The History of South Carolina

South Carolina was one of the original 13 colonies, founded in 1670 by English settlers, and it became a major center for rice and indigo plantations powered by enslaved African labor. The state played a key role in American history, seceding from the Union in 1860 as the first state to start the Civil War.

Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee are one of the largest Native American tribes, originally inhabiting the southeastern United States, including parts of Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. Known for their sophisticated society, farming practices, and the creation of a written language by Sequoyah, the Cherokee were forcibly removed from their land in the 1830s during the Trail of Tears.

South Carolina Colony

The South Carolina Colony, established in 1670, was originally part of the Province of Carolina before splitting into North and South Carolina in 1712. It became an important center of agriculture, thriving on rice, indigo, and later cotton, which relied heavily on enslaved African labor.

The South Carolina Economy

• History of Slavery in America
• History of Cotton
• History of Tobacco
• History of Indigo

Blackbeard and the Blockade of Charleston Harbor

In 1718, the pirate Blackbeard blockaded the port of Charleston, South Carolina, holding several prominent citizens hostage. He demanded a chest of medicine as ransom, which was delivered, and then he released the captives and lifted the blockade.

Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) was a conflict between the thirteen American colonies and Great Britain, resulting in the colonies gaining independence. It began with growing tensions over British taxation and governance and ended with the Treaty of Paris, which recognized the United States as a sovereign nation.

Siege of Charleston

The Siege of Charleston in 1780 marked the largest American defeat of the Revolutionary War, as British forces captured the city thousands of Patriot soldiers after weeks of relentless bombardment.

Battle of Camden

The Battle of Camden, fought on August 16, 1780, was a disastrous defeat for the Patriots, as poorly prepared American forces under General Horatio Gates were overwhelmed by the British, leading to one of the worst losses of the Revolutionary War.

Battle of Cowpens

The Battle of Cowpens, fought on January 17, 1781, was a major Patriot victory in the Southern campaign of the Revolutionary War, where General Daniel Morgan's clever tactics led to the defeat and capture of hundreds of British troops.

The Invention of the Cotton Gin

The invention of the cotton gin greatly increased the profitability of cotton farming, leading to a rapid expansion of slavery in the Southern states. This growth in slavery deepened the divide between the North and South, contributing to the tensions that eventually led to the Civil War.

Chickamauga Wars

The Chickamauga Wars were a series of battles, ambushes, and massacres staged between Cherokee forces under Dragging Canoe and the many militias comprised of Scotch-Irish settlers in Kentucky, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Georgia during and after the Revolutionary War.

Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was meant to expand westward across the continent. As new territories were added, fierce debates over whether slavery would be allowed in these areas increased tensions between the North and South, helping lead to the Civil War.

Secession of the Southern States

The secession of Southern states in 1860 and 1861, initiated by South Carolina, was a direct response to the election of Abraham Lincoln, whose anti-slavery stance threatened the institution central to the Southern economy and way of life. This collective withdrawal from the Union led to the formation of the Confederate States of America, setting the stage for the outbreak of the Civil War.

Civil War

The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought between the Northern states (Union) and the Southern states that seceded to form the Confederacy, primarily over the issues of slavery and states’ rights. It resulted in the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery, but at the cost of over 600,000 lives.

Fort Sumter

The Battle of Fort Sumter began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired on the Union-held fort in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. This bombardment marked the official start of the American Civil War, leading to the fort's surrender after 34 hours of shelling.

Sherman's March to the Sea

Sherman's March to the Sea was a devastating Union campaign from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, in late 1864, led by General William T. Sherman. His troops destroyed railroads, crops, and infrastructure along the way to break the South's will to fight and cripple its ability to wage war.

Reconstruction

Reconstruction after the Civil War (1865–1877) aimed to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved people into American society with new rights, including citizenship and voting. In South Carolina, this period saw significant political participation by African Americans but also violent resistance and the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan, which ultimately undermined many of these gains.