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Print PreviewWatauga & Tennessee Statehood
Watauga Virginia, Washington District, North Carolina, State of Franklin,
Territory of the United States South of the Ohio, and Finally, Tennessee
The original British Colonies were founded on the sea to sea principle and the
western boundaries were more or less open ended. The first settlers in what is
now northeastern Tennessee were primarily from Virginia and they assumed that
the area was part of Virginia. This area was know then as the Watauga and
actually belonged to North Carolina although that state had no administration
there.
After the revolution, the Virginia legislature voted to cede their claim to the
sea to sea principle and their western land. Pressured by Congress, and
influenced by Virginia's vote to cede her western land, North Carolina passed
their first cession act in April 1784 with 52 to 43 votes. However, in October
of that same year, NC legislature repealed cession of her western land and
formed Washington District which included Green, Washington, and Sullivan
Counties. John Sevier was appointed Brigadier General of the District. Word did
not reach the western lands until after the first of the year (1785).
In March 1785, citizens of "Washington District" formed the State of Franklin
and informed North Carolina of this action. John Sevier was elected Governor and
sworn into office. North Carolina objects to the formation of the State of
Franklin, but the Franklinites went forward with the business of erecting a
state.
On 15 May 1785, William Cocke delegated by the Franklin Assembly to present
their cause before Congress arrives in the nation's capital, New York. Congress
appointed a committee to study the cession act of North Carolina and the
formation of Franklin. Five days later, the Congressional Committee accepted the
cession of the western territory by
North Carolina. However, Congress voted down accepting the State of Franklin by
one vote (2/3 majority was required). The English press stated North Carolina
was denying the same right to the people of Franklin that the "colonies" fought
for.
On 18 November 1785, Congress held the 1st Federal US-Indian conference
(Hopewell Treaty), but without involving the State of Franklin. Congressional
appointed North Carolina representatives and promised to give Cherokees back
much land claimed by the lost state Franklin. In late 1785, attempts by Governor
Sevier and 90 settlers to settle the Great Bend or Muscle Shoals territory into
Franklin ended after Dragging Canoe and his warriors fought to keep the whites
out. Many whites and Indians were killed in fighting. Soon after, one Cherokee
headman paid warriors to get two white scalps in return for the two sons he lost
in earlier fighting over Great Bend. Archie Scott and four children were killed
in Powell's Valley. Mrs Scott taken prisoner, but she later escaped.
North Carolina disregarded pleas in behalf of Franklin and continued to
legislate for the westerners. They took the Franklin's Spencer County and
established Hawkins County. For a period, Hawkins County served under two states
as two different counties.
The Franklin Convention appointed representatives to attend Congress in another
effort to obtain statehood. Congress left statehood up to the existing state.
This left Franklin's fate in the hands of North Carolina.
By February 1788, Franklin's Government was gradually falling apart. North
Carolina authorities seized property of Governor Sevier. Sevier marched with
over 150 men to Col John Tipton's farm on Sinking Creek guarded by 45 men.
Reinforcements siding with North Carolina arrived and Sevier's force was driven
back. Weather and unwillingness of the frontiersmen to kill each other ended the
Battle of Franklin.
On 29 July 1788, North Carolina Governor ordered the arrest of John Sevier on a
charge of high treason. Col Tipton executed the warrant had Sevier shackled &
taken to Morganton, North Carolina, but Sevier was soon released. In the fall of
that year, Governor Sevier corresponded with the Spanish Government in an
attempt to obtain a loan in order to keep Franklin alive. Spanish authorities in
Louisiana had previously made offers to align Franklin with Spain.
On 10 Jan 1789, Governor Sevier commanded of a large force which attached and
defeated a combined force of Creek and Cherokee Indians at Flint Creek. 145
Indians were killed, but the Franklinites had only five killed and 16 wounded.
On 29 November 1789, the North Carolina Legislature passed their second cession
act ceding the territory now Tennessee to the Federal Government. On 16 May
1790, Congress voted acceptance of the North Carolina cession act and accepted
jurisdiction over what is now Tennessee. The official title was: "Territory of
the United States South of the Ohio". A census taken in 1791 counted 35,691
including 3,417 Negro slaves in the Territory of the United States South of the
Ohio.
On 1 June 1796, the State of Tennessee was created and became the 16th state.
John
Sevier was elected Governor, William Blount and William Cocke Senators. Andrew
Jackson was elected as the state’s first Congressman.
This page was last updated on: May 16 2008 07:54:21
