SOUTH CAROLINA HALL OF FAME
Teacher Guide
John Rutledge
South Carolina Social Studies Standards
John Rutledge
The American Revolution, Rebellion and Conflict, The Road to Revolution, The
War for Independence
Topics include - Stamp Act Congress, President/Governor of SC, Battle of Sullivan's Island/Fort
Moultrie, Siege of Charles Town, Benjamin Lincoln, Thomas Sumter, Francis Marion,
Constitutional Convention, Chief Justice of SC
3-3.1 - Summarize the causes of the American Revolution, including Britain's passage of the
Stamp Act, the Tea Act, and the Intolerable Acts, the rebellion of the colonist, and the writing of
the Declaration of Independence.
3-3.3 - Summarize the course of the American Revolution in South Carolina, including the role
of William Jasper and Fort Moultrie, the occupation of Charles Town by the British, the partisan
warfare of Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, and Francis Marion, and the battles of Cowpens,
Kings Mountain, and Eutaw Springs.
3-3.4 - Summarize the effects of the American Revolution, including the establishment of state
and national governments.
3-3.5 - Outline the structure of state government, including the branches of government
(legislative, executive, and judicial), the representative bodies of each branch (general
assembly, governor, and supreme court), and the basic powers of each branch.
Standard 4-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the conflict between the
American colonies and England.
4-3.3 - Summarize the importance of key battles of the Revolutionary War and the reasons for
American victories including Lexington and Concord, Bunker (Breed's) Hill, Charleston, Saratoga,
Cowpens, and Yorktown.
Standard 8-2:. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the causes of the American
Revolution and the beginnings of the new nation, with an emphasis on South Carolina's role
in the development of that nation.
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8-2.2 - Summarize the response of South Carolina to events leading to the American Revolution
including the Stamp Act, the Tea Acts, and the Sons of Liberty.
8-2.5 - Summarize the role of South Carolinians in the course of the American Revolution,
including the use of partisan warfare and the battles of Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Kings
Mountain, and Eutaw Springs.
8-2.6 - Explain the role of South Carolinians in the establishment of their new state government
and the national government after the American Revolution.
Standard 8-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of South Carolina's role in the
development of the new national government.
8-3.2 - Explain the role of South Carolina and its leaders in the Constitutional Convention,
including their support of the Three-Fifths Compromise and the Commerce Compromise as well
as the division among South Carolinians over the ratification of the Constitution.
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S.C. Hall of Fame Biography
John Rutledge
John Rutledge was born in Charleston, SC on September 17, 1739.
His father, John Rutledge (Sr.), was a Scots Irish Immigrant and
physician. His mother, Sarah, was South Carolina born but of English
descent. He had six siblings, including his younger brother Edward,
who would also become a statesman and signer of the Declaration of
Independence.
Rutledge took an early interest in the practice of law and eventually
studied it formally, like many of his contemporaries, at the Middle
Temple in London. Afterward he returned to Charleston and began
his career as a prominent Charleston legal counsel.
On May 1st, 1763 he married Elizabeth Grimke and the couple had 10 children.
Rutledge first became involved in the affairs of state with his involvement in the Stamp Act
Congress in which he chaired a committee whose goal was to persuade rejection of the Stamp
Act.
Later he and his brother Edward were sent as delegates to both the First and Second
Continental Congress.
In 1776, just prior to the start of the American Revolution he was elected as President of the
State of South Carolina and set out to bolster the states coastal defenses against an impending
British invasion. He ordered the construction of a fort on Sullivan’s Island to protect the City of
Charleston’s harbor. Once the British armada amassed off the coast, the fort was not even
halfway complete. Rutledge was advised by General Charles Lee of the Continental Army to
abandon the endeavor for fear of heavy casualties. But Rutledge was not assuaged and wrote
to the commanding Officer Col. William Moultrie, “General Lee [...] wishes you to evacuate the
fort. You will not, without [an] order from me. I would sooner cut off my hand than write one.”
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On June 28th 1776, the British indeed attacked the partially built fortress. However, the British
fleets hurling cannonballs were only absorbed and often repelled back at the ships by the
Palmetto Tree fortified walls. The naval assault on what would
eventually be named Fort Moultrie failed and the account of the
battle gave rise to the nicknaming of South Carolina as The Palmetto
State as well as the imagery on the state flag.
In 1778, the state legislature re-drafted its constitution which Rutledge unsuccessfully tried to
veto and ultimately resigned his office as a result of its adoption.
After the new constitution was revised in 1779, Rutledge
was elected Governor with the British army closing in
quickly on Charleston and the entire state. Unable to
raise any sizeable forces to defend the city, Rutledge fled
and escaped capture while Charleston fell under British
control in May of 1780. By the time the Americans had
forced out the British in late 1782, Rutledge’s term had
expired and term limits made him ineligible to run again.
Instead he was elected again to the Continental Congress, serving until 1783. In 1784 he was
appointed a judgeship in the SC Court of Chancery where he would serve until 1791.
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During this period he was chosen to represent the state at the
Constitutional Convention where, along with fellow South
Carolinians Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
and Pierce Butler, he played a significant role in the crafting of
the US Constitution. John Rutledge chaired the committee
that created the first draft of The Constitution and many of
these original elements would be included in the final version
ratified.
In 1789, President George Washington nominated him to be
the first associate justice of the newly formed United States
Supreme Court. He was confirmed by the Senate but vacated his seat before trying any cases
to become Chief Justice of the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas and Sessions.
On July 6, 1792 Rutledge suffered the loss of his wife Elizabeth whom he had
been devoted to for almost 30 years.
In late June of 1795, Rutledge was appointed by Washington as the second
Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court recently vacated by John
Jay. Before the senate would be back in session to confirm his appointment,
Rutledge oversaw several cases whose outcomes set important precedents
that are still held today regarding federal jurisdiction and multiple citizenship.
During that same time frame, he came out
in opposition to the Jay Treaty with Great
Britain and gave a controversial and inflammatory speech
which cost him the support of the Washington Administration
and Senate. When the Senate returned to session in
December of 1795 they rejected his pending nomination.
Upon returning to Charleston that winter, John Rutledge was
mentally crippled and he attempted suicide by jumping into
the Charleston Harbor. Afterward, he withdrew from public
life and died on June 21st 1800 at the age of 60. He is buried
in St. Michaels Episcopal Churchyard, Charleston, SC.
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Credits
South Carolina Social Studies Standard Correlations were provided by Lisa Ray
The purpose of the South Carolina Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor both contemporary
and past citizens who have made outstanding contributions to South Carolina's heritage and
progress.
Funding for Knowitall.org was provided by the S. C. General Assembly through the K-12
Technology Initiative.
Visit scetv.org/education for more educational resources.
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