3-2.2

It Is Essential For Students To Know:

• Students need to know that several explorers traveled through or established temporary settlements in South Carolina because of the national rivalry over land claims in the New World.
• Hernando de Soto explored for Spain in search of gold and slaves. He and his men traveled north from Spanish Florida, and encountered Native Americans in South Carolina. However, he did not establish a permanent settlement in South Carolina. Instead De Soto traveled extensively throughout the Southeastern United States in search of riches.
• Jean Ribault, exploring for France, came to South Carolina to compete with the Spanish for land in the New World. After arriving in Port Royal Harbor, which he named, he and his men built a fort. Located on present day Parris Island, Charles fort provided protection to the colonists that Ribault left behind. Eventually the settlement at Charles fort failed and the surviving colonists returned to France. The French never again attempted to settle in South Carolina.
• Juan Pardo, exploring for Spain, arrived at Parris Island and claimed the land for Spain. He re-named the land Santa Elena and used it as a base from which he explored the interior of South Carolina. Juan Pardo tried to make friends with the Native Americans because the Spanish were beginning to see how trade with the Native Americans could be beneficial.
• Henry Woodward arrived on the English ship Carolina which landed at Bull’s Bay. Woodward’s group established the first English settlement in South Carolina on the Ashley River and named it Charles Fort. Woodward traveled and explored the interior of South Carolina for England. Woodward traded with the Native Americans and tried to pave the way to honest, friendly relations with them.
• William Hilton was also from England. Hilton was hired by English settlers in Barbados to explore the coast of present day South Carolina to find more lush land for plantations. He claimed the area now known as Hilton Head for England.
• Later English migrants from Barbados became an important part of the English colony of South Carolina

It Is Not Essential For Students To Know

• Students do not need to know the story of De Soto’s encounter with Native Americans at the town called Cofitachequi. He was treated graciously, but left unhappy because he did not find gold and other riches. De Soto took the Queen of Cofitachiqui with him as a captive. She later escaped and returned to Cofitachequi.
• Students do not need to know the details of the Charles Fort settler’s trip back home to France or of the voyages of Woodward and Hilton.