History of the Huguenots, Founded by John Calvin

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The French Huguenots are a group of Protestants, many of whom left France during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to avoid religious conflicts with the Catholic majority. Although the 1680 settlement at Oyster Point was the most successful, over the previous century several other attempts to settlement were made by different Huguenot groups.
The Huguenots were founded by John Calvin (1509-1564) who believed in predestination- the belief that God already knows who is going to heaven and who is not and there is nothing to be done about that. He also believed in a theocracy. This means that the church should be involved in government instead of the church submitting to the authority of the government. This would cause 40 years of civil wars to breakout in France between the Catholic majority and the Huguenot minority for control of the crown and just for respect on the part of the Huguenots. Many Huguenots fled France for other countries in Europe that were more welcoming, especially England. However the possibilities of claiming their own territory were enticing. The first attempt of Huguenots to settle in the Americas occurred in 1555. They were led Durand de Villegagnon and landed in Brazil, however the settlement did not last long. The two attempts by Jean Ribault and René de Laudonniere that took place in 1562 and 1564 were also unsuccessful.
The Huguenot Henry Navarre (Henry IV) took the throne of France after converting to Catholicism to gain support of the majority. He passed the Edict of Nantes in 1598 that allowed the Huguenots to take part in government, have their own fortified cities, freedom to worship, and to take part in Universities. However, the Huguenots were limited to their cities and the Cat...

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... to provide interesting information.
Hirsch, Arthur Henry PhD, The Huguenots of Colonial South Carolina. Hamden: Archon Books, 1962.
This book provided information specifically about the Huguenots who came to Carolina and provided me with information about why and how the Huguenots came to settle in Carolina. This Book is a well-respected source on the Huguenots in Early South Carolina.
Ruymbeke, Bertrand Van. From New Babylon to Eden: The Huguenots and Their Migration to Colonial South Carolina. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 2006.

This book was published out the University of South Carolina and provided information and the politics and laws in France that explains the Huguenot’s desire to leave. This also contains specific, well researched information on the first generation Huguenots in South Carolina including the promotion of the Colony.

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