South Carolina Explorers

When you hear the word “explorer”, what comes to your mind?

An explorer is someone who travels and searches for new places and things.

Who is Considered an Explorer?

South Carolina Explorers

European explorers wanted to find a shorter route to the spices of Asia and to find gold, silver, precious metals or other valuables such as furs.

The Spanish, French, and English monarch were also interested in expanding their empires by acquiring new land. Monarchs promoted exploration and settlement so that their country could be richer and more powerful than their European rivals. England France Spain

Explorers were sent out to claim new lands for “king and country.” Merchants and missionaries wanted to expand their knowledge of the world and to spread Christianity.

Sailing by boat and traveling by land from Spain to Asia was a long trip. Let’s look at a map to see how long the trip was.

Columbus thought he could get to Asia much faster if he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. So, the king and queen of Spain (monarchs) paid for the trip. Let’s look at a map to see if Columbus was correct.

Was Christopher Columbus correct?

No!!! Where did he land? Christopher Columbus landed on the continent of North America.

Why did the explorers come to South Carolina? To claim land and riches for their king and country. Curious Trade Build settlements

Why do you think the kings and queens of Spain, France, and England wanted to have more land and more riches?

They wanted to become richer and more powerful!

Over the years, many explorers came to North America and South Carolina. Let’s take a look at five of those explorers.

Hernando de Soto Explorer for Spain. He searched for gold and slaves. He and his men traveled north from Spanish Florida and encountered Native Americans in South Carolina. He treated the Native Americans badly by stealing from them and kidnapping one of their leaders. He never built a settlement, but continued to travel throughout the Southeastern U.S. looking for riches.

Exploration of Hernando Desoto

Hernando DeSoto Came up from Spanish Florida And traveled Through SC. He continued on The be the first Explorer to see And explore the Mississippi River

No Settlement!

He later returned to France to get supplies, but he did not come back. Jean Ribault Explorer for France. He and his men came to South Carolina to compete with Spain for land in the New World. He landed in Port Royal Harbor, which he named, and built a fort called Charlesfort to protect the colonists. (located on present day Parris Island) He later returned to France to get supplies, but he did not come back. The settlement at Charlesfort failed and the people he left behind gave up and returned to France. The French never again attempted to settle in SC.

Jean Ribault and His men landed At what is today Parris Island

No Settlement!

Juan Pardo Explorer for Spain He arrived at Parris Island and claimed the land for Spain. He renamed this land Santa Elena (was Charlesfort) and used it as a base from which he explored the interior of South Carolina. He tried to befriend the Native Americans so he and his fellow men could trade some of their items with items from the Native Americans.

Juan Pardo established a settlement at present day Parris Island. He continued to explore the center of South Carolina

No Settlement!

Dr. Henry Woodward Explorer for England. He first traveled to SC on Captain Robert Sanford’s Barbadian sponsored exploration of 1666. He stayed in the area to become familiar with it in order to assist the settlers who would follow soon afterward. After capture by and service to the Spanish in St. Augustine, Woodward was liberated by an English privateer (Captain Robert Searle) and served as surgeon on several vessels in the Carribbean before being shipwrecked on Nevis.

The Ship Henry Woodward sailed on Dr. Henry Woodward In 1669 he joined the expedition (from England and Barbados on one of the three English ships, the Carolina) to establish a permanent English colony in SC. The ship landed at Bull’s Bay and initially established a settlement called Fort Royal before moving to the Ashley River (Albemarle Point) and named their settlement Charles Town. Model of the Carolina The Ship Henry Woodward sailed on

Dr. Henry Woodward Ten years later, in 1680, they would move across the river to a more defensible location at Oyster Point on what is now the Charleston peninsula. Woodward traveled and explored the interior of SC for England. Woodward’s early solo experiences with the Native Americans and the Spanish taught him much about relationships. He continued to explore and was the official trader for the fledgling colony, trying to pave the way to honest, friendly relations with the various Native American tribes.

Charlestown in the 1600’s

The site of Charles Town in Charleston 2009 The site of Charles Town in the 1600’s

Successful Settlement!

William Hilton Explorer for England He was hired by the English settlers in Barbados to explore the coast of South Carolina. He sought out lush land for plantations. Plantations are large farms. He claimed an area now known as Hilton Head. Later English migrants became an important part of the English colony in South Carolina.

Hilton Head

Cause Effect Because of the explorations by many people from Spain, France, and England, More and more people began to come and settle in this new land. Merchants and missionaries hoped to spread Christianity.

Map Time! Choose five different colored crayons. Draw each explorers route to South Carolina. Draw a map key.

What ever happened between the Native Americans and the Europeans? At first, many of the Native Americans and Europeans were nice to each other. They had a good trading relationship. The Europeans wanted furs while the Native Americans wanted guns, knives, and other manufactured goods.

Later on, the trading relationship between these two groups worsened when the Europeans began treating the Native Americans unfairly. Also, conflicts over land ownership and land use grew worse as settlers began moving onto Native American hunting grounds.

The Native Americans didn’t want anybody owning the land, but the Europeans wanted to claim it for themselves. One group of Native Americans that was greatly effected by this was the Yemassee. The Yemassee went to war with the Europeans. Because of this, many people died on both sides.

Finally, the Native Americans and the Europeans agreed on a truce and the war was over. After the war, many more Native Americans began to die because of the infectious diseases brought over by the Europeans.

Discussion Time What are your thoughts about what you’ve learned? What questions do you have about South Carolina explorers or Native Americans?