Guided Notes: The Siege of Charleston Focus Question: Why did the people in Charles Towne surrender to the British?  In July of 1776, the Second Continental Congress issued a declaration establishing the United States of America. This Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and it states why the colonies should be free and independent states.

 It said “all men are created equal” and have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It listed the reasons the colonies had the right to declare their independence. Men from South Carolina signed the Declaration of Independence.

 The King of England claimed the colonies were in a state of rebellion. Soon the British troops and the Continental Army were fighting for control of the colonies.

 For a while after the colonists declared war on England, things were mostly peaceful in South Carolina. This would not last.

 After the defeat at Fort Moultrie, the British left South Carolina but did not stay away. After 4 years of war, clearly no one was winning the war. The British returned again to Charles Towne looking for Loyalist support after they failed to defeat the colonists in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. There were many Loyalists in South Carolina and even more people who did not want to be involved on either side.

The Blockade of Charles Towne  British ships circled Charles Towne and blockaded the city. The blockade kept ships from sailing in or out. British soldiers also surrounded the land around Charles Towne. The British had blockaded Charles Towne by land and by sea. Charles Towne was cut off and no supplies could get in or out.

 The people of Charles Towne were starving and very worried. After 42 days, they surrendered to the British. Patriots Sign Oath  At first, the surrender wasn’t too bad. The British made men in the city sign an oath to stay loyal to the king. An oath is an agreement. Why did they sign?  The people thought that with the fall of the city, the war was over. It made sense to say they would stop fighting and stay loyal to the king. Then, things got worse.

A Second Oath  There was a second oath to sign. This said that the men had to fight for the British against the Americans, their own people! This, they would not do! Patriots Fight Back  Many men who signed the first oath left their homes to fight with the Continentals, another word for American soldiers. Isaac Hayne did this and was captured by the British. They knew he had signed the first oath and decided to make an example out of him. They said he was a traitor to the British. A traitor is someone who acts against his country.

 The Redcoats (the British soldiers) held him in the Old Exchange Building with only one piece of furniture…his coffin. Then they walked him down the street in front of everyone and hung him. Some who had signed the first oath were frightened, and they quit fighting. Others grew more willing to continue fight.