On Saturday, Nov. 1, Alamance Battleground State Historic Site will host “Civil Engagements: Elections in the Backcountry,” a new event highlighting elections in the 1700s. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., this free event will feature 18th-century costumed interpreters, a tavern, and political meetings. A full event schedule is available online. Alamance Battleground is administered by N.C. Historic Sites, a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Visitors are invited to speak with interpreters portraying historical candidates Herman Husband and Edmand Fanning from the election of 1770 as they lobby for votes. This election was key to the Regulator movement in North Carolina, as frustrated farmers sought to unseat corrupt government officials to solve some of the pressing issues they faced.
In the 1760s, North Carolina farmers calling themselves Regulators acted against a corrupt colonial government. The Regulators demanded changes like secret ballot voting, elimination of local corruption, and transparent government. After years of political organization including petitions, lawsuits, and elections, the movement ended in a brutal defeat at Alamance Battleground in 1771.
Elections of this period had significant differences from modern elections. Voters were subject to open bribery and intimidation or plied with cheap food and drink by candidates. The event will also feature programming about the people who were excluded from participating in elections at this time, notably anyone who was not a free man who owned a minimum of 50 acres of land. The event concludes with a 3 p.m. battleground tour that will discuss the consequences of the failure of the colonial government to resolve issues peacefully.
About Alamance Battleground
Alamance Battleground State Historic Site preserves and interprets the legacy of the May 16, 1771, Battle of Alamance when almost 2,000 farmers, confronted a 1,000-man militia of colonial Governor William Tryon. The site is located at 5803 NC 62 S, Burlington, N.C. For more information, call 336-227-4785 or visit the site’s website, https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/alamance-battleground.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.