The Carolina Colony

NC Native American Life at the Time of Contact with Europeans There were over 30 different tribes in North Carolina at the time Europeans came They varied in size from tribes of only a few villages to tribes of thousands

The Algonquin Culture Lived along coastal North Carolina Tribes were held together by a common language Largest tribes = Pasquotank and Waccamaw

Algonquin Culture Location allowed for abundant fishing Ate fruits, melons, walnuts, cucumbers, peas, and roots

Tuscarora Dominated the coastal plain region The group had about 15 villages with 300 to 500 people in each village Related to the Iroquois Nation of New York

Catawba Lived along the Catawba river in a group of towns They were distinguished by their burnt black pottery

The Cherokee The Cherokee controlled 40,000 sq. mi. of territory – including parts of Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama One of the largest tribes in the US (approx. 30,000 members)

Tribal Organization Communities were led by Chiefs Chiefs controlled several towns (chiefdom) Tribal Councils – advised the chief Chiefs served as political, spiritual and military leaders, also distributed food

Belief System No one unified Native American spiritual belief system Great respect for nature Common legends and folklore to explain natural events

Native Americans in NC and across North America Shared religious beliefs Religion linked to nature Spiritual forces were everywhere– even plants and animals Shared beliefs about property Individual ownership applied only to the crops one grew Land was for the use of everyone in the village Believed they should preserve the land for future generations Despite shared beliefs, Native Americans on the North American continent were independent culture groups and did not form large empires.

Cultural Differences between Natives and Settlers Natives did not hold to the idea of owning land. Land was owned by all! Europeans came from a society where landownership equals power. Therefore, land was to be had. For natives, community often came before individual (a kind of tribal-socialist society) Individualism was being promoted by the new protestants coming to North America Natives believed that nature was sacred and good Colonials were taught that man had “dominion” over the earth and that wicked acts were committed in the “wilderness.” #Jesus- 40days40nights

Settling NC How might settlers come to the colony? What problems might they face? What areas will be settled first?

Settling the Albemarle

1650s – the best lands of Virginia were taken Tobacco drained soil of nutrients Land had been claimed Farmers sought new lands

Consequences of Jamestown’s Success

Great Wagon Road

* Great Wagon Road Main way to travel on the frontier Passed through Old Salem! Developed from old Indian trails

Growing Tobacco Land must be cleared 15 months from seed to product Planted in January, shipped the following spring Soil lasted 2-3 seasons Tobacco made up the entire economy of Carolina

Tobacco as Money No paper money or coin in Carolina lb. tobacco for 1 cow 2000 lb. tobacco for 1 indentured servant lb. tobacco for 1 cast iron pot Each adult man grew lbs. of tobacco per year

Life in the Colony Land was covered by dense forest Malaria Dangerous Jobs – logging, hunting, seafaring

Colonial Women Married and widowed numerous times during life Coverture – husband had complete control over wife’s property Could not vote

Colonial Religion Society of Friends (Quakers) dominated early Carolina England pushed Anglican faith George Fox – founder – established numerous congregations 1672 – Fox made a pilgrimage to “the north of Carolina”

Converts By 1676, hundreds of settlers had converted “Meetings among the people” allowed representation Added to independent spirit of colonists Not impressed with English titles or wealth