Geography
South Carolina is located near the southern part of the Southern colonies and borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Located in the north is North Carolina and to the south is Georgia. In 1663, the Carolinas were established by Charles II. This was done as an effort to keep the Spanish and French out, and the Carolinas ended up splitting into the North and South in 1729.
This colony was characterized by excellent farmland due to the rich soil that was found there. It also had many harbors to the east, since it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The combination of the rich soil and numerous harbors enabled South Carolina to develop and prosper much more than North Carolina did.
This colony was characterized by excellent farmland due to the rich soil that was found there. It also had many harbors to the east, since it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The combination of the rich soil and numerous harbors enabled South Carolina to develop and prosper much more than North Carolina did.
Political Features
The proprietors of Carolina created a representative assembly which failed. In 1669, the Fundamental Constitution for Carolina was drawn with aid from philosopher John Locke. It divided the colony into counties of equal size and created a social hierarchy with the proprietors at the top, than an aristocracy of lesser nobles, then the common folk. On the bottom were poor whites who had few rights and African American slaves. Voices in the colonial parliament were proportional to the size of their landholdings, in other words, wealth. Carolina was later split because of the great social differences which were causing conflict.
Economic Features
At first, the proprietors of the Carolinas tried to profit from the settlement of their colonies; they wanted to draw settlers from other colonies over in order to avoid the cost of voyages from England. This failed, and eventually the proprietors were convinced to fund voyages from England.
In South Carolina, there was fertile farmland and good harbors like Charleston. Rice farming became a particularly popular industry. The economy in South Carolina became comparatively much more prosperous than the North. A plantation economy based on slaves developed, with commercial ties to Barbados due to the large amount of immigrants.
In South Carolina, there was fertile farmland and good harbors like Charleston. Rice farming became a particularly popular industry. The economy in South Carolina became comparatively much more prosperous than the North. A plantation economy based on slaves developed, with commercial ties to Barbados due to the large amount of immigrants.
Social Features
A local aristocracy was defined, which had the proprietors at the top, the lesser nobles below them, the ordinary settlers below the nobles, and then the poor whites and African slaves at the very bottom.
Before South Carolina was made a colony, many of the residents were Barbadians, for African slavery took root in Barbados. Later on, slave-based plantations arose creating a society of stratified hierarchy. In addition, right before the separation of the Carolinas, the rich Barbadians became involved in conflicts with the small landowners, which indirectly caused South Carolina to become its own colony.
Before South Carolina was made a colony, many of the residents were Barbadians, for African slavery took root in Barbados. Later on, slave-based plantations arose creating a society of stratified hierarchy. In addition, right before the separation of the Carolinas, the rich Barbadians became involved in conflicts with the small landowners, which indirectly caused South Carolina to become its own colony.