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In July 1524 Giovanni da Verrazano was the first European to come in contact with Native Americans on the coast of North Carolina. He described these people as “of a russet color,” and having long black hair “like a little tail.”
In 1584 an expediton led by Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe encountered Native Americans at Hatteras Island. They were friendly to each other, even exchanging gifts (Claggett, 1995).
In 1584 an expediton led by Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe encountered Native Americans at Hatteras Island. They were friendly to each other, even exchanging gifts (Claggett, 1995).
Tuscarora
European settlers and the Tuscarora didn’t have a peaceful relationship. The Europeans were known for taking advantage of them. They took their land without paying them, The Tuscarora attacked one of their settlements killing 200 people and capturing the Baron. They released the Baron when he agreed not to retaliate (Martin). One of the colonists was not happy with the outcome. He decided on his own to capture and kill one of the local chiefs. This was the beginning of the Tuscarora War (Martin).
The Tuscarora Indians were winning until settlers in North Carolina acquired help from Virginia and South Carolina. In return for their help, Virginia gained the land between the Albemarle Sound and Elizabeth City. The settlers, along with 500 Yamasee attacked the Tuscarora and killed almost 800 people. There were two attacks on their main village and the Chief had no choice but to sign a treaty (Martin).
The English violated that treaty, and the Tuscarora fought again. This time the settlers and almost 1,000 Indians attacked in Tuscarora territory. After this attack, almost 400 Tuscarora were sold in to slavery and the rest were forced north where they joined the Iroquois League (Martin).
The Tuscarora Indians were winning until settlers in North Carolina acquired help from Virginia and South Carolina. In return for their help, Virginia gained the land between the Albemarle Sound and Elizabeth City. The settlers, along with 500 Yamasee attacked the Tuscarora and killed almost 800 people. There were two attacks on their main village and the Chief had no choice but to sign a treaty (Martin).
The English violated that treaty, and the Tuscarora fought again. This time the settlers and almost 1,000 Indians attacked in Tuscarora territory. After this attack, almost 400 Tuscarora were sold in to slavery and the rest were forced north where they joined the Iroquois League (Martin).
Catawba
Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer was the first to have contact with the Catawba Indians in 1540. He and his troops did not have much contact with the Native Americans, they were heading west in search of gold.
Once Jamestown was established, the Native Americans and the settlers began to trade. The Catawba tribe traded deerskins in exchange for muskets, knives, kettles, and cloths (Merrell, 1989). Because of their location and trading paths near them, the Catawba Indians were very successful in trading. (Martin)
In the 18th century, European settler began moving closer to the Catawba tribe. The Catawba tribe was a peaceful tribe and tried not to create any kind of tension between the colonists and themselves. Because the settlers were now much closer, this meant that diseases were spread between the colonists and the Indians. By 1759, the Catawba tribe had already had their fourth wave of smallpox. The tribe was down to less than 1,000 people by 1760 (Merrell, 1989).
The Catawba tribe included some of the fiercest warriors, which helped them survive longer. The tribe claimed 11 other tribes as enemies, and the colonist knew this. They were friendly with the colonists and were even given a title for 144,000 acres by the King of England. The Catawba tribe was having difficulty keeping the colonists off their land, and eventually began renting out land to the colonists. Later, the colonists were not satisfied with renting land and began demanding the land for themselves.
In order to avoid being moved west, South Carolina negotiated the Treaty at Nations Ford. This meant that the Catawba tribe was to give up the 144,000 acres that were given to them, they would then be moved to an area that was less populated and they were to be given money (Merrell, 1989). The Catawba Indians were then moved to a 15 square mile reservation. (Martin)
During the Revolutionary war, the Catawba Indians joined the colonist in their fight against the British. In 1840, tribe members met at Nations Ford. The Catawba Indians agreed to give up their land and acquired 630 acres on the Catawba River. By 1850 only 100 members moved to this new land (Martin).
Once Jamestown was established, the Native Americans and the settlers began to trade. The Catawba tribe traded deerskins in exchange for muskets, knives, kettles, and cloths (Merrell, 1989). Because of their location and trading paths near them, the Catawba Indians were very successful in trading. (Martin)
In the 18th century, European settler began moving closer to the Catawba tribe. The Catawba tribe was a peaceful tribe and tried not to create any kind of tension between the colonists and themselves. Because the settlers were now much closer, this meant that diseases were spread between the colonists and the Indians. By 1759, the Catawba tribe had already had their fourth wave of smallpox. The tribe was down to less than 1,000 people by 1760 (Merrell, 1989).
The Catawba tribe included some of the fiercest warriors, which helped them survive longer. The tribe claimed 11 other tribes as enemies, and the colonist knew this. They were friendly with the colonists and were even given a title for 144,000 acres by the King of England. The Catawba tribe was having difficulty keeping the colonists off their land, and eventually began renting out land to the colonists. Later, the colonists were not satisfied with renting land and began demanding the land for themselves.
In order to avoid being moved west, South Carolina negotiated the Treaty at Nations Ford. This meant that the Catawba tribe was to give up the 144,000 acres that were given to them, they would then be moved to an area that was less populated and they were to be given money (Merrell, 1989). The Catawba Indians were then moved to a 15 square mile reservation. (Martin)
During the Revolutionary war, the Catawba Indians joined the colonist in their fight against the British. In 1840, tribe members met at Nations Ford. The Catawba Indians agreed to give up their land and acquired 630 acres on the Catawba River. By 1850 only 100 members moved to this new land (Martin).
Cherokee
Initial contact with the Cherokee tribe took place in 1540 by Henry de Soto. It wasn’t until the late 17th century that the Cherokee and the colonists began a relationship.(11?) The Cherokee tribe saw this new relationship as a way to survive. They invited religious missionaries to help build schools. Because of this, they had to create a written language. George Guess, better known as Sequoyah, began creating the Cherokee alphabet ("History & culture," 2012).
Diseases brought by the colonist had negative effects on the Cherokee. Over a period of three centuries, the Cherokee tribe was exposed to smallpox. Their first exposure was in 1698, but in 1739 they experienced the worst epidemic. The disease was brought back by the Cherokee when they helped the British in the war against the Spanish. During this epidemic nearly 10,000 Cherokees died, this was one half of their population. This epidemic also lead to their towns being relocated and an increase of distrust with the colonists (Anderson & Wetmore, 2006).
During the Revolutionary War, the Cherokee decided to side with the British. They divided between the Middle Towns who were attacking North Carolina and the Lower Towns who were attacking South Carolina. They were not very successful with their attacks. Because they weren't successful the colonists began the Cherokee campaign of 1776. South Carolina troops attacked the Lower Native American towns and then joined North Carolina in attacking the Middle and Valley Towns. Together, they destroyed more than 50 towns. The Cherokee sued for peace and ended up giving up land. This was the first forced land recessions by the Cherokee (Anderson & Wetmore, 2006).
Diseases brought by the colonist had negative effects on the Cherokee. Over a period of three centuries, the Cherokee tribe was exposed to smallpox. Their first exposure was in 1698, but in 1739 they experienced the worst epidemic. The disease was brought back by the Cherokee when they helped the British in the war against the Spanish. During this epidemic nearly 10,000 Cherokees died, this was one half of their population. This epidemic also lead to their towns being relocated and an increase of distrust with the colonists (Anderson & Wetmore, 2006).
During the Revolutionary War, the Cherokee decided to side with the British. They divided between the Middle Towns who were attacking North Carolina and the Lower Towns who were attacking South Carolina. They were not very successful with their attacks. Because they weren't successful the colonists began the Cherokee campaign of 1776. South Carolina troops attacked the Lower Native American towns and then joined North Carolina in attacking the Middle and Valley Towns. Together, they destroyed more than 50 towns. The Cherokee sued for peace and ended up giving up land. This was the first forced land recessions by the Cherokee (Anderson & Wetmore, 2006).