1718-Bloodless Revolution

The Proprietors, with permission of the King, repealed the Assembly’s ten per cent duty upon goods of British manufacture imported into the colony. They also repealed several other Acts passed by the Assembly which inflamed the tension between the Assembly and the Proprietors.

• The ten-year old power of the Assembly to nominate the Public Receiver was repealed.
• Act for Elections calling it “contrary to the laws and customs of Parliament and Great Britain we therefore do declare the … Acts to be null and void …”
• Yemassee Act for Settlement which provided 200 acres to each settler was repealed.
• Indian Trade Act was repealed since London merchants saw it as a monopoly.
• The Proprietors ordered the Governor to dissolve the Assembly.

Nicholas Trott

Members of the Assembly were surprised and outraged, except for two, Nicholas Trott and William Rhett. It was discovered that Trott and Rhett had carried on a private correspondence with Mr. Shelton, the secretary of the Proprietors, encouraging the repeal of the Act for Elections, since it took control from their offices.

1769-American Revolution – Foundations

During a meeting at the Liberty Tree, both sides – 13 merchants and 13 mechanics & planters – accepted a unified Association. They encouraged American manufacturing and prohibited the importation of any European or East Indian goods, except a few necessary items which could not be produced in America. It was the most comprehensive protest in the American colonies. 

Slave importation from Africa was banned after January 1, 1770 and all signers pledged to boycott anyone who did not sign within a month. Anyone who broke the agreement was to “be treated with the utmost contempt.” The Association was to remain in effect until the Townsend Duties Act was repealed. Anyone who did not sign would have their names published in the Gazette as being against the Association.