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Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens was a big political leader during the Revolutionary War times. He served as the president Continental congress. He later served on the committee that negotiated the Treaty of Paris which ended the Revolutionary War. -
Charles Pinckney
Charles Pinckney was an early advocate for a stronger national government. He chaired the Confederation committee that wanted to strengthen the national government under the Articles of Confederation and and also served on the committee to persuade the states to pay their debts to the national government. -
Continental Congress
The continental congress was the first national government of the United States. South Carolina was the only one of the thirteen states to meet its financial obligation to the Continental Congress. South Carolina took an active role in their new government. Henry Laurens was the president of the Continental Congress. -
Royal Governor (De jure government)
The royal governor was still the lawful government because at the time South Carolina was still a British colony. -
Committee of 99 (De Facto government)
The committee of 99 was made for the residents to obey instead of the royal governor.The committee was the de facto government but it was not the de jure government. The royal governor was still the lawful government because at the time South Carolina was still a British colony. -
Provincial Congress
The provisional congress was meant to be a temporary government in a time of war. The elected delegates were mostly low country elite who raised an army, issued currency, and enforced non importation of goods from England. Later, this congress authorized their delegates to the Second Continental Congress to write the Articles. -
Treaty of Ninety Six
The Treaty of Ninety-Six said that British would remain neutral in the struggle with Great Britain.The treaty did not last and eventually the Patriots sent a force to defeat the Loyalists in the Backcountry. -
South Carolina Constitution of 1776
The South Carolina’s 1st Constitution was written by the Provincial Congress. This document was used as the law of South Carolina until conflicts were resolved. The constitution provided a bicameral, the president was allowed to veto laws, and the Lowcountry had more representation in the new government. -
South Carolina Constitution 1778
After the signing of the Declaration of Independence, South Carolina’s 2nd Constitution had three changes from the first document. The president would now be called the governor. The Church of England would no longer the official state church. The representation was now slightly more equal between the Backcountry and Lowcountry. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was written in 1781 which helped establish the first national government. South Carolina approved the Articles but other states did not. The other states wanted a compromise first for the ownership of the western lands. The Articles were formed after the Continental Congress which allowed each state one vote. The Second Continental Congress wrote the Articles. -
Shay's Rebellion
The Shay’s Rebellion occurred in Massachusetts which raised fears against the federal government and the states called for a meeting during this for the Articles of Confederation. This rebellion occurred during the Revolutionary War.
