South Carolina Patriot (Rough Draft #1.)

-----When most every strategy failed for Britain in the American Revolution, they looked to The Southern Strategy as their final hope in regaining control over the United Colonies of America and crippling the spirit of the revolution. With its valuable natural resources and overwhelmingly large slave and loyalist populace, in the early 1780’s South Carolina along with Georgia and North Carolina was considered the heart of King Charles’ III Southern Strategy. With the support of the south’s large loyalist population, South Carolina was among the 3 states that were used as a base for the British in attempt to recapture the southern Colonies one by one and then steadily spread onto the northern colonies. With the majority of South Carolina’s citizens supporting the British, a number of outnumbered but avid patriots exist. In this diminishing number I stand, fighting for three primary reasons. Number one; (common sense) I realize that declaring independence for the united colonies was inevitable, so there is no point in standing against it, number two; (slippery slope theory) the revolution itself is nothing less than question than freedom and slavery for myself and my fellow patriots, and finally, (personal gain) being the owner of a rice plantation, if the revolution is successful in absolving America from the British taxation and restrictions, it will be beneficial to my financial and economical wellbeing.

-----The revolution for the united colonies of America was inevitable, so why fight for lost cause? The fullest measures taken by the United Colonies to petition and side with Britain were treated by King Charles III with ignorance and rejection. Revolutionary writer Patrick Henry insists in frustration, “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament…Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrance’s have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt from the foot of the throne”… (1). A simple example of this blatant ignorance is exemplified in the fact that King Charles III ignored and didn’t even glance at the Olive Branch Petition directed to him by the Continental Congress of America (2). One thing that we all as colonists have been a witness to is that “The revolution was in the minds of the people…before a drop of blood was shed at the Lexington…and the war was just a consequence of it.”… (3). Even if we are outnumbered by the Tories in South Carolina and the British have larger forces with more experienced troops, we as patriots have little to lose, and as the war progresses, it is becoming more and more evident that the British have little power to change the minds and hearts of the people. In the cause that we fight for as patriots of the revolution, we hold moral advantage over the British. Standing behind Thomas Paine’s words, I agree that “God almighty will not give up a people to military destruction…” and like this charismatic revolutionary, I also “cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us”… (4) Supporting the revolution is common sense for me and it is a cause that is most definitely worth fighting for.

----- If the British continue to inflict their tyranny upon us, we may soon become as helpless slaves succumbing completely to their control. Thomas Paine clarifies the excess amount of power that Britain claims to have stating “Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has the right (not only to tax) but to bind us in all cases whatsoever, and if being bound in that matter is not slavery then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth” (7). Taxation of the colonies without consent violates our South Carolinian rights because we are not represented. We deserve and are entitled by the two royal charters granted by King James I to “all privileges of faithful, liege, and natural born subjects, to all intents and purposes, as if they (we) had been abiding and born within the realm of England…"(5). Taxes such as the stamp act, sugar act, tea act, and taxes on most other imports and exports are unjust and were instituted to exercise tyranny over the colonies including South Carolina.

-----On May 1780, Britain laid siege to South Carolina for five weeks and finally took 3,300 militiamen soldiers into British captivity. Regardless of the petitions that the United Colonies sent out to the British Parliament to remove troops from colonial land, General Charles Cornwallis stationed 4,000 troops in South Carolina who continuously purged my fellow patriots and harassed non-loyalist citizens. Hundreds of South Carolinians were bribed into swearing loyalty oaths to the crown and taking up arms for the British by the exports seized from Georgia (6).

-----Famed revolutionist Patrick Henry questions the purpose of the troops stationed in the colonies, “Ask yourselves how gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land…are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation...these are the implements of war and subjugation (8). It is uncommon to see troops harass, injure and harm harmless citizens. An Example of this includes the Boston Massacre where 5 innocent citizens were killed by British troops (9). Britain’s citizens describe the United Colonies of Americans as ungrateful children of England, and even insist that we owe much to Britain for the Protections that she has aided us with, but they say this ignorant of the fact that Britain’s motive for our protection is based solely on “interest not attachment…she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account…(10). Britain claims to have so such extraordinary power, but I stand contrary as a patriot and insist that the power to rule over another nation belongs only to God.

----- Being the owner of a rice plantation, if the revolution is successful in absolving America from the British taxation and restrictions, it will be beneficial to my financial and economical wellbeing. The British forces have promised to free all slaves who supported their cause, being the owner of several slaves, it is not in my interest to lose the majority of my labor force (11). Losing my labor force would affect my ability to make a living in agricultural farming, and in worst case scenario even provide for myself and my family. Besides the pesky taxes on imports, The State of South Carolina is affected directly by export taxes due to its large abundance in natural resources; I myself am included in that category. Exports such as game/furs, tar, turpentine, lumber, ship timber, cattle, rice, indigo, cotton, corn and other small grains are all taxed, and some even exports are even limited and restricted in export quantities.

-----Most resources that come from South Carolina are exclusively traded with Britain and are not allowed to be traded with any other nation. I am motivated to be a patriot in the revolution by the fact that if we absolve ourselves from the taxation and restrictions of the British Legislation, the state of South Carolina will be free to disperse trade with a number of nations and potentially enrich its commerce and economy, and I myself would be able to enhance my profit in trading rice. Although some South Carolinian's may claim that the United Colonies of America have flourished under its connections with Britain, according to fellow patriot Thomas Paine, “Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument”. Paine explains that if no European power had anything to do with the United Colonies of America, it would have thrived and prospered much more effectively. This is yet another reason why I support the revolution in the colony of South Carolina (12).

Conclusion and Work cited yet to be finished.