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French and Indian War
On July 3, 1754 the French and Indian war began. France and Great Britain, the two main countries battling, were matched fairly. Great Britain, who had the most powerful navy, was alliances with six tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy. France, who had the strongest army, was a trading partner with many western tribes. France also had experienced military leadership and French colonists didn’t fight among themselves. Although Georgia didn’t contribute to the war, the colony benefited. The western -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George. The proclamation stated that the colonists could not settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. It also moved Georgia’s boundaries. When Georgia gained new land many settlers moved to the colony. This new land was vital to the growth of Georgia and provided many new resources. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed by the British parliament in 1765. The act put taxes on newspapers, legal documents, and licenses. A reason the act was placed was to raise money to pay off debts from the French and Indian War. Many people were upset about the act being put in place. People, such as the Sons of Liberty and the Liberty Boys, opposed the act and boycotted products that were affected by it. The only newspaper in Georgia had to stop printing until the act was repealed. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a set a four laws which punished the colonists in Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. One act stated that the Massachusetts colonists could not have a town meeting without the agreement of their governor. Another said that the port of Boston was to remain closed until the citizens paid for the tea. The court system changed so that any British officials who committed capital crimes would be tried in Britain instead of colonial court. The final act was the Quartering -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. It was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson. The declaration is divided into three parts: the preamble, the body, and the conclusion. The Preamble states how the colonists feel about democracy. The body tells 27 complaints against King George and his government that made the colonists want independence. The conclusion stated that the colonies would always be independent. -
Button Gwinett
Button Gwinnett was born in April 1735. He served on many comities and he supported separation from Great Britain. A year after the battles of Lexington and Concord the Declaration of Independence was approved. On August 2, 1776 the three Georgians, including Button Gwinnett, signed the declaration. -
Lyman Hall
Lyman Hall was born on April 12, 1724. He was chosen to go to Philadelphia and vote for what he and the others in the group thought would be the best for all Georgians. Then over a year after the battle of Lexington and Concord the Declaration of Independence was approved. On August 2, 1776 Lyman Hall and two other Georgians signed the Declaration. -
George Walton
George Walton is estimated to have been born in 1749. In 1769 he moved to Savannah and soon became one of the most successful lawyers in Georgia. He was captured by the British in 1788 during the Seize of Savannah. A year after the battles of Lexington and Concord the Declaration of Independence was approved. On August 2, 1776 George Walton and two other Georgians signed the Declaration. -
Elijah Clarke
Elijah Clarke was born in 1742. He was a frontiersman. On February 14, 1779 he led a rebel militia group in the Battle of Kettle Creek. The Georgian militia group won and got badly needed horses and weapons from the British soldiers. The victory lifted the spirits of the Georgia militia group. -
Nancy Hart
Nancy Hart was born around 1735. Her husband was a lieutenant in the war under Elijah Clarke. She is known for her bravery. One day five Tories came to her cabin a demanded that she cooked them dinner and give them something to drink. As they ate she quietly got their rifles and once the men realized and tried to take them back she calmly shot one of them. The rest were hanged. She was also part of the Battle of Kettle Creek. -
Battle of Kettle Creek
The Battle of Kettle Creek was in February of 1779. A rebel group led by Elijah Clarke defeated more than 800 British troops. Georgia won the battle. This battle had much importance to Georgia because the Georgian got many needed supplies such as horses and guns. The victory also rejuvenated the spirits of the militia group. -
Seige of Savannah
The British had captured Georgia’s capitol city at the time, Savannah. The city had been in the hands of the British since the year before. On October 9, 1779, American and French troops attacked the British. The attack failed and many troops were killed or wounded. Savannah stayed in British possession for three and a half more years. -
Austin Dabney
Austin Dabney was born in the 1760’s. His master sent him to serve in the militia and Dabney participated in the Battle of Kettle Creek under Elijah Clarke. Austin Dabney was severely wounded during the battle and a white soldier took him to his home and cared for him until he was well. Dabney worked for the soldier and his family because of the soldier’s kindness. On August 14, 1786 Dabney was rewarded with 50 acres of land for his service in the militia.
