How it fell
How Franklin's Conflicts caused its demise |
The collapse of franklin The state of Franklin failed to get approval from the U.S. Congress, North Carolina legislature, or any national public figure in order to affirm their movement for statehood. Three things threatened the community on the home front: the Cherokee Indians, competing state bureaucracies, and tense local factionalism. Further hostilities arose between Franklin and North Carolina as high-level meetings were carried out, but then caused an ability for a secure agreement between the two states to be carried out. Franklinites became increasingly desperate, but even the inevitable downfall of the "state" could not convince its residents to give up on their cause. During the state's final months, a violent clash arose between the communities of the Tennessee Valley, leaving the region in shambles and the state in ruins. (1)
A bid for help to franklin's namesakeAlthough the state was named after him, Benjamin Franklin was not overwhelmingly supportive of it. Governor John Sevier wrote to him asking for help in building up the state and getting it formally recognized, an offer which Franklin politely declined, saying, (4)
"I am sensible of the honor which your Excellencey and your council do me. but being in Europe when your State was formed I am too little acquainted with the circumstances to be able to offer you anything just now that may be of importance, since everything material that regards your welfare will doubtless have occurred to yourselves. I will endeavor to inform myself more perfectly of your affairs by inquiry and searching the records of Congress and if anything should occur to me that I think may be useful to you, you shall hear from me thereupon." (5) |
Franklin-Spanish Conspiracy
Could spain have saved franklin? Sevier made an attempt to get a loan from Spain for the state of Franklin, but when it didn’t come through, he gave up the effort. In Middle Tennessee, James Robertson had North Carolina name the counties the Mero District in honor of the Spanish governor at New Orleans. It is not certain why Robertson did this—maybe to discourage Indian attacks by making it seem that the settlers were protected by the government of Spain. (2) The "Spanish Intrigue" involved the governments of Spain, Franklin, "lesser Franklin", and land speculators. It was intended to preserve Franklin sovereignty, pressure the U.S. and N.C. to accept Franklin, eliminate the Native American threat, and advance collective economic goals. It eventually collapsed around the end of 1788 as Spain became increasingly suspicious, differences between the two areas became glaringly obvious (e.g. Catholicism vs. Protestantism), and shifting political climates made the deal impossible. (3)
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How Franklin met its ultimate demise
Tipton vs. Franklin
The North Carolina-Franklin crisis came to a head in 1788, when Tipton ordered John Sevier's slaves and livestock seized in exchange for taxes owered to the N.C. government. Sevier organized a group of Franklinites in the state's capitol, Greenville, where Reverend Thomas Ware attempted to convince them not to march on Colonel Tipton. Nevertheless, Sevier and his men numbering over 100 surrounded Tipton's cabin and demanded that he and his family surrender to the small army. Tipton refused to justify this action with a response, and several small skirmishes ensued. On February 28, Governor Sevier sent another request for a truce to Colonel Tipton requesting his surrender, to which Colonel Tipton is reported to have replied, “To this flag I sent an answer, letting the men assembled there know that all I wanted was a submission to the laws of North Carolina, and if they would acquiesce with this proposal I would disband my troops here….” (6)(7) Realizing that Colonel Tipton and his small party were not going to surrender, Sevier decided to lay siege to Tipton’s cabin instead of causing any bloodshed by assaulting the cabin. However, Tipton's men attacked, rushing out of the cabin as the Colonel yelled, “Boys, every man who is a soldier come out!” (8) and the Franklin militia fled. (9) Sevier was later arrested by Tipton and the State of Franklin collapsed. It wasn't until 1789 that the area's independence completely died out, but the region was once again under N.C. control. (10)
(1) Kevin T. Barksdale, The Lost State of Franklin: America's First Secession, New Directions in Southern History (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 2009), [Pages 118-144].
(2) State of Franklin, Tennessee 4 Me, accessed February 8, 2016.
(3) Kevin T. Barksdale, The Lost State of Franklin [145-161].
(4): Historic Sullivan County, Tennessee, p. 109-113 World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc. Chicago
(5): Benjamin Franklin to John Sevier, Gov., 1787.
(6) Tipton-Haynes State Historical Site (Tipton-Haynes Historical Association).
(7) N.C., State Records of North Carolina, comp. Clark, report no. 22, [Page 692]
(8) "Draper Manuscripts" (unpublished manuscript, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI, n.d.), [Page #]
(9) Tipton-Haynes State Historical Site (Tipton-Haynes Historical Association).
(10); Hart, Dave. "What Happened to the Lost State of Franklin." (Web log post. Our
State: Celebrating North Carolina. Our State Magazine, 1 Jan. 2009).
(2) State of Franklin, Tennessee 4 Me, accessed February 8, 2016.
(3) Kevin T. Barksdale, The Lost State of Franklin [145-161].
(4): Historic Sullivan County, Tennessee, p. 109-113 World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc. Chicago
(5): Benjamin Franklin to John Sevier, Gov., 1787.
(6) Tipton-Haynes State Historical Site (Tipton-Haynes Historical Association).
(7) N.C., State Records of North Carolina, comp. Clark, report no. 22, [Page 692]
(8) "Draper Manuscripts" (unpublished manuscript, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI, n.d.), [Page #]
(9) Tipton-Haynes State Historical Site (Tipton-Haynes Historical Association).
(10); Hart, Dave. "What Happened to the Lost State of Franklin." (Web log post. Our
State: Celebrating North Carolina. Our State Magazine, 1 Jan. 2009).