Key Figures of the Revolutionary War Objective Identify

Key Figures of the Revolutionary War Objective: Identify how Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, and Andrew Pickens helped win the Revolutionary War.

Review~

Why did the Revolutionary War begin? • Some of the colonists did not want to be ruled by Britain. • These colonists were called Patriots. • Britain wanted to keep ruling the colonies. • People who wanted to be ruled by Britain were called Loyalists.

American Revolution in SC • At first, SC troops were able to repusle British attempts to capture Charles Town because their defense of Fort Moultrie. • The British were unable to stop colonists in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, so they returned to Charles Town. • The British wanted to find loyalists. – People still loyal to the King

• There were many loyalists in SC, but even more people that didn’t want to be involved in the war on either side. • After a long seige, when the British blocked the city by land sea, the city fell to the British. • When the British took over Charles Town, they forced the people of Charles Town to sign an oath of loyalty to England. – Many agreed • Then, he British required South Carolinians to signt and oath to fight for the British. – Many refused, escaped from Charles Town, and joined forces to fight the British.

SC in the American Revolution • Many South Carolinians formed militias that aided the regular Continental Army in defeating the British in South Carolina. • They used “hit and run” tactics called “Partisan Warfare”. • Today Partisan Warfare is also known as “guerilla warfare. ” It was not called this during the time of the Revoultion.

3 Important Patriots during the Revolutionary War.

Francis Marion

Nickname: Swamp Fox • Grew up in the Outer Coastal Plain (Low Country) and knew the swamps well • Brave Patriot • • • Marion and his men attacked the British by surprise. They did this in the swampy lowlands.

Andrew Pickens

Nickname: Wizard Owl • • Native Americans gave him that nickname. • He was wise like an owl. • He was a Patriot • • • • He led his men to victory in the Battle of Cowpens. Was a backcountry farmer who joined the militia when the British burned his farm.

Thomas Sumter

• • Nickname: The Gamecock His home was burned by the British. This made him mad and he decided to fight. He led a militia against the British in the back country. He started fighting right after Charles Town was taken over by the British. • • He also made surprise attacks like Francis Marion. Then, he would disappear in to the woods. • His nickname came from his hit and run tactics and his courage.

• USC’s mascot (The Gamecock), the city of Sumter, and Fort Sumter (beginning of the Civil War) are named after Thomas