Washington District, North Carolina facts for kids
The Washington District was a special area in what is now Tennessee, west of the Appalachian Mountains. It officially existed for a short time, from November 1776 to November 1777. However, people living there had already set up their own government since 1775. This district took over from an earlier group called the Watauga Association. These were settlers from Virginia who moved to the area in 1769. They first thought they were still in Virginia. When Virginia said no to them joining, they asked North Carolina to take them in. North Carolina agreed in November 1776.
After the American Revolution, this area grew a lot. It eventually reached all the way to the Mississippi River. By 1790, when North Carolina gave this land to the U.S. government, it included seven "Overmountain Counties." These were Washington, Greene, Davidson, Sullivan, Hawkins, Sumner, and Tennessee. These lands later became a big part of the State of Franklin (which was not officially recognized), the Southwest Territory (from 1790 to 1796), and finally the State of Tennessee (after 1796).
Contents
History of the District
The Watauga Association
In May 1772, settlers who had been in the area for a few years decided to create their own rules. They wrote down an agreement to manage their community. They also chose a group to govern themselves. The British King did not officially approve of this government. Still, the settlers set up a courthouse and a jail. This self-governing group became known as the "Watauga Association." Sometimes, it was even called the "Watauga Republic."
Forming the Washington District
Soon after the American Revolutionary War began in April 1775, the Watauga Association members organized themselves. They formed the "Washington District." This was a separate area that was loyal to the new American colonies. They quickly created a Committee of Safety. This group was in charge of keeping the district safe and organized.
In the spring of 1776, the Washington District Committee of Safety wanted more protection for its people. They wrote a petition asking the Colony of Virginia to make their district part of Virginia. Virginia said no. So, the Committee wrote a similar petition on July 5, 1776. This time, they asked the North Carolina Assembly to take them in. In November of that year, North Carolina agreed to their request. The Washington District became part of North Carolina and was named Washington County. Even so, the name "Washington District" was still used for North Carolina's lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Right after the news of the second petition, the Cherokee people attacked the district. The Cherokee had originally leased the land to the settlers. But now, they were allies with the British. The Cherokee were strongly defeated. In 1777, the Cherokee signed the Treaty of Long Island. This treaty officially gave control of the Watauga and Nolichucky valleys to North Carolina. However, Chief Dragging Canoe and his followers vowed to keep fighting.
The Watauga Petition
The petition that asked North Carolina to take over the district is often called the "Watauga Petition." The Washington District Committee of Safety wrote it. Thirteen elected leaders, called commissioners, signed it.
- William Bean
- Jacob Brown
- John Carter
- Zachary Isbell
- John Jones
- Robert Lucs
- Charles Robertson
- James Robertson
- George Russell
- John Sevier
- James Smith
- William Tatham
- Jacob Womack
