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Coastal Indians met Spanish explorer Lucas Vásquez Ayllón near Pawley's Island. A Spanish man called Francisco Chicora was taken as a slave, along with many other Indians. Chicora was taken to Spain, taught Spanish, and exhibited at the Royal Court.
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French Captain Jean Ribault formed a short-lived colony near Port Royal in Beaufort County. They were assisted by the Cusabo tribes.
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Captain Robert Sandford, an Englishman, explored the South Carolina coast. He was accompanied by Dr. Henry Woodward who stayed behind to live among the Cusabo tribes for four years, to establish relations and learn their language.
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•The English colony of Charles Towne was established.
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•Henry Woodward expanded Indian trade beyond the coastal tribes by signing a treaty with the Westo.
•Slavery of Indians was officially sanctioned by the colony around this time. -
Several South Carolina Indians fought with the British against the Tuscarora of North Carolina in the Tuscarora War.
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Poor treatment of Indians by English traders resulted in an Indian uprising lead by the Yemassee that became known as the Yemassee War. Approximately 100 settlers were killed. Indian losses were far greater.
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By mid-1700, virtually all of the smaller Indian tribes throughout South Carolina disappeared, probably merging with larger groups, such as the Catawba and Cherokee of South Carolina or the Creeks of Georgia.
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•The Indian Removal Act was passed by the United States government.
•The same year, John Ross, a Cherokee, argued against the Indian Removal Act in the Supreme Court and won. President Andrew Jackson ignored the court's decision. -
•16,000 Cherokee were forced to leave their eastern homeland and travel on foot to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. On the march, known as Trail of Tears, at least 2,000 died.
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The Catawba Tribe received federal recognition.
