South Carolina After the War STATE CONSTITUTION/ ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Government
Tensions between the Upcountry and Lowcountry of SC Lowcountry Patriots First area settled in the state and plantation owners gre rich from export of rice and indigo Dominated by the planter elite whoe economic wellbeing depended on their slave holdings. Ravaged by British during the war taking slaves, livestock and goods British offered no payback after the war. Planters owed money to creditors in England they could not pay back. American government unable to pay for the goods it had commandeered during the fighting. Upcountry Loyalists Was called Backcountry Viewed as uncivilized because original settlers were traders and woodsmen. Subsistence farmers who worked the land Owned few slaves, no large plantations Ravaged by British during the war taking slaves, livestock and goods.
Upcountry s Thoughts Larger white population living in the Upcountry, but most of the political power rested in the Lowcountry. Charleston was the capital so the Charleston elite had a greater influence on the government. Upcountry people had to travel very far to present issues to the legislature.
Lowcountry s Thoughts Feared Upcountry did not support slavery. Cotton gin made cotton a good cash crop in the Upcountry and thus the Upcountry had greater need for slave labor. Compromise of 1808 agreed to reapportionment which meant that Representation was to be based equally on the white population and the amount of taxable property (slaves). Those areas with the most slaves had most control over the legislature but now both the Lowcountry and the Upcountry had their share of slaves which meant their share of political power.
SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNMENT South Carolina formed an independent government prior to the battles of Lexington & Concord The General Meeting elected a committee of 99 (15 merchants, 15 artisans & 69 planters) which became the de facto (default) government instead of the government de jure. (by law)
SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNMENT In November of 1774, the General Meeting called for the election of delegates to a Provincial Congress. Congressional Representation was mostly from the Low Country. The Provincial Congress was able to raise an army, issued currency (money), created a committee to enforce non-importation and commissioned a constitution.
SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNMENT People living in the Back Country had issues with non-importation. The provincial government tried to make peace with the people of the back country. In the Treaty of Ninety Six, the back country agreed to remain neutral in the fight with Great Britain. Following the treaty, the Provincial Congress sent a force to defeat loyalist militia and silence opposition in the Back Country.
SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION South Carolina adopted its first constitution establishing an independent state government prior to the Declaration of Independence signing. It s purpose was to serve as a foundation for government until the disagreements with England were solved.
SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION The constitution provided for a bicameral (two house) legislature in which representation was mostly from the Low Country. The lower house was elected by the people. The upper house was elected by the lower house. The president, who was elected by legislature had the right to veto (reject) laws.
SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION A second constitution was written after the Declaration of Independence s signing. The leader would now be called a governor instead of a president. Representation was slightly more equally distributed between the Up and Low Country. The Church of England was no longer the official state supported church of South Carolina.
HENRY LAURENS South Carolinian Henry Laurens served as president of the Continental Congress. Laurens later served on the Committee that negotiated the Treaty of Paris (1783) for the government under the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of Confederation 8-2.6 cont.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION After signing the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation were written to officially establish the first national government of the United States. Although the other states were hesitant to sign the Articles due to land disputes of the western lands, South Carolina signed the Articles of confederation quickly.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION The disputed lands were ceded to the National Government. The Articles of Confederation were modeled on the Continental Congress with each state receiving one vote. The effectiveness began to wane (decline) after the end of the fighting.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION The problems of the Articles of Confederation were similar to the problems of indebtedness and depression in South Carolina after the American Revolution. Disagreements over interstate trade (trading between the states), currency (each state had different money), and taxes proved the Articles too weak to meet the needs of a new nation.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Charles Pinckney, a native South Carolinian, was an early advocate (person for) a stronger national government. Pinckney chaired a committee of the Confederation Congress that recommended amendments that would strengthen the government under the Articles of Confederation.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Pinckney also tried to convince states pay their debts to the national government. When Shay s rebellion occurred in the back country of Massachusetts, fear was raised in case of another insurrection. Other states called for a meeting in Philadelphia to strengthen and amend (change) the Articles of Confederation.