The Effects of the American Revolution on the Watauga Settlement

The Effects of the American Revolution on the Watauga Settlement CCSS 8.21 Explain using supporting details how the Revolution affected the Watauga Settlement, including: Washington District, Cherokee War of 1776, Nancy Ward, John Sevier, Watauga Petitions.

Pre-history In 1540, when Hernando DeSoto first explored the area, Tennessee’s earliest residents—Native Americans, already occupied the land. • Cherokee • Chickasaw • Creek • Shawnee Video 10:26

Tennessee’s First Settler • 1769 William Bean, the first permanent white settler, builds a cabinon the Watauga River in northeast Tennessee. • New settlers begin to come into the area from Virginia and North Carolina.

Government Formed • 1772 A group of settlers form their own government called the Watauga Association. • They draw up one of the first written constitutionsin North America.

Land from the Cherokee Settlers on the Watauga and Nolichucky Rivers purchased a lot of land from the Cherokee Indians, almost all the six upper counties of the present-day Tennessee (then within North Carolina)

Land from the Cherokee • 1775 Transylvania Company buys large piece of land from the Cherokees in exchange for goods (All of the Cherokee people did not agree.) • Company hires Daniel Boone to create a trail through the Appalachian Mountains • Trail is called the Wilderness Road

Washington District & TN During the American Revolution • Lexington & Concord are attacked by the British (American Revolution begins) • Dragging Canoe, an opposing Cherokee, threatened the settlers • 1775 Watauga settlers decided to rename their Watauga settlements to Washington District - in honor of General George Washington

Watauga Petitions • 1776 Washington District’s leaders sent letters to both Virginia and North Carolina asking for the state to take control of the Watauga settlement for protection, called the Watauga Petitions. • North Carolina agreed to take in the Washington District. • Washington District was changed to Washington County, which is most of present day Tennessee. • North Carolina accepted the Watauga Settlement (Washington County)

Cherokee War of 1776 • Cherokee becomes allies with Great Britain • Great Britain gives Cherokee guns to kill settlers in Watauga Settlement • Dragging Canoe gives settlers 20 days to leave • Settlers build forts instead of leaving • Nancy Ward, the Cherokee’s Beloved Woman (cousin of Dragging Canoe), wanted peace between settlers and Native Americans

Cherokee War of 1776 • Nancy Ward warned the settlers of the attack • Cherokee, led by Dragging Canoe, attacked the settlers of the Watauga Settlement • Cherokees attacked from July 1776 to October 1776 • John Sevier successfully led militias against the attacks of the Cherokees • Little Carpenter, father of Dragging Canoe, signed two treaties to end the fighting after a year of war • Dragging Canoe was against signing the treaty

Other Conflicts • Led by Gen. Corwallis, the British were overtaking the Carolinas • At the Battle of King’s Mountain, the overmountain men defeated the British regiment attempting to overtake them, leading to the final battle at Yorktown

Another State Formed? After the Revolution, some of the Wataugan citizens, led by John Sevier, attempted to form their own state, Franklin.

QUICK CHECK ✓ Please put notes away and number your paper 1-10.

1. Which group of Native Americans sold land to colonists that settled west of the Appalachians? • Shawnee • Creek • Chickasaw • Cherokee

2. After the Revolution began, how was the relationship between the Cherokee and the settlers? • The Cherokee and the Colonists became allies. • The Cherokee became allies with Great Britain. • The Cherokee became allies with France. • The Colonists began killing the Cherokees.

3. Who was first white settler in TN that helped negotiate a land deal with the Cherokees? • George Washington • William Bean • Thomas Walker • Daniel Boone

4. Which Cherokee leader opposed selling land to the settlers? • Daniel Boone • Little Carpenter • Dragging Canoe • Nancy Ward

5. What action did the Watauga settlement take after Dragging Canoe threatened them? • They renamed their settlement, Washington District and asked for support from other states. • They ran away. • They declared war against the Cherokee. • They went to other states for support.

6. What is the letter called sent by the Washington District to Virginia and North Carolina asking for the state to take control of the Watauga settlements? • Washington Petitions • Olive Branch Petitions • Watauga Petitions • Cherokee Petitions

7. What state owned most of the area in the Watauga Settlement? • Virginia • South Carolina • Tennessee • North Carolina

8. Who was the Cherokee that warned settlers about the attack coming to the settlers? • Daniel Boone • Little Carpenter • Dragging Canoe • Nancy Ward

9. Who led the militia against the Cherokee and the British? • Daniel Boone • John Sevier • Dragging Canoe • Nancy Ward

10. After the Revolution, being led by John Sevier, what did the Wataugan citizens try to do? • Find more Cherokee • Leave the United States • Form a their own state, Franklin • Form a new country, Franklin

ELA  Thursday, April 18th 1st period -Today is a regularly scheduled school day. -If you have Field Day t-shirt money (not due til April 25), hold onto it. I will call you up after announcements. -Take some time to work on your booklet. They are due Monday.

ELA  Thursday, April 18th 2nd period -Today is a regularly scheduled school day. -Work on your Booklet that is due on Monday. -If you finish early or we get chatty, we will begin The Diary of Anne Frank video activity. -Ms. Becker’s kids: Go to her website.

The Effects of the American Revolution on the Watauga Settlement