
In a dual with another military leader

17. George Walton Patriot- Very active in the revolutionary government
Captured by British in Savannah in 1778
1779 released and elected Governor of colony
Served again as representative in congress
In early years of republic, he served as Chief Justice of Georgia, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, part of the electoral college, governor, US Senator, and justice of state superior court.

18. Lyman Hall Owned plantation in Georgia Elected to Continental Congress
involved in provisioning food and medicine for the Revolutionary
Armies
Fled to Connecticut when his property was burned by British and he was accused of High Treason
returned to Georgia in 1782, to reclaim his lands, was elected to the House of Assembly in 1783 and then elevated to the office of the Governor

19. Georgia Takes Action
Nobel W. Jones and Joseph Habersham led a group of Patriots in stealing 600 pounds of “royal” gunpowder in Savannah.
Governor Wright sent a letter to England requesting more troops, but the South Carolinians intercepted it and sent a fake letter saying things were okay in GA.
Provincial Congress to govern

20. Fighting In Georgia
Battle of the Rice Boats – Took place in the Savannah Harbor-PATRIOTS burned rice boats to keep the British from getting the rice- Gov. Wright captured and left on British ship
Three attempts to capture land in East Florida
Battle of Savannah - December Patriots against 2000 British
The British troops captured Savannah, Wright returns as Governor
Britain captures Sunbury, Midway and then Augusta-The Creek helped them gain control of Georgia

21. Fighting In Georgia Battle of Kettle Creek – January 1779
Patriots with Colonels Elijah Clarke and Austin Dabney, along with General Nathaniel Greene from South Carolina defeated the Loyalist militia at Augusta
small battle, showed Patriot power
Patriots gained ammunition, guns, horses
Success won over many neutral colonists
Ended British threat in back country

22. Siege of Savannah-Fall 1779
Patriots attempt to retake the city of Savannah
Three week battle
Attack failed
1000 Patriots/allies killed
SAVANNAH UNDER ATTACK:

23. End of the War
Colonel Elijah Clarke led GA and SC troops in taking back Augusta, June 1781
British General Cornwallis was defeated at the Battle of Yorktown- last battle- Oct. 1781
Spring British troops gave up Savannah and left Georgia
The signing of the Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolution-1783

24. Important People of the Revolutionary War Era
Austin Dabney – Free man of mixed parentage – Fought at Kettle Creek and was wounded – Revolutionary War hero, 1st Black to own land in GA
Nancy Hart – Held 5-6 British soldiers or Tories at gunpoint in her house – Hart County is named for her and is the only county in GA named for a woman
THE NANCY HART STORY

25. Creating a Government FOR THE COUNTRY: FOR THE STATE:
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 1778
FOR THE STATE:
FIRST GEORGIA CONSTITUTION 1777

26. Articles of Confederation
First form of a constitution
Button Gwinnett helped in writing them
Congress could declare war, sign treaties, deliver mail, and create money
States had the most power but only one vote each in Congress

27. Weaknesses of the Articles
Congress could not collect taxes, so it couldn’t pay for the war
Congress could not control trade or enforce laws
Congress could not pay the soldiers, so they gave many of them land instead
Shay’s Rebellion showed that the Articles needed to be revised

28. Constitutional Convention of 1787
This convention was held to write a new Constitution
2 Georgia reps who signed Constitution:
1-Abraham Baldwin and
2-William Few

29. GA’s State Constitution
Georgia’s first constitution set up a unicameral legislature (1 house)
Georgia’s second constitution set up a bicameral legislature (2 houses)
The bicameral consists of a Senate and a House of Reps. Also, GA set up 3 branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive