Christopher Gadsden
Christopher Gadsden was the principal leader of the South Carolina Patriot movement during the American Revolution and a soldier and politician from South Carolina. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revol…
Who is James Gadsden?
Christopher Gadsden was born in Charleston on February 16, 1724, the son of Elizabeth and Thomas Gadsden, a customs collector. Gadsden received a classical education in England before completing a four-year apprenticeship in Philadelphia. Between 1745 and 1747, he served as purser aboard the British man-of-war Aldborough. With money from his time at sea and a large …
Who was the real Christopher Gadsden?
James Gadsden (May 15, 1788 – December 26, 1858) was an American diplomat, soldier and businessman after whom the Gadsden Purchase is named, pertaining to land which the United States bought from Mexico, and which became the southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico.
What did Christopher Gadsden do in 1775?
Who was Gadsden? Christopher Gadsden was the designer of the flag. He’s known as “the Sam Adams of the South.” Both a soldier and a statesman, Gadsden was a founding member of South Carolina’s Sons of Liberty chapter. He served as a delegate to both the First and Second Continental Congresses.
What was the life of William Gadsden like?
James Gadsden (May 15, 1788 – December 26, 1858) was an American diplomat, soldier and businessman after whom the Gadsden Purchase is named, pertaining to land which the United States bought from Mexico, and which became the southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico.James Gadsden served as Adjutant General of the U. S. Army from August 13, 1821 – …
What was Christopher Gadsden known for?
Christopher Gadsden (1724–1805), a soldier and statesman from South Carolina, was the principal leader of the South Carolina Patriot movement in the American Revolution. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the War of Independence.
Why is James Gadsden important?
Gadsden's most important public service followed his appointment as U.S. minister to Mexico in 1853. He was instructed to negotiate a treaty for the purchase of territory south of the Gila River through which ran the most desirable route for a railroad from the southern states to the Pacific.
How did Gadsden Purchase lead to Civil War?
The Gadsden Purchase represented the last parcel of land acquired by the United States to complete the 48 mainland states. The transaction with Mexico was controversial, and it intensified the simmering conflict over enslavement and helped to inflame the regional differences that eventually led to the Civil War.Feb 2, 2019
What is Gadsden named after?
James GadsdenThe original farming settlement was known as Double Springs, and the town was founded there in 1846 as a steamboat station. It was renamed for James Gadsden, who later negotiated the Gadsden Purchase (1853) of territory from Mexico. Adjacent Alabama City was annexed by Gadsden in 1932.Mar 8, 2022
Why did U.S. buy Gadsden?
Gadsden's Purchase provided the land necessary for a southern transcontinental railroad and attempted to resolve conflicts that lingered after the Mexican-American War.
What happened to Mr Gadsden?
In the fall of 1856 Gadsden retired as minister to Mexico, and returned to Charleston where he died in 1858.
Was slavery allowed in the Gadsden Purchase?
Such a route, if going in the straightest line possible, would run through what was then still Mexican territory. Gadsden, an avowed secessionist, also advocated splitting the new state of California into two, with the southern part allowing slavery and slave labor to build the railroad he so badly wanted.
What did the Gadsden Purchase have to do with slavery?
The purchase was part of Pierce's plan to unite a divided country by expanding American interests aggressively into foreign territories, a plan known as "Young America." The Gadsden Purchase was opposed by Northern antislavery senators, who suspected Pierce's long-range plan was to obtain land for the expansion of ...
Who was the president that sent James Gadsden to negotiate for the land?
President PierceIn 1853 President Pierce sent Gadsden to Mexico to negotiate a redefinition of the border. The Mexican regime was urgently in need of money and for $10 million sold the required strip of territory south of the Gila River, in what is now southern New Mexico and Arizona.Dec 12, 2003
Who founded Gadsden AL?
John RileyIt was founded in about 1825 by John Riley, a mixed-race American Indian and European-American settler who built his house near two springs. Riley used his house for a stagecoach stop on the Huntsville-to-Rome route. The original building still stands as the oldest in Gadsden.
Who was James Gadsden and what did he do?
During the War of 1812 he served as an engineer and as an aide to Gen. Andrew Jackson. Later he fought against the Seminole Indians and was responsible for securing the evidence which led to the seizure, trial, and execution of two British agents.
What does the Gadsden stand for?
It was used by the Continental Marines as an early motto flag, along with the Moultrie flag. Its design proclaims an assertive warning of vigilance and willingness to act in defense against coercion. This has led it to be associated with the ideas of individualism and liberty.
Who is Joshua Kristal?
Joshua Kristal, a professional photographer, completed a project in 2012 of taking photographs in three southern states at sites of lynchings that were documented in historic photographs. One of his photographs was in Gadsden, at the site of Bunk Richardson's 1906 lynching.
How big is Lookout Mountain?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 38.3 square miles (99.2 km 2 ), of which 37.1 square miles (96.2 km 2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 km 2 ), or 2.96%, is water. The southern end of Lookout Mountain rises to the north of the city center.
How did Gadsden become famous?
Gadsden began his rise to prominence as a merchant and patriot in Charleston. He prospered as a merchant, and built the wharf in Charleston that bears his name. Between its completion in 1767 until 1787 and 1803 to 1808, it is estimated that 40% (about 100,000 enslaved people) were brought to America through his wharf. He was captain of a militia company during a 1759 expedition against the Cherokee. He was first elected to the Commons House of Assembly in 1757, and began a long friction with autocratic royal governors.
Where was Christopher Gadsden born?
Early life. Gadsden was born in 1724 in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the son of Thomas Gadsden, who had been in the Royal Navy before becoming customs collector for the port of Charleston. Christopher was sent to school near Bristol, England. He returned to America in 1740 and served as an apprentice at a counting house in Philadelphia, ...
Who was the governor of Charleston in 1782?
His health was still impaired from his imprisonment, and an active governor was needed since the British had not yet given up Charleston. So in 1782, John Mathews became the new governor. Gadsden was also a member of the state convention in 1788 and voted for ratification of the United States Constitution .
Who was the British commander in the South?
After General Sir Henry Clinton returned to New York, the new British commander in the South, General Cornwallis , changed the rules. On the morning of August 27, he arrested about 20 of the civil officers then on parole. They were marched as prisoners to a ship and taken to St. Augustine, Florida.
Who was the leader of the Charleston Sons of Liberty?
On his return from New York, Gadsden became one of the founders and leaders of the Charleston Sons of Liberty. He had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the militia. He was elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774 and the Second Continental Congress the following year.
Who created the first political cartoon?
Back in 1751, Benjamin Franklin designed and published America’s first political cartoon. Called “Join Or Die,” it featured a generic snake cut into 13 parts. The imagery was clear: join together or be destroyed by British power.
Who wrote the "Don't tread on me"?
While the letter is anonymous, most scholars now agree that it was written by Benjamin Franklin.
Who designed the South Carolina flag?
Christopher Gadsden was the designer of the flag. He’s known as “the Sam Adams of the South.”. Both a soldier and a statesman, Gadsden was a founding member of South Carolina’s Sons of Liberty chapter. He served as a delegate to both the First and Second Continental Congresses.
Who was James Gadsden?
James Gadsden (May 15, 1788 – December 26, 1858) was an American diplomat, soldier and businessman after whom the Gadsden Purchase is named, pertaining to land which the United States bought from Mexico, and which became the southern portions ...
Where was Gadsden born?
It is known that he was born in Charleston, South Carolina, during 1788, and that he was grandson of the American Revolutionary War hero Christopher Gadsden, for whom the Gadsden flag was named. It is also known that Gadsden earned his bachelor's degree from Yale University in Connecticut, completing this degree in 1806.
What did Gadsden think of slavery?
Gadsden considered slavery "a social blessing" and abolitionists "the greatest curse of the nation."
What was the Gadsden Treaty?
This treaty is known as the "Gadsden Treaty", and it resulted in the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico of about 30,000 square miles (78,000 km 2) of land in northmost Mexico for $10,000,000. In the fall of 1856 Gadsden retired as minister to Mexico, and returned to Charleston where he died in 1858.
Who was the president of the South Carolina Railroad Company?
Later Gadsden served as the president of the South Carolina Railroad company from 1840 to 1850. When first completed in 1833, the line was the longest railroad in the world under one management. As an engineer he directed the construction of the branch to Columbia, completed 1842, surveyed a proposed extension to the Ohio River, and helped promote the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, incorporated 1845 (completed in 1857, it was the first U. S. railroad link between the Atlantic and the Mississippi River, but long after Gadsden had turned his attention elsewhere).
When was the Santa Fe Railroad completed?
Completed October 25, 1882, this line was later acquired by the Southern Pacific.
When was the Gadsden Purchase completed?
Completed October 25, 1882, this line was later acquired by the Southern Pacific. Today, the rail link across the Gadsden Purchase on the southern transcontinental is one of the busiest in the Western Hemisphere.
What was the Gadsden Purchase?
The Gadsden Purchase, or Treaty, was an agreement between the United States and Mexico, finalized in 1854, in which the United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a 29,670 square mile portion of Mexico that later became part of Arizona and New Mexico. Gadsden's Purchase provided the land necessary ...
Who signed the Treaty of 1854?
President Pierce signed the treaty and Gadsden presented the new treaty to Santa Anna, who signed it on June 8, 1854. After Gadsden's Purchase a new border dispute caused tension over the United States' payment, and the treaty failed to resolve the issues surrounding financial claims and border attacks. However, it did create the southern border of ...
What is the isthmus of Tehuantepec?
In 1847, the United States attempted to buy the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, an isthmus on the southern edge of North America, as an alternative means of providing a southern connection between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Mexico, however, had already granted Mexican Don Jos� de Garay the right to build colonies for Americans on ...
When did the Mexican-American War end?
While the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo formally ended the Mexican-American War in February 1848, tensions between the Governments of Mexico and the United States continued to simmer over the next six years.
Who was Christopher Gadsden?
A little more about the Gadsden flag. Christopher Gadsden was an American patriot. He led Sons of Liberty in South Carolina starting in 1765, and was later made a colonel in the Continental Army. In 1775, he was in Philadelphia representing his home state in the Continental Congress. He was also one of three members of the Marine Committee.
Why is the Gadsden flag used?
Though the Gadsden flag has, at times, been used to communicate racial messages. Such as when, in June 2014, assailants with connections to white supremacist groups draped the bodies of two murdered police officers with the Gadsden flag during their shooting spree.
What happened in 1775?
In the fall of 1775, the British were occupying Boston and the young Continental Army was holed up in Cambridge, lacking the necessary supplies to last through the season . Welcome to the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Where is the rattlesnake found?
The Rattlesnake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America. The rattlesnake also has sharp eyes, and "may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.
How many ships did the Continental Navy have?
To do so, they quickly authorized the creation of a Continental Navy, starting with four ships, including the merchant ship that carried the information from England. To accompany the Navy on their first mission, Congress also authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines.
Overview
Gadsden is a city in and the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located on the Coosa River about 56 miles (90 km) northeast of Birmingham and 90 miles (140 km) southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,931. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 3…
History
The first substantial European-American settlement in the area that developed as Gadsden was a village called "Double Springs". It was founded in about 1825 by John Riley, a mixed-race American Indian and European-American settler who built his house near two springs. Riley used his house for a stagecoach stop on the Huntsville-to-Rome route. The original building still stands as the oldest in Gadsden.
Geography and climate
Gadsden is located in central Etowah County at 34°0′37″N 86°0′37″W / 34.01028°N 86.01028°W (34.010147, −86.010356), and developed on both sides of the Coosa River. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 38.3 square miles (99.2 km ), of which 37.1 square miles (96.2 km ) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 km ), or 2.96%, is water. The southern end of Lookout Mountain rises to the north of the city center.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,978 people, 16,456 households, and 10,252 families living in the city. The population density was 1,083.6 people per square mile (418.4/km ). There were 18,797 housing units at an average density of 522.6 per square mile (201.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 62.7% White, 34.0% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific …
Employment
Citing statistics from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations and the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority reports that approximately 12,000 residents of Etowah County were underemployed and 2,179 residents were unemployed as of 2008.
Religion
Gadsden houses numerous churches: Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Pentecostal, Catholic, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The city was home to Congregation Beth Israel, a Reform synagoguefounded in 1908. In a 1960 attack, the synagogue was fire-bombed, its windows smashed, and two members shot and wounded by a Nazi sympathizer. Because of declining numbers as some members moved away …
Law enforcement
Gadsden is served by a 106-member municipal police department that includes a Patrol Division and Detective Division. The Patrol Division operates patrol, a bomb squad unit, special projects team, and a joint SWAT team with the Etowah County Sheriff Office. The Detective Division serves a homicide or persons unit, property crime unit, financial crimes unit, and juvenile unit. In May 2010, the Gadsden Police Department acquired two unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) under the a…
Education
The Gadsden City Board of Education oversees fourteen schools: eight elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school, and two specialty schools (one alternative center and one technical center).
A new high school, Gadsden City High School, replaced the three former city high schools (Emma Sansom High School, Gadsden High School, and Litchfield High School) via merger for the 2006–…