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Early Government in Kentucky. Kentucky studies. Judge Richard Henderson. Henderson. 1775 a Representative from each colony (Harrodsburg, Logan’s Station, Boiling Springs) met in Boonesborough . Established courts , militia, debt collection, and punishment of criminals.
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Early Government in Kentucky Kentucky studies
Henderson • 1775 a Representative from each colony (Harrodsburg, Logan’s Station, Boiling Springs) met in Boonesborough. • Established courts, militia, debt collection, and punishment of criminals. • Set to meet 1 year later but never did.
George Rogers Clark • Called for assembly in Harrodsburg • Convinced them to travel to Virginia • Kentucky County established 1776 • Appointed Major by Patrick Henry
The Revolution In Kentucky • George Rogers Clark led Kentuckians in their fight against the British. • Trouble raising men • Governor Henry Hamilton at Fort Detroit • Indians encouraged by British • Dragging Canoe (southern Cherokee, Chickamauga wars) • Area North of the Kentucky River abandoned • Clark convinces Patrick Henry to go on offensive
Illinois Campaign • Raised 175 men • Clark led his “Long Knives” across the Ohio at Fort Massac. • Marched on Kaskaskia. • July 4th 1778 Kaskaskia falls. • Cahokia and Vincennes (among others) taken without firing a shot.
Illinois Campaign Cont. • Hamilton returns to Vincennes • Clark leads his men back • Retakes Vincennes • Captures Hamilton in the process • The winter expedition was Clark's most significant military achievement and became the source of his reputation as an early American military hero.
Aftermath of Il. Campaign • Washington uses Clark’s success to encourage alliance with France. • Virginia lays claim to the “Old Northwest” adding Illinois county • Clark wants to march on Detroit, but can’t raise enough men
British invasion • June 1780 • Mixed force of British and Indians (mostly Shawnee) invade Kentucky • Using cannons, they destroy villages and take prisoners • Aug. 1780, Clark leads retaliatory force to Peckuwe (Shawnee village) • George Rogers Clark Park, Springfield, Ohio
The end of the war • Clark appointed Brigadier General of Kentucky and Illinois Militia by Governor Thomas Jefferson. • Clark still wanted to march on Detroit • Washington sends regulars, but they are defeated before rendezvousing with Clark • Expedition cancelled again
Meanwhile… • Another British force defeated the KY militia in the Battle of Blue Licks • Clark was not there, but was still heavily criticized • Clark leads another retaliatory force into the Ohio country and destroys several Indian Villages • Last major Campaign of the war
Aftermath • Clark conquered the British “old Northwest” • Entire territory ceded to U.S. in Treaty of Paris • Doubled the size of the original thirteen colonies • Helped win French Treaty • Considered American Hero and inspiration
Separation • Trip to Williamsburg was long and dangerous • Use of force against Indians required Governors approval • Trade along Mississippi forbidden • General James Wilkinson wanted to secede from not only Virginia, but the U.S. as well and Kentucky to become a ward of Spain
General James Wilkinson • General During the Revolutionary War • Asked to resign, twice. • Appointed Commanding General of Continental Army twice • First Governor of Louisiana Territory • 2 disastrous campaigns against British along the St. Lawrence • Later found to be a paid agent of Spanish Crown
Benjamin Logan • Founder of Logan’s Fort (St. Asaph’s) • Second in Command of KY militia • Frequently disagreed with Clark • Served as Kentucky’s representative in Virginia House of Delegates
Constitutional Convention • After arguing for statehood in the HOD, Logan called a Constitutional Convention • 1791-1792 • Met in Danville, the capitol of Kentucky County • Over eight years, met ten times • June 1st, 1792 U.S. Congress accepts Kentucky’s Constitution
The Constitution • Three branches of government – legislative, executive, and judicial • bicameral legislature called the General Assembly. • bill of rights • called for an electoral college to elect senators and the state's governor. (Representatives were chosen by popular election.) • stipulation that the General Assembly vote by ballot instead of voice. • requirement that representation to the General Assembly be based on population, not geography • Experimental, called for a reevaluation in 1799
1799 Convention • abolished the electoral college, allowing senators, representatives, the governor to be directly elected. • created office of lieutenant governor • In addition to appointing judges, the governor was given the power to appoint a number of local offices including sheriffs, coroners, and justices of the peace. • Gubenatorial and Assembly term limits • voting by ballot removed. • Neither of the first two Kentucky constitutions provided a method of amendment, and the 1799 Constitution made it even more difficult to call a constitutional convention.