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.

• 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.