Revolutionary North Carolina (1763-1790)

American colonists emerged from the French and Indian War proud to be part of the greatest empire on earth. But the simmering problems of colonial government were about to boil over. In barely a decade, the colonies progressed from discontent to civil disobedience to violent civil war. Then, having secured their independence, the winners set about writing their principles into a new form of government.

Designed for secondary students, this third chapter of ANCHOR combines primary sources with articles from a variety of perspectives, along with maps, photographs, and multimedia to tell the many stories of Revolutionary North Carolina during the years 1763-1790. The era of the American Revolution, including the Regulators, the resistance to Great Britain, the War for Independence, and the creation of new governments are discussed, including:

  • the uprisings of Regulators, backcountry farmers angry with unfair taxes, illegal fees, and corrupt officials
  • the responses of North Carolinians and other colonists to Great Britain’s taxes and trade regulations
  • the path from resistance to armed revolution
  • the bloody civil war in the Carolina backcountry
  • the creation of independent governments for North Carolina and the United States

Chapter Contents

 

Artifacts

Postcard image of the Monument to Nathaniel Greene at Guilford Battleground in Greensboro, N.C.  The March 1781 battle was one of the most significant fought in N.C. and occurred near the end of the war. Although General Greene's Patriot forces lost, they severely weakened the British forces under Cornwallis, leading to Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown later that year.

Postcard image of the Monument to Nathaniel Greene at Guilford Battleground in Greensboro, N.C.  The March 1781 battle was one of the most significant fought in N.C. and occurred near the end of the war. Although General Greene's Patriot forces lost, they severely weakened the British forces under Cornwallis, leading to Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown later that year.