The Other States of America: History Podcast

The endnotes episode for season four of the Other States of America Podcast. Eric reviews the season, gives a few shout outs, reviews a number of books, and provides his endnotes for for the season. Please stay tuned for Our Vices!

Long ago in the American South great paramount chiefs constructed large mounds to glorify their families and host their temples. One chiefdom gave way to another, until the invasion of Hernando DeSoto in the 1540's beginning an era in time known as the Mississippian Shatter Zone. Emerging from this time of disease and war these former Mound Builders created a new society culminating in the creation of the Muscogee Creek Confederacy, and the Seminole.

Spanish Florida was once the only European colony on the East Coast. Now, Spanish Florida will be lucky to exist at all, as the English hordes and their Muscogee Creek allies, devastate and depopulate massive parts of the South East.

After the settlement, abandonment, resettlement and relocation of Charles Towne, within the unified Province of Carolina, the southern portion of the Province rapidly grew, and through wars and the native slave trade, completely reshaped the human landscape of the South East, the effects of which reverberate over to the Mississippi and down into the Florida peninsula.

The Province of Carolina, from its' inception was a tale of two halves. This is the story of the Northern half, and the turbulent journey toward the creation of North Carolina.

The Province of Carolina is a tale of two separate regions settled by very different Englishmen, as such, the subjects in this history of Carolina range from kings and the philosopher John Locke, to indentured servants and the enslaved. Taking place in England, Virginia, Spanish Florida, Barbados, and most certainly what today would be North and South Carolina.The history of Carolina in the period was shaped several times by pirates and runaways, rebellions and wars. All would set the stage for the eventual split of Carolina into North and South. 

The tale of the Province of Carolana is a story full of more myths and dreams than realities. A story full of twists and turns in England, Virginia and Barbados. Carolana led the way to Carolina, but caused intrigue in Florida, Louisiana and strangely put to bed over land in the Mohawk Valley of New York.

Spanish Florida is nearly abandoned until clandestine information of the English settlement of Jamestown is spirited away to Spain. The Floridanos were now to hunt down the English, and extend Spanish influence up the coast, to areas where they had previously been violently ejected.

Pocahontas’ peace falls apart and two devastating wars follow. As the Powhatan struggle to maintain their way of life and territory in the face of massive population loss. The colony of Virginia is booming. The Paramount Chiefdom is pressed to a breaking point, the effect of which has consequences echoing through time to the modern day.

Chief Powhatan and the settlers of Jamestown find themselves in a conflict only Pocahontas can end. The peace that follows however, will create greater challenges for the Powhatan that are only realized in hindsight. The Peace of Pocahontas will not hold for long.