Native Americans in

South Carolina

3-2.1: Compare the culture, governance, and physical environment of the major Native American tribal groups of South Carolina, including the Cherokee, Catawba, and Yemassee.

Vocabulary

Dugout canoes: a type of boat that was made by softening the inside wood of a tree and hollowing it out. In essence, they “dug out” the wood for the canoe.

Vocabulary

Longhouses: homes that were made for the spring and summer months. Was spread out so the N/A could stay cool.

Vocabulary

Wattle and Daub: homes that were made for the fall and winter months. It was smaller and sealed with mud.

VocabularyWigwams: Sometimes they are known as birchbark houses. Wigwams are small houses, usually 8-10 feet tall.

Vocabulary

Pots, dishes, and other articles made of earthenware or baked clay.

Vocabulary

Encroach: to gradually intrude on someone’s rights or possessions.

Where are the Native American Tribes Located?

Cherokee CultureVillages were loosely united with each other

Travelled from village to village in their large dugout canoes.

Were hunters / gatherers / farmers / and fishers

Thought of themselves as the “Real People” and were very powerful

Lived in longhouses during the summer and wattle and daub houses in the winter.

Cherokee GovernmentVillages were run by a council of both men and women

Different parts of the council made the decisions

The leaders were elected

There was a form of a constitution

Women had a part in the government; they decided if the tribe went to war

Cherokee LocationLived in the mountains of the Blue Ridge and western hills of the Piedmont

Settled near rivers

The Cherokee had a well traveled trading path that lead from the mountains to the Atlantic Ocean because they were traders

Cherokee Physical Environment Now that you know

where the Cherokee people lived, describe their physical environment.

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Catawba Culture

Farming – Corn, beans, and squash

Fishing – Variety of freshwater fish

Hunting – Deer, other game

The Catawba traveled the rivers in dugout canoes and were known as “River People.”

They were famous for their pottery and were more peaceful than many Native Americans of that time in South Carolina.

Hernando de Soto, the Spanish explorer, made first contact with the Catawba in 1540. When Europeans began settling in the Carolina Piedmont, the Catawba remained friendly

Lived in wigwams.

Catawba GovernmentWere governed by councils

Women also participated in the running of their tribe’s government

The people were elected into power

Catawba LocationThe Catawba lived off the land of the Piedmont.

They were powerful in their part of the state, near where Rock Hill is today.

Most Catawba people still live in South Carolina today, although others were forced to move to Oklahoma along with the Cherokees in the 1800's.

Catawba Physical Environment

Now that you know where the Catawba people lived, describe their physical environment.

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Yemassee Culture

They lived in wigwams close to the coast in the summer.

They moved inland into wattle and daub houses along the rivers during the winter.

The Yemassee hunted / fished / and gathered clams and oysters.

Yemassee GovernmentNo mention of the government is made!

What do you think it could be like? Why?

Yemassee LocationThe Yemassee lived in the coastal zone on the southern coast of South Carolina near the Georgia border.

Yemassee Physical

Environment Now that you know where the Catawba people lived, describe their physical environment.

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