Up Country vs. Low Country

Transcription

1 Up Country vs. Low Country Up Country (Back Country) Low Country The coastal areas of SC quickly ran out of good farmland. Therefore, new immigrants had to move further from the coast. This land shortage was also a problem in other colonies. Many people who originally wanted to settle in Pennsylvania, Maryland, or even another colony, traveled down the Great Wagon Road to the Up Country of SC. The Up Country was also known as the Back Country. 1

2 What nationalities made up SC s population? Low Country: Because the Low Country was settled early in the history of the colony, there was a large population of English, Irish and Barbadian settlers. There were also some French Huguenots, Jews and Germans. Up Country: The Up Country was not only settled later, but it was composed of the poorer colonists. There was a large population of Germans, Scots Irish, Swedes, etc. The largest groups of non English whites lived in the Back Country: Germans and Scot Irish. Slaves: While African slaves were used in both regions, the Low Country controlled the majority of SC's slave population. Farmers in the Up Country who did have slaves usually owned a small number (1 5), and worked their land along side of the slaves. However, in the Low Country, there were many planters who owned more than 100 slaves each. 2

3 The Low Country The Low Country was the more civilized of the two regions. Charleston, the capital of SC until 1791, is located in the Low Country. Charleston functioned like a miniature version of London. There was a class system that was strictly enforced. This system dictated what a person ate, wore, the education they received, where they lived, etc. The wealthy, as well as many in the middle class, threw many lavish parties, as well as attended the theatre. The poorer folks would have get togethers to celebrate life events. Georgian style: (Drayton Hall) This house is built in Georgian, or Palladian style. This style is characterized by symmetry, and was popular in the Colonial Period. 3

4 Jobs in the Low Country Merchants who imported fine goods from Europe Shop keepers Teachers and private tutors Politicians & lawyers Planters Small farmers Skilled labor jobs: cooper, blacksmith, silversmith, wainwright, cabinet maker, etc. Apprentices Tavern owners Accountants Doctors and midwives 4

5 The Up Country (Back Country) The Up Country was very much considered to be frontier land. It was largely unsettled until the 1729 township scheme promoted by Governor Johnson. Once a bounty was offered on the land, many people agreed to settle there. The land in many areas of the Up Country is fairly good for farming. The people who chose to live there were very hard workers; they mainly worked as farmers. Many also raised cattle and sheep, as well as had fruit orchards. Some of the Back Country settlers owned saw mills, gristmills, or general stores. They built their houses in a style called clapboard, though daub & wattle and log cabins were in use as well. crops: corn, rye, indigo, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, turnips, tobacco, flax and cotton. Back Country settlements revolved around churches and streams/ rivers. 5

6 Many of the Back Country settlers came down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania and other states in search of new land. They settled in the Back Country of SC, and created settlements like Newberry, York, Lancaster, McConnell s, etc. 6

7 The Great Awakening Occurred for two reasons: Many people did not support the ideas of the Enlightenment (it questioned the laws of religion) The new denominations were the Separate Baptists and the Methodists. They preached in a simple and direct manner that was appreciated by simple folk. The Second Great Awakening There were not enough ministers to meet the needs of the large number of settlers in the Up Country. These new denominations also didn t believe in an educated ministry. Therefore, they were able to send out towns people who wanted to spread the word of God to serves as preachers. 7

8 Education: Education in SC was private at this time, meaning it was not free. Therefore, only the upper class usually had an extended education. One of the major reasons for educating the members of both sexes was to allow them read the Bible and other religious texts. 8

9 Many members of the upper class provided private tutors for their children. This education would revolve around the Enlightenment and the new schools of thought. As small children, they would learn reading, writing, basic math, religious studies, and maybe begin dancing and etiquette lessons. The males would learn politics, law, history, geography, Latin, Greek, French, dancing, etiquette and sword fighting. The females would learn history, French, dancing, a musical instrument, drawing, and how to run a household. When the males were old enough, they would attend college. Sometimes they attended universities in the North, while other times they went to London to be educated. 9

10 The Middle Class also had their children educated in areas that would assist them in their trade or profession. These students would be taught reading, writing, basic math, a foreign language if it was necessary to the business, dancing, and etiquette. Many of the young men would be apprenticed to a merchant or skilled craftsmen when they would years old. This allowed them to not only learn the trade, but set up shop when they had mastered the skill, usually at age 21. Females would learn to run the household, but take a more hands on approach than their wealthier counterparts. 10

11 The poorer folk would not necessarily see education as a necessity. If they did educate their children, they either taught the children themselves, or set them to schools run by the local church or a neighbor. These schools were generally free, or could be paid for with a service rendered (assist with cleaning, trade some food items, etc.). The poor were very drawn to religion, rather than to the Enlightenment. Free School Act of 1712 This act, passed by the general assembly, set aside funds for a school building. The master of the school would continue to teach the wealthy students for a fee, while the school commissioners chose 12 under privileged children who exhibited talent to attend for free. 1770: The College of Charleston opened 1740: The Church of England (Anglican) opened a school for free blacks, where they were taught to become teachers. 11

12 Law in Colonial South Carolina The seat of the state government was located in Charleston, the capital of Colonial SC. This meant that all cases were tried here. Since the wealthy people lived here, and they were majority in the General Assembly, most of the laws were made in their favor. This angered the citizens of the Back Country. They had to travel along way to get their complaints heard, and rarely was anything done to rectify the issues they brought to the attention of the General Assembly. Eventually, the Back Country settlers became fedup, taking matters in their own hands. 12

13 The Regulator Movement They were fearful of Native American attack since they would be hit first. They thought it was unfair that they paid same tax rate as the wealthy plantation owners in the Low Country. There were no citizens from the Back Country to represent that region in the House of Commons. There were no courts or jails; land deeds and other legal documents had to register in Charleston. The citizens in the Back Country were tired of their pleas for help being ignored. They decided to take matters into their own hands. They formed a group called the Regulators. The Regulators were vigilantes who made citizens arrests. Nearly 4,000 settlers supported more law and order to deal with thieves, wanderers, etc. They wanted representatives in the House of Commons, circuit courts, churches and schools. 13

14 Circuit Court Act Ended the Regulator Movement The Circuit Court Act of 1768 was passed to deal with the issues in the Back Country. There would be 7 districts, each with a sheriff, jail and courthouse. Two new parishes or church districts were added in the Back Country. This allowed more church officials in those areas that had none. William Bull II, the lieutenant governor, said that the Back Country was infected with horse thieves and robbers. 14

15 French and Indian War All of the movement into the frontier areas of the 13 colonies began to lead to problems for the English with the Native Americans and the French. The Native Americans were tired of their being taken, while the French and the British were claiming the same areas of land. From , the French and Indian War was fought in the colonies, mainly in the Ohio River Valley. (In Europe, this was called the Seven Years War). The English won this war; the Treaty of Paris was signed to re establish peace. The French lost Canada to Britain, Louisiana to Spain. The Spanish ceded ownership of Florida to the British. The treatment of the French led to their involvement in the American Revolution. The ever raising taxes after the war led to the American Revolution. 15

16 The Proclamation of 1763 British settlers were not allowed to settle on the lands reserved for the Native Americans The Appalachian Mountains served as the boundary: the Native Americans lived on the west side of the mountains while the colonists must live on the east side of the mountains. 16

17 The Cherokee War put the events in the correct order While in Virginia, some of the Cherokee Warriors stole horses from the white men. The white settles began to attack the Cherokee villages. The French told the Cherokee that the British were trying to steal their land. This looked like it was true since the British were maintaining control of the fort for the time being. Governor Glen promised to build forts along the frontier line to help maintain peaceful relations between the white settlers and Native Americans. By the time the fort was finished, the French and Indian War was raging in the Middle Colonies. The colonists marched against the Cherokee and burned several villages, as well as crops to finally end the altercation. Peace was finally made with the Proclamation of The older Native Americans refused to believe the French, and continued to trust the young men, however, did not. The young men were sent to fight on the colonists side the French and Indian War. The Cherokee began to attack the frontier settlements, leading to the Charleston Militia being called to put down their rebellion. They took Cherokee hostages, and held them at a fort. The Cherokee attacked this fort, and the hostages were put to death. The Cherokee again attacked frontier settlements. 17

18 At the end of the French & Indian War, my family and I were forced to move east of the ; the land to the west was reserved from Native Americans. Rocky Mountains Georgian Pirate Piazza Single House Great Wagon Road Appalachian Mountains Circuit Court Act Regulators Double House Privateer 18

19 When my family moved from PA to SC, we traveled down the. Georgian Circuit Court Act Regulators Pirate Appalachian Mountains Privateer Double House Piazza Single House Rocky Mountains Great Wagon Road 19

20 My family built their new plantation in style. Great Wagon Road Appalachian Mountains Regulators Circuit Court Act Georgian Rocky Mountains Pirate Double House Single House Piazza Privateer 20

21 My father and uncle were tired of their horses being stolen; they joined the yesterday to deal with the thieves. Georgian Great Wagon Road Piazza Regulators Single House Privateer Pirate Double House Rocky Mountains Appalachian Mountains Circuit Court Act 21

22 Our beautiful new home has a, or terrace where I to sit and read. Georgian Great Wagon Road Regulators Circuit Court Act Single House Piazza Pirate Appalachian Mountains Double House Rocky Mountains Privateer 22

23 Stede Bonnet was such a lame that he bought his ship instead of stealing it! Circuit Court Act Appalachian Mountains Privateer Rocky Mountains Regulator Pirate Double House Great Wagon Road Single House Piazza Georgian 23

24 The Low Country finally listened to the complaints of the Up Country! My father can sue the thieves in court because of the. Single House Privateer Pirate Great Wagon Road Georgian Circuit Court Act Regulators Appalachian Mountains Rocky Mountains Piazza Double House 24

25 The houses on Rainbow Row in Charleston are. Circuit Court Act Appalachian Mountains Single House Piazza Regulators Double Houses Privateer Georgian Rocky Mountains Great Wagon Road Pirates 25

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