Fighting began in 1775
in the Northern
colonies.
 Americans won a
decisive victory at
Saratoga, NY–
 Turning point in war –
Americans welcome alliance
with France.
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battle of Saratoga – (9:32)
 Key conflicts of the American Revolution
took place in South Carolina and affected
the state and outcome of the War.
 Fighting began in 1775 in the Northern
colonies, but after the British loss at
Saratoga, they decided to try a new
strategy…take the South.
First Battle of Charleston
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Patriot leaders got word the
British planned to capture
Charles Town.
They decided to build a fort
on Sullivan’s Island –
Colonel William Moultrie
began building a fort of
palmetto logs.
British fired and their
cannon balls bounced safely
off the soft wood.
Americans severely
damaged the British ships
and renamed the fort, Fort
Moultrie.
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Sergeant Jasper lifting the
flag after it had fallen in
the battle----
Colonel Moultrie designed the
flag that hung over Sullivan’s
Island. It had a silver crescent in
the corner. Today it also has a
silver palmetto tree in honor of
the victory. In 1861 it became the
official state flag.
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French & Indian War is the start of America
Stamp Act, Sugar Act, and Tea Act all events
that led to American Revolution
American victory at Saratoga huge because
France forms an alliance with America.
Americans win first battle of Charleston
◦ William Moultrie builds fort out of Palmetto logs
◦ British cannon balls bounce harmlessly off
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Palmetto tree on flag represents victory
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March 29, 1780
Major General Benjamin
Lincoln
severe blow to the colonies
the greatest loss of
manpower and equipment
of the war for the
Americans
gave the British nearly
complete control of the
Southern colonies
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British hoped that they would gain control of the state
through large numbers of state Loyalists and the neutral
colonists to help win the war
But, the British changed their parole terms and forced
paroled Patriots to take up arms against their countrymen
◦ At the same time, the British, along with American Tories,
treated SC harshly: they burned churches, looted &
confiscated homes, harassed and exiled citizens
◦ This behavior turned South Carolinians against the
British. Partisan bands were formed as a result
SUMTER
MARION
PICKENS
Patriot partisans led by
Francis Marion,
Thomas Sumter,
Andrew Pickens, &
William Harden were
fighting both the British
regular troops and the
Loyalists forces using
hit & run tactics all
over the state
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a major defeat for the
regular Continental Army
because it signified that
almost all of South Carolina
was controlled by the
British
The South Carolina militia
was not prepared and turned
and fled in the face of the
regular British forces
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Horatio Gates’ command of
the southern arm of the
Continental Army was then
transferred to Nathaniel
Greene
Greene understood the need
to coordinate with the work
of the state’s partisans in
order to fight a destructive
war of attrition [termed
today a “mobile war”] that
would unbalance and
eventually destroy the
British war effort.
British Troops after the Battle of Camden
The Scotch-Irish and the Battle of Kings
Mountain – YouTube (8:16)
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After the British victory at Camden, Cornwallis sent Major
Patrick Ferguson, Commander of the Loyalists, into the SC Upcountry to rid the area of Patriots.
Ferguson was ambushed by North & South Carolina mountainmen at Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780.
Using guerrilla warfare, the Patriots killed Ferguson along with
1,100 of his men.
The British tried to surrender, but were offered no quarter by the
Patriots in retaliation of the harsh treatment the British had
bestowed upon the Patriots throughout SC
Kings Mountain is considered the turning point of the war in the
south. From this point on, the British began retreating from the
interior of SC.
Battle of Cowpens – YouTube (2:18)
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The Battle of Cowpens showed the cooperation of the
regular Continental Army and the partisan forces.
Partisans had a reputation of turning tail and running
(think Camden Cowards). Americans counted on this rep
for the battle plan.
The partisans, led by Andrew Pickens, led the attack and
then fled, tricking the British into thinking the Americans
were retreating. Instead, the partisans lured the British
forces into the guns of the regular American army.
British were defeated-retreated toward Virginia.
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Partisan parolee Colonel Isaac
Hayne was captured near
Charleston in July 1781
The British used his punishment
as an example to help stem the
Patriot advance
They hanged him as a traitor of
the British crown after only a
brief trial
Nathaniel Greene issued a
proclamation stating that he
would retaliate against the
British forces.
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Was neither the last of 137 battles fought in the state, nor a technical
victory because of the unsoldierly plundering behavior of the hungry
and nearly naked Continentals
the irreplaceable British troop losses made it strategically the final
major battle in the beleaguered state.
While current sources often disagree in their final assessment of who
won the battle itself, there is no question about its evaluation by the
Patriot cause.
American contemporaries viewed the Battle of Eutaw Springs in the
very least as a Pyrrhic victory for the British because it marked the
clearance of the British from the battleground state and region (with
the exception of a few coastal enclaves that were finally evacuated
after Yorktown and during the peace proceedings in 1782) and thus
the demise of the British southern campaign.
 After the British defeat at Cowpens, General
Cornwallis was forced to leave SC and retreat to
Yorktown, VA hoping to re-supply his troops and
later gain a better hold on the south.
 At this same time, Washington, with help from
the French (Reminder: The French sided with
ANYONE against the British), cut off Yorktown
peninsula from the main land.
 French navy cut off peninsula by sea.
Liberty`s Kids #36
Yorktown –
YouTube (21:37)
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Cornwallis was held under siege for weeks. No supplies
reached him because of the French naval blockade.
In early October, Patriots prepared for an attack on
Cornwallis – his troops were weak from starvation.
Fearing defeat, Cornwallis surrendered October 19, 1781,
ending the Revolutionary War.
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In June 1781, reps from the
Continental Congress began peace
negotiations with the British.
American delegates were John Jay,
John Adams, Henry Laurens, &
Benjamin Franklin.
The Treaty of Paris took 2 years to
work out.
George Washington stated, “The
citizens of America are…possessed
of absolute freedom and
independency.”
The Treaty of Paris
1. Established British recognition of the
United States.
2. Established the borders as north to the
Great Lakes, west to the Mississippi River
& south to Spanish Florida.
3. Allowed for Americans to settle west of the
original 13 colonies.
Why was American victory at Saratoga so important?
 Who were the three leaders of the Partisan Troops?
 What battle was the turning point of the war in SC?
 What made the Battle of Camden so unique?
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Describe the outcome
of the Revolutionary
War in SC.