Revolution of 1719 facts for kids
The Revolution of 1719 was a big change in how the colony of South Carolina was governed. It was like a peaceful takeover, called a military coup, where no one was hurt. This event removed the "Lords Proprietors" from power. These were eight wealthy men who owned and managed the colony from far away in England. After the revolution, Colonel James Moore, Jr. became the temporary leader. South Carolina then became a "crown colony," meaning it was directly controlled by the King of England.
Why the Change Happened
In the 1660s, King Charles II gave control of the large area called the Province of Carolina to eight wealthy men. These men were known as the Lords Proprietors. They lived in England and managed the colony from there.
Over time, the Carolina colony split into two main parts: what became North Carolina and South Carolina. By 1719, South Carolina had its own government. It had a group of elected representatives called the Commons House of Assembly. It also had the Grand Council, which was made up of the Lords Proprietors' representatives.
The people in South Carolina were not happy with the Lords Proprietors. They felt the Proprietors did not do a good job of protecting the colony. For example, during the Yamasee War, a serious conflict with Native American tribes, the Proprietors did not send enough help. This made the colonists feel unsafe and angry.
The Revolution Begins
In November 1719, news reached Charleston that a Spanish fleet was coming. The colonial army, called the militia, was told to get ready to defend against an attack.
On November 17, before the militia gathered, some important people in South Carolina met. Among them were Colonel James Moore, Jr., a militia officer, and Arthur Skeene, who led the Commons House of Assembly. They formed a group to plan how to take over the government.
They secretly contacted other senior militia officers and got their support. When Governor Robert Johnson found out about the plan, he tried to stop the Commons House of Assembly from meeting.
A Peaceful Takeover
On December 21, the takeover happened. Even though Governor Johnson had tried to stop them, the members of the assembly met again in a tavern. They declared themselves a "convention of the people." This meant they believed they had the power to make decisions for South Carolina.
The group then chose James Moore, Jr. to be the temporary governor. They also replaced the Grand Council with a new group chosen by the revolutionaries. Governor Johnson could not stop them because the entire militia sided with the people planning the takeover. Because of this, the revolution happened without any fighting or bloodshed.
One of the first things the new government did was ask the King of England to take control of South Carolina. They wanted it to become a royal colony, directly managed by the Crown, instead of by the Lords Proprietors. The King agreed to their request the next year. While the new government wanted Moore to stay as royal governor, the King appointed Francis Nicholson instead.
What Happened Next
After giving up his role to Governor Nicholson, James Moore served as the leader of the Commons House of Assembly until he passed away in 1724.
South Carolina remained a royal colony until March 26, 1776. On that day, the colony declared itself an independent republic. They elected John Rutledge as their first President. A few months later, in July, South Carolina approved the United States Declaration of Independence.
The neighboring colony of North Carolina continued to be governed by the Lords Proprietors for a few more years, until 1729.
