Guided Notes: The Siege of Charleston
Focus Question: Why did the people in Charles Towne surrender to the British?
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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.
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For a while after the colonists declared war on England, things were mostly peaceful in
South Carolina. This would not last.
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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
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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?
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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
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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.
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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.