Bell Ringer

•Based on what you have learned about the American Revolution, describe a hypothetical situation where the course and/or outcome of the war could have changed.

Tennessee During the RevolutionEssential Question: What effect did the Revolutionary time period have on the state of Tennessee?

TN Standard: 8.26

Battle of Alamance• War of Regulation- A

rebellion in North Carolina over taxation and control• Regulators were back-

country farmers protesting against the royal governor of NC• Regulators were

defeated. This is seen as a pre-cursor to the American Revolution

Watauga Settlement• Created in 1772 by settlers in

near present-day Elizabethton, TN

• Most of the settlers came from Virginia but some were Regulators who fleeing North Carolina after the Battle of Alamance

• Settlers formed the Watauga Association after purchasing land from the Cherokee

• They formed the Watauga Compact- set up their form of government

James Robertson• One of the early

founders of the Watauga Association• Met with other

settlers to purchase lease land from the Cherokees

Richard Henderson• Head of the Transylvania Company• Negotiated a treaty with the

Cherokee called the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals

• This treaty and purchase (Transylvania Purchase) included most of Kentucky and modern-day East TN

• Treaty was technically illegal because the law said only the federal government could make land purchases from Native Americans

• Hired Daniel Boone to form the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap

Dragging Canoe• Son of influential Cherokee

leader, Little Carpenter• Disagreed with the sale of

land to the Henderson and settlers

• Formed the Chickamauga tribe

• Led an unsuccessful uprising against the settlers

• During the American Revolution, he and his father sided with the British

Watauga Petitions and the Washington District• Wataugans were afraid of

Native American attacks• They sent out petitions

for help • North Carolina responded

by using the Washington District as a means of protection for the settlers

• The Washington District was influential in the development of Washington, Co. TN

Nancy Ward• Cherokee woman

(Dragging Canoe’s cousin) from East TN who believed in peaceful co-existence with Europeans• Warned settlers

about impending attacks by the Cherokee

Settling the Cumberland River Area

• In 1779, Henderson sent James Robertson and John Donelson to lead two groups of settlers into the Cumberland River area

• 1,000 mile voyage• Donelson’s group faced many

hardships: harsh winters, swift river currents, hunger, and attacks

• They finally reached Big Salt Lick and founded Fort Nashborough, which would become Nashville

The Cumberland Compact• The official plan of

government for Fort Nashborough• Forerunner to the

Tennessee State Constitution

Battle of the Bluffs• 1781- 400 Chickamaugans led by

Dragging Canoe tried to wipe out Fort Nashborough

• Settlers were losing the battle and attempting to get back to the fort but the gates were locked

• James Robertson’s wife, Charlotte, opened the gates and released dogs to attack the Chickamaugans

• This gave the settlers the break they needed and they won the battle to secure the settler presence in the Cumberland River Area