The First South Carolinians The Cherokee, Catawba, and Yemassee

Why we remember Long before South Carolina became a state, Native Americans settled here. There are no written records to help us learn about the history of these people. As we find bits of pottery, tools, and other items the Native Americans made, we gather clues about what their lives were like long ago.

Native Americans in South Carolina, c. 1670

Overview Groups settled in different regions of South Carolina. Cherokee – Northwest part of state (Blue Ridge and hilly western Piedmont) Catawba - Piedmont (Up Country) Yemassee – Coast (Low Country)

Native American Tribes The tribes of the Eastern Woodlands living in South Carolina differed from one another in language. However, the culture and government structure of these tribes were similar. The physical environment of each tribal area played a large role in shaping each culture.

What does culture mean? Culture is the way of life, customs, or traditions for a group of people. –The type of gods people believe in –The type of games people play –The dances and stories they tell –The type of things people make –The places they live All of these things go into creating the culture for a particular group.

Cherokee The Cherokee made their home in the Blue Ridge mountains and the rolling hills Of the Piedmont regions

The Cherokee settled near river systems. There were many villages in the Cherokee Nation. The villages were loosely united with each other. They visited or traded with each other. The had a well traveled trail that ran from the mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.

Cherokee Way of Life Built many towns along rivers of the Up Country 30 – 60 homes in each town Rivers were important for: –Fishing –Travel by canoe –Trading (clothing, food, art) –Sharing news

Cherokee Cherokee travelled from village to village in dugout canoes. They were made from trees.

Cherokee Way of Life Men hunted bear, deer, and turkey for food Women gathered nuts and farmed the land Gardens – corn, beans, squash, & melons Clothing – deerskin Hunters gatherers fishermen farmers

Cherokee lived in long houses during the summer.

In the winter the Cherokee lived in wattle and daub houses like this one. They Were houses made of grasses and twigs and held together with mud.

Cherokee The Cherokee were powerful and thought of themselves as “the real people”

Invented a system for writing the Cherokee language in the 1800’s Cherokee writing was used in the schools, books, and newspapers Famous Cherokee leader

Cherokee Government Their villages were run by councils where different leaders made decisions affecting the people The leaders were elected and the Cherokee had a form of a constitution. Cherokee women sat on the village councils and had a significant voice in whether or not the tribe went to war.

Lesson 1 Review Write a summary for the details below. They built homes and canoes from wood. They farmed the land They fished in rivers The Cherokee used natural resources to survive.

Lesson 1 Review 2.Where did the Cherokee settle in South Carolina? 3.Name two traditions that are part of Cherokee culture. 4.Where did the Cherokee conduct their government business? 5.Describe a Cherokee village from long ago.

The Catawba “River People” Lived off the land of the Piedmont. They were also hunters and farmers and traveled the rivers in dugout canoes. They were very powerful near their part of the state where the city of Rock Hill is located today.

Catawba Homes Round or oval Made of saplings or young trees Covered with bark Had a fireplace inside with a hole for smoke Wigwam

The Catawba built villages as shown In this picture. They lived in wigwams Like the Cherokee the Catawba built a council house for meetings.

The Catawba were famous for their pottery. They were more peaceful than other Native American groups of their time. They used their time to be creative rather than aggressive.

The Catawba Streamline Video 2:45

Compare & Contrast To compare is to show how things are alike. To contrast is to show how things are different. In your notebook, compare and contrast your life to the lives of the early Cherokee.

Catawba Homes Food Crafts Government

The Yemassee They lived in the coastal zone on the southern coast of SC, near the Georgia border.

Yemassee They lived in wigwams close to the coast in the summer and farther inland in wattle and daub houses along river during the winter. They hunted, fished, farmed, and gathered clams and oysters.