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What role did Hillsborough play during the American Revolution?
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Hillsborough
Ayr Mount, a restored plantation house built in 1815, Hillsborough, North Carolina.
During the American Revolution, Hillsborough, North Carolina, played a significant role as a temporary seat of government and a site of key political and military events.
- Political Center: The town served as the state capital for a period and hosted the third provincial congress in 1775. The General Assembly met in Hillsborough in 1778, 1780, and from 1782 to 1784.1
- Pre-Revolutionary Unrest: Hillsborough was a focal point for the Regulators, who protested against high taxes and corrupt officials between 1768 and 1771.1
- Military Presence: British troops under Lord Cornwallis occupied Hillsborough in 1781, shortly before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.1
- Constitutional Convention: The first state convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution was held in Hillsborough in 1788, though the ratification ultimately failed there.1
Many buildings from the Revolution era are still preserved in Hillsborough, including Heartsease, the home of Governor Thomas Burke, where he was captured by Tories in 1781.1