History of North Carolina

The history of North Carolina tells the story of many different groups of people who lived in the area over thousands of years. The earliest known people in North Carolina lived at a place called the Hardaway Site as far back as 8000 BCE. Later, many Native American tribes lived there, including the Carolina Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan peoples.

North Carolina's history with Europeans began in 1585 with the Roanoke Colony, an early English settlement that later became known as the “Lost Colony.” In 1712, the area that had been part of the Province of Carolina split to form the Province of North Carolina. In 1776, North Carolina was the first American colony to call for independence from Britain, helping start the American Revolution. It became the 12th state of the United States in 1789.

From the 1800s to the 1960s, North Carolina went through many big changes. During the American Civil War, the state left the United States but joined again after the war ended. In 1903, two brothers named Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful flight in a powered airplane on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

In the 1960s, important laws helped end unfair treatment based on race. North Carolina also changed its economy. Industries such as technology, medicine, and banking grew, especially in places like Charlotte and the Research Triangle Park. Today, North Carolina continues to grow as more people move to its cities and towns.

Pre-colonial history

The earliest known human settlements in what is now North Carolina were found at the Hardaway Site near Badin. Using methods like studying rock layers and spear points, experts believe these people lived there around 8000 BCE, over 10,000 years ago.

From 1000 BCE until Europeans arrived, this time was called the "Woodland period". During this time, people began to live in permanent villages and farm. By about 800 CE, towns in the Piedmont area had walls, showing they may have had organized groups.

North Carolina was home to many different groups of people. Along the coast lived nations such as the Chowanoke, Roanoke, and Croatan. Inland lived Siouan-speaking tribes like the Catawba, Waccamaw Siouan, and Cheraw. These groups had their own ways of life and traditions, and some changed over time or moved to new places.

Earliest European explorations

In 1524, an explorer named Giovanni da Verrazzano from Florence sailed along the coast of what is now North Carolina. He was looking for a sea route to bring silk to Lyon. Verrazzano described the beautiful forests and sandy shores he saw.

Later, in 1526, a group of Spanish explorers led by Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón tried to start a settlement. However, their supplies were lost, and many people got sick. The settlement did not last long.

In 1539–1540, Hernando de Soto explored parts of North Carolina. Then in 1567, another explorer named Juan Pardo went further into the interior, building forts and establishing a mission. But soon after, the local people drove the Spanish away, and the Spanish did not try to settle there again.

British colonization

Roanoke Colony

Main article: Roanoke Colony

The first English attempt to build a settlement in North America was the Roanoke Colony, started in 1585 and often called the “Lost Colony.” It was led by Sir Walter Raleigh and built on Roanoke Island. The settlers faced challenges with local Native American groups, but also learned some survival skills from them.

When supplies didn’t arrive, the colonists decided to leave. Later, when new supplies came, they found the colony empty. The only clues were the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. What happened to the colonists remains a mystery; many believe they may have joined nearby Native American tribes.

Development of North Carolina colony

See also: Albemarle County, North Carolina; Province of North Carolina; and Province of Carolina

North Carolina grew differently from South Carolina. Early settlers, mostly from England, moved into areas near the Albemarle region. The first permanent settlement was Edenton, founded in 1658.

In 1712, North and South Carolina officially became separate colonies. By 1729, North Carolina became a colony ruled directly by the British Crown. Diseases like smallpox hurt Native American populations, who had no natural resistance.

Over time, more people came to North Carolina from places like Virginia and Pennsylvania. The colony grew quickly, with many families farming in the Piedmont area and others growing crops like tobacco on large farms along the coast.

Immigration from north

See also: Great Wagon Road

By the mid-1700s, North Carolina’s population grew fast. Many people came from Northern Ireland, England, and Germany. The colony had few cities, so most people lived in rural areas. Local taverns became important meeting places for people from different backgrounds.

Slavery

Main article: History of slavery in North Carolina

As North Carolina grew, more enslaved people were brought in to work on farms and plantations. The economy depended heavily on this forced labor, especially for growing tobacco. Many enslaved people faced harsh conditions and tried to resist their treatment in various ways.

Politics

Tensions rose between farmers in the western part of the colony and the wealthier planters along the coast. Farmers felt ignored by the government and frustrated by unfair taxes. In 1771, these tensions led to the Battle of Alamance, where colonial troops stopped an uprising known as the Regulator movement.

New nation

American Revolution

Local groups called "Committees of Safety" started asking for independence in 1774. By 1775, these groups took control of local governments. In 1776, North Carolinians wrote the Halifax Resolves, allowing their representatives to support declaring independence from Great Britain. That July, North Carolina joined the United States.

In 1775, local forces removed the British governor. In 1776, representatives wrote a new state constitution. One notable opponent of independence was John Leggett, a wealthy landowner who led some loyal troops. After the war, he and some others moved to Canada.

Local soldiers were important in battles from 1780 to 1781. In one big battle at King's Mountain in 1780, local troops defeated British and loyalist forces. Later, important battles took place in North Carolina, leading to the final American victory at Yorktown.

By 1786, North Carolina's population had grown to 350,000.

Early Republic

Main article: North Carolina in the War of 1812

When the United States Constitution was created in 1787, many in North Carolina were unsure about it. After discussions and promises of a Bill of Rights, North Carolina agreed to join the United States in 1789, becoming the 12th state.

In 1835, North Carolina changed its rules, allowing people to directly vote for the governor. The state also built important roads and railroads, like the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad, to connect different parts of the state.

During this time, most people lived on small farms. Some large farms, called plantations, existed, and many people were enslaved there. After the war, some people worked to free enslaved individuals, and the number of free people grew. However, laws later restricted their rights and movements.

Competition between two political groups, the Whigs and Democrats, shaped politics. Both parties worked to improve the state's roads and schools.

Civil War through late 19th century

Civil War

Main article: North Carolina in the American Civil War

In 1860, North Carolina was a state where many people were enslaved. When war began, North Carolina joined the group of southern states called the Confederacy. North Carolina sent many soldiers to fight for the Confederacy, but some also fought for the Union.

The biggest battle in North Carolina happened at Bentonville. After several battles, the Confederate army in North Carolina surrendered in 1865. Life was hard for many people during the war because of blockades and lack of supplies.

Reconstruction era

After the Civil War, many changes happened in North Carolina. New leaders worked to build schools and help people who had been enslaved. However, some groups tried to stop African Americans from voting and having equal rights. There was a lot of tension and difficulty during this time.

Post-Reconstruction and disfranchisement

In the years following the war, there were efforts to reduce voting rights for African Americans and poor whites through new laws. This made it harder for them to participate in elections. Despite these challenges, African Americans continued to work for equal rights and better opportunities.

20th century

Early 20th century

By 1900, North Carolina and other southern states had strict laws called Jim Crow laws that kept different racial groups apart.

North Carolina took a lead in improving its economy and society. Leaders like Governor Charles B. Aycock focused on education and other changes. Women worked hard to improve schools, help others, and support fairness for everyone.

Black movement

Many African Americans left North Carolina for better opportunities in the North and Midwest during a time known as the Great Migration, especially from 1910 to 1940. They moved to cities like Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia for new jobs.

Other trends

On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers made the first successful airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

During World War I, North Carolina’s shipbuilding industry grew quickly with new government contracts. Nine new shipyards opened, and thousands of people found jobs, though there were challenges like housing shortages and labor issues. The shipyards closed after the war.

Great Depression

The Great Depression hurt North Carolina’s farmers from 1929 to 1933. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt started his New Deal programs in 1933, farmers benefited from programs that helped them earn more money for their crops. The textile industry also grew during this time.

World War II

World War II brought big changes to North Carolina. The state went from being mostly rural and poor to becoming more industrial and modern. Over 366,000 people from North Carolina served in the military, and many died. The state built training camps for soldiers and sailors, and German submarines attacked ships off the coast.

The war brought prosperity to North Carolina. Over $2 billion in government contracts helped build camps, make textiles, and construct ships. Unemployment ended as many people, including women and sharecroppers, found good jobs. Cities like Charlotte grew, and even small towns saw new economic opportunities.

The North Carolina Shipbuilding Company opened in Wilmington in 1941 and built many ships needed for the war. By the time it closed in 1946, it had launched 126 Liberty ships and 117 Victory ships, employing up to 21,000 workers, including many women and African Americans.

Postwar prosperity

By 1950, almost all farms in North Carolina had electricity thanks to new government programs. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is shared with Tennessee, became the most visited park in the nation.

Progressive governors Hodges and Sanford

Governors Luther H. Hodges (1954–1961) and Terry Sanford (1961–1965) worked to modernize North Carolina. They improved education, built new roads, and created the Research Triangle Park to attract new businesses. They also increased funding for schools and supported better opportunities for everyone.

Civil Rights Movement

African Americans in North Carolina continued to fight for equal rights. In 1960, college students in Greensboro started sit-ins at a lunch counter to protest unfair treatment. These protests spread across the South and helped lead to important laws that protected civil rights.

Late 20th century

In 1973, Clarence Lightner became the first African American mayor of Raleigh. In 1992, Eva Clayton was elected as the state’s first African-American congressperson since 1898.

North Carolina ended a controversial program in 1979 that had forcibly sterilized thousands of people, often minorities and the poor, since 1929.

In 1971, North Carolina adopted its third state constitution. In 1988, the Charlotte Hornets became the state’s first professional sports team in the NBA, followed by the Carolina Panthers in the NFL in 1995 and the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL in 1997.

During the 1990s, Charlotte grew to become the nation’s second-largest banking center after New York City.

21st century

Before World War II, North Carolina's economy was mainly based on tobacco, cigarettes, textiles, and furniture. By the year 2000, new industries like technology, pharmaceuticals, banking, food processing, and vehicle parts began to grow. This change happened because of globalization, better education, changes in farming, and new companies moving to the state.

In recent times, North Carolina's population grew as its economy expanded, especially in finance and jobs that need knowledge and skills. People moved to the state from many places, both inside and outside the country. Fewer people worked in farming because machines took over many jobs, and the textile industry shrank because jobs moved overseas. Most of the new jobs and people lived in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro in the Piedmont Crescent area. Some smaller areas of the state did not grow as much. By 2015, North Carolina had more than 10 million people.