Guided Notes 8-2.4: Compare the perspectives of different groups of South Carolinians during the
American Revolution, including Patriots, Tories/Loyalists, women, enslaved and free Africans, and
Native Americans.
South Carolinian’s during the American Revolution
It is important to remember……
 not all South Carolinians, indeed not all American colonists, agreed that the colonies
should be independent from Great Britain
 South Carolinian’s different perspectives and roles during the American Revolution led
to a Civil War within South Carolina
 ultimately impacted the success of the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War
Compare the Patriots and the Loyalists
Patriots
Loyalists (Tories)
Colonists who supported the Continental
Remained loyal to the King and Great Britain.
Congress and independence.
Volunteered to fight on the side of the British.
Lowcountry SC Patriots created a provisional
More Loyalists in South Carolina than in any
government to control the colony during the
other colony, except New York
war.
Most soldiers in the backcountry were
Political leaders were wealthy white men who
Loyalists, or Tories as the American Patriots
were land owners and who supported
referred to them.
independence.
Many of the backcountry people were not true
South Carolina Patriots volunteered as soldiers loyalists in principal, but instead wished to
to fight in colonial militias and with Patriot
live their lives without interference.
partisan groups.
South Carolina Women during the War
 Some were Patriots, others were Loyalists and still others wished to not be involved in
the war
 Women managed farms and plantations when the men were away
 Some served as messengers or nurses
 others sacrificed their homes and fortunes
African Americans during the American Revolution
 Continued to work as slaves in SC
 Some served as soldiers in the Continental Army
 South Carolinians feared a slave uprising so at first they rejected the Continental
Congress’s appeal to allow slaves to serve in non-military jobs for the army such as
cooking
 the law was changed to allow 1/3 of the militia to be made up of slaves
 They were not allowed to be soldiers
 Not offered their freedom in exchange for their service in the army.
 fought for the British in response to the promise that they would earn their freedom
 They were disappointed
Native American during the American Revolution
 Avoided war at first
 After American colonists attacked the Native Americans on the frontier, Native
Americans retaliated
 Many supported the British because the British promised to return control of the west to
the Native Americans
 The Cherokees supported the British and attacked the colonists.
After the French and Indian War, the British Parliament reserved the ceded land for
Natives, BUT the American colonists began settling this territory. As a Native, who would
you fight for?
The Person Project:
Step 1: Choose 1 Group from the 9 we have discussed – write the name of your chosen group on
the right arm.
Step 2: Which side does this group member support (Continental Army or Great Britain) AND
WHY? – write answer on the left arm.
Step 3: Describe 3 characteristics of members of this group. Use your notes! Neatly list on the
torso and legs.
Step 4: Decorate your person – clothing; hair; hat; rifle; farm tool – make sure you are
historically accurate – no neon (for example)!