Yamasee War Essay

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Yamasee War Student Class Instructor August 22, 2013 The Yamasee War was a conflict between British settlers of colonial South Carolina. There were many tribes involved in this war, including Yamasee, Muscogee, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Catawba, Apalachee, Aplachicola, Yuchi, Shawnee, Congaree, Waxhaw, Pee Dee, Cape Fear, Cheraw and others. Some groups had a minor role while the rest were responsible for launching attacks throughout South Carolina. Their intent was to destroy the colony. The war started when the American Indians became bitter about the settler’s encroachment on their land. Many grievances were also left unresolved from shady fur trades. A group of Yamasee Indians attacked and killed 90 white traders and their families (April 15, 1715).1 In early 1715, a confederation was formed consisting of Yamasee Indians and several other tribes. This confederation struck white settlements all over South Carolina. Many hundreds of settlers were killed while their homes were burned and their livestock destroyed. At the climax of the fighting, it was believe that the white settlements would be completely destroyed due to the tribal confederation’s overwhelming numerical superiority. Hundreds of Colonists were murdered and many settlements were destroyed. Colonists began to flee to Charles Town. This caused Charles Town supplies to run low and starvation began to set in. In 1715, it was unsure whether or not the colony of South Carolina would survive. The Yamasee War was considered to be one of the most disruptive and transformational conflicts of colonial America. This war provided the American Indians the greatest opportunity to challenge European control. Annihalation hung over the heads of the South Carolina colony for well over a year. There has been very little written about the Yamasee War that has concentrated on its roots in trade abuses, the

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