COMPREHENSIVE CHARLESTON TOUR GUIDE EXAM 2026 | ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | VERIFIED
ANSWERS | JUST RELEASED
When was South Carolina's first slave legislation enacted? - (Correct Answer) - 1696. It was
strongly influenced by Barbadian slave codes
Who made the production of rice, indigo, and cotton that contributed to Charles Town's
enormous wealth? - (Correct Answer) - the thousands of enslaved people taken from Africa.
About 40% of the slaves brought to British North America in the eighteenth century came to
Charles Town.
In what year did the population of South Carolina become majority black? - (Correct Answer) -
1708. By 1730 the colony's population had reached 30,000, more than ⅔ of which were black
slaves.
What is Gullah? - (Correct Answer) - a creole language derived from English and a variety of
West and Central African languages
Who was Thomas Jeremiah? - (Correct Answer) - a free black pilot, fisherman, landowner, and
slaveholder. He was accused by two slaves of stirring up a slave insurrection to the benefit of
Britain. He had already openly agreed to assist British ships in navigating the Charlestown
harbor. He was executed in 1775.
What was a major reason why many Europeans came to Charles Town? - (Correct Answer) - the
promise of religious freedom
,What group was the only one excluded from religious freedom in the Fundamental
Constitution? - (Correct Answer) - Catholics
In the 1704 survey presented in the Crisp map, what churches are depicted and their
denominations? (Hint: They're all Protestant) - (Correct Answer) - St. Philip's (Anglican, present-
day site of St. Michael's), Anabaptist (Baptist, south end of Church St.), French (Huguenot, north
end of Church St.), Independent Meeting House (Presbyterian, now known as the Circular or
Congregational Church, on Meeting House St.- now Meeting St.), Quaker Meeting House
(outside the walls; now a parking garage on King St.)
When was the Church Act passed and what did it do? - (Correct Answer) - 1706. Established the
Anglican Church in Carolina and allocated public funds to the creation of ten parishes.
Who was the first Jewish settler in Charles Town? - (Correct Answer) - an unnamed Sephardic
Jewish man from Spain. He arrived in 1695 and served as an interpreter for the governor.
To what ethnic division did most of the first Jewish settlers to Charles Town belong? - (Correct
Answer) - Sephardic (Portuguese and Spanish descent), immigrating from all over Europe and
the West Indies. Ashkenazim began arriving by the end of the eighteenth century.
What was the "two-bitt society"? - (Correct Answer) - A French Huguenot named Elisha Poinsett
owned a tavern in the 1730s, but business was poor. His friends helped out by visiting the
tavern and drumming up business. The group of friends grew and soon they were donating two
bitts (roughly equal to US $0.25) a week to a fund to assist the group's members. The group was
incorporated as the French Society in 1751, then later changed the name to the South Carolina
Society to open itself to non-French members.
,When was the first Reform Jewish congregation organized and by whom? - (Correct Answer) -
1824, by 47 members of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue
In what year did a fire destroy St. Philip's? - (Correct Answer) - 1835
What are Charleston's three Jewish congregations? - (Correct Answer) - Kahal Kadosh Beth
Elohim (Reform), Brith Sholom Beth Israel (Orthodox), and Emanu-El (Conservative)
What is the purpose of "societies"? - (Correct Answer) - to aid members, usually financially, and
to preserve and celebrate cultural, religious, and/or ethnic heritage
What is the Hibernian Society? - (Correct Answer) - formed in 1799 by merchant James Adger.
Its founding members were primarily Protestant but membership was open to Catholics as well.
When did Catholicism come to Charles Town? - (Correct Answer) - c. 1786, when an Italian
priest arrived in the port and celebrated Mass in the home of an Irish Catholic along with eleven
others. Catholicism wasn't officially accepted until after the revolution. The first Catholic church
in the Carolinas was St. Mary of the Annunciation in 1789.
What religious/regional groups made up the original congregation of the Circular Church? -
(Correct Answer) - Scottish Presbyterians, French Huguenots, English Congregationalists, and
other Protestants from Ireland
, What is the St. Andrews Society? - (Correct Answer) - formed in 1729 by a number of Scots,
named after the patron saint of Scotland who is also associated with unconditional charity. It is
the oldest St. Andrew's Society in the United States.
What is the German Friendly Society? - (Correct Answer) - founded in 1766 by members of St.
John's Lutheran Church. Membership is not restricted to people of German descent
What is the Brown Fellowship Society? - (Correct Answer) - founded in 1790 by several free
black men from St. Philip's Church. They worked primarily to support members during difficult
times and provide education for young black children.
What is the Humane Brotherhood? - (Correct Answer) - founded in 1843 as an offshoot of the
Brown Fellowship Society, composed of black freedmen.
In what years did earthquakes hit Charleston? - (Correct Answer) - 1698 (shortly after a smallpox
epidemic); 1886 (killed nearly 100)
In what years did hurricanes hit Charleston? - (Correct Answer) - 1699 (around the same time as
the first yellow fever epidemic which claimed almost 200 lives); 1752 (two within a few weeks of
each other); 1813; 1822; 1886; 1893; 1911; 1940; 1959 (Gracie); 1989 (Hugo)
When did the Great Fires occur? - (Correct Answer) - 1740 (burnt nearly half the city); 1778;
1796 (East Bay to Meeting; Broad and Cumberland most damaged); 1838 (145 acres, nearly
1,000 buildings)l 1861 (worst fire, diagonal from Cooper to Ashley)
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | VERIFIED
ANSWERS | JUST RELEASED
When was South Carolina's first slave legislation enacted? - (Correct Answer) - 1696. It was
strongly influenced by Barbadian slave codes
Who made the production of rice, indigo, and cotton that contributed to Charles Town's
enormous wealth? - (Correct Answer) - the thousands of enslaved people taken from Africa.
About 40% of the slaves brought to British North America in the eighteenth century came to
Charles Town.
In what year did the population of South Carolina become majority black? - (Correct Answer) -
1708. By 1730 the colony's population had reached 30,000, more than ⅔ of which were black
slaves.
What is Gullah? - (Correct Answer) - a creole language derived from English and a variety of
West and Central African languages
Who was Thomas Jeremiah? - (Correct Answer) - a free black pilot, fisherman, landowner, and
slaveholder. He was accused by two slaves of stirring up a slave insurrection to the benefit of
Britain. He had already openly agreed to assist British ships in navigating the Charlestown
harbor. He was executed in 1775.
What was a major reason why many Europeans came to Charles Town? - (Correct Answer) - the
promise of religious freedom
,What group was the only one excluded from religious freedom in the Fundamental
Constitution? - (Correct Answer) - Catholics
In the 1704 survey presented in the Crisp map, what churches are depicted and their
denominations? (Hint: They're all Protestant) - (Correct Answer) - St. Philip's (Anglican, present-
day site of St. Michael's), Anabaptist (Baptist, south end of Church St.), French (Huguenot, north
end of Church St.), Independent Meeting House (Presbyterian, now known as the Circular or
Congregational Church, on Meeting House St.- now Meeting St.), Quaker Meeting House
(outside the walls; now a parking garage on King St.)
When was the Church Act passed and what did it do? - (Correct Answer) - 1706. Established the
Anglican Church in Carolina and allocated public funds to the creation of ten parishes.
Who was the first Jewish settler in Charles Town? - (Correct Answer) - an unnamed Sephardic
Jewish man from Spain. He arrived in 1695 and served as an interpreter for the governor.
To what ethnic division did most of the first Jewish settlers to Charles Town belong? - (Correct
Answer) - Sephardic (Portuguese and Spanish descent), immigrating from all over Europe and
the West Indies. Ashkenazim began arriving by the end of the eighteenth century.
What was the "two-bitt society"? - (Correct Answer) - A French Huguenot named Elisha Poinsett
owned a tavern in the 1730s, but business was poor. His friends helped out by visiting the
tavern and drumming up business. The group of friends grew and soon they were donating two
bitts (roughly equal to US $0.25) a week to a fund to assist the group's members. The group was
incorporated as the French Society in 1751, then later changed the name to the South Carolina
Society to open itself to non-French members.
,When was the first Reform Jewish congregation organized and by whom? - (Correct Answer) -
1824, by 47 members of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue
In what year did a fire destroy St. Philip's? - (Correct Answer) - 1835
What are Charleston's three Jewish congregations? - (Correct Answer) - Kahal Kadosh Beth
Elohim (Reform), Brith Sholom Beth Israel (Orthodox), and Emanu-El (Conservative)
What is the purpose of "societies"? - (Correct Answer) - to aid members, usually financially, and
to preserve and celebrate cultural, religious, and/or ethnic heritage
What is the Hibernian Society? - (Correct Answer) - formed in 1799 by merchant James Adger.
Its founding members were primarily Protestant but membership was open to Catholics as well.
When did Catholicism come to Charles Town? - (Correct Answer) - c. 1786, when an Italian
priest arrived in the port and celebrated Mass in the home of an Irish Catholic along with eleven
others. Catholicism wasn't officially accepted until after the revolution. The first Catholic church
in the Carolinas was St. Mary of the Annunciation in 1789.
What religious/regional groups made up the original congregation of the Circular Church? -
(Correct Answer) - Scottish Presbyterians, French Huguenots, English Congregationalists, and
other Protestants from Ireland
, What is the St. Andrews Society? - (Correct Answer) - formed in 1729 by a number of Scots,
named after the patron saint of Scotland who is also associated with unconditional charity. It is
the oldest St. Andrew's Society in the United States.
What is the German Friendly Society? - (Correct Answer) - founded in 1766 by members of St.
John's Lutheran Church. Membership is not restricted to people of German descent
What is the Brown Fellowship Society? - (Correct Answer) - founded in 1790 by several free
black men from St. Philip's Church. They worked primarily to support members during difficult
times and provide education for young black children.
What is the Humane Brotherhood? - (Correct Answer) - founded in 1843 as an offshoot of the
Brown Fellowship Society, composed of black freedmen.
In what years did earthquakes hit Charleston? - (Correct Answer) - 1698 (shortly after a smallpox
epidemic); 1886 (killed nearly 100)
In what years did hurricanes hit Charleston? - (Correct Answer) - 1699 (around the same time as
the first yellow fever epidemic which claimed almost 200 lives); 1752 (two within a few weeks of
each other); 1813; 1822; 1886; 1893; 1911; 1940; 1959 (Gracie); 1989 (Hugo)
When did the Great Fires occur? - (Correct Answer) - 1740 (burnt nearly half the city); 1778;
1796 (East Bay to Meeting; Broad and Cumberland most damaged); 1838 (145 acres, nearly
1,000 buildings)l 1861 (worst fire, diagonal from Cooper to Ashley)
