Topic 2.4: Reactions of Colonists
Introduction
Not all South Carolinians, indeed not all American colonists, agreed that the colonies should be independent from Great Britain. The perspectives and roles of different South Carolinians during the American Revolution led to a civil war within South Carolina and impacted the success of the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War.
The Patriots
Patriots were colonists who supported the Continental Congress and independence. Lowcountry South Carolina Patriots created a provisional government to control the colony during the war. The political leaders were wealthy white men who were land owners and supported independence. South Carolina Patriots volunteered as soldiers to fight in colonial militias and with Patriot partisan groups.
The Loyalists
South Carolina Loyalists, who remained loyal to the King and Great Britain, volunteered to fight on the side of the British. There were more Loyalists in South Carolina than in any of the other colonies, except New York. Most soldiers in the backcountry / upcountry were Loyalists, or Tories as the American Patriots angrily referred to them. Many of the backcountry people were not true loyalists in principal, but instead wished to live their lives without interference. An example would be the number of backcountry German immigrants who had no allegiance to either the King or to the principles of democracy. Lowcountry Patriots and backcountry Loyalists fought each other in the Revolutionary War (SC men versus SC men). When the war ended, many Loyalists voluntarily left South Carolina for the Caribbean or Canada. Others were fined or run out of town.
Reaction of Women
Some South Carolina women were Patriots, others were Loyalists and others wished to not be involved in the war. Women managed farms and plantations when men were away. Some served as messengers or nurses; others sacrificed their homes and fortunes (either by choice or by force from the opposing army).
Reaction of African Americans and Native Americans
Some free African Americans served as soldiers in the Continental Army – mainly in the north. Other African Americans served in partisan bands. As for slaves, most African Americans continued to work as slaves in South Carolina. South Carolinians feared a slave uprising so at first they rejected the Continental Congress’s idea to allow slaves to serve in non-military jobs for the army such as cooking. Later, when more manpower was needed, the law was changed to allow 1/3 of the militia to be made up of slaves but they were not allowed to serve as soldiers. South Carolina did not offer slaves their freedom in exchange for their service in the army. African Americans fought for the British in response to the promise that they would earn their freedom. In this effort, they were disappointed.
At first, many Native American tribes avoided war. But after American colonists attacked the Natives on the frontier, Native Americans retaliated. Many supported the British because the British promised to return control of the western lands to Native Americans. The Cherokees supported the British and attacked the colonists.
Not all South Carolinians, indeed not all American colonists, agreed that the colonies should be independent from Great Britain. The perspectives and roles of different South Carolinians during the American Revolution led to a civil war within South Carolina and impacted the success of the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War.
The Patriots
Patriots were colonists who supported the Continental Congress and independence. Lowcountry South Carolina Patriots created a provisional government to control the colony during the war. The political leaders were wealthy white men who were land owners and supported independence. South Carolina Patriots volunteered as soldiers to fight in colonial militias and with Patriot partisan groups.
The Loyalists
South Carolina Loyalists, who remained loyal to the King and Great Britain, volunteered to fight on the side of the British. There were more Loyalists in South Carolina than in any of the other colonies, except New York. Most soldiers in the backcountry / upcountry were Loyalists, or Tories as the American Patriots angrily referred to them. Many of the backcountry people were not true loyalists in principal, but instead wished to live their lives without interference. An example would be the number of backcountry German immigrants who had no allegiance to either the King or to the principles of democracy. Lowcountry Patriots and backcountry Loyalists fought each other in the Revolutionary War (SC men versus SC men). When the war ended, many Loyalists voluntarily left South Carolina for the Caribbean or Canada. Others were fined or run out of town.
Reaction of Women
Some South Carolina women were Patriots, others were Loyalists and others wished to not be involved in the war. Women managed farms and plantations when men were away. Some served as messengers or nurses; others sacrificed their homes and fortunes (either by choice or by force from the opposing army).
Reaction of African Americans and Native Americans
Some free African Americans served as soldiers in the Continental Army – mainly in the north. Other African Americans served in partisan bands. As for slaves, most African Americans continued to work as slaves in South Carolina. South Carolinians feared a slave uprising so at first they rejected the Continental Congress’s idea to allow slaves to serve in non-military jobs for the army such as cooking. Later, when more manpower was needed, the law was changed to allow 1/3 of the militia to be made up of slaves but they were not allowed to serve as soldiers. South Carolina did not offer slaves their freedom in exchange for their service in the army. African Americans fought for the British in response to the promise that they would earn their freedom. In this effort, they were disappointed.
At first, many Native American tribes avoided war. But after American colonists attacked the Natives on the frontier, Native Americans retaliated. Many supported the British because the British promised to return control of the western lands to Native Americans. The Cherokees supported the British and attacked the colonists.
Content information was obtained from the South Carolina state standards support document for eighth grade Social Studies. This document can be located at http://www.ed.sc.gov/agency/se/Instructional-Practices-and-Evaluations/documents/Grade8SupportDocument.pdf .All images were obtained from Google.com and were labeled as Free to Use or Share.