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The Spanish first explored what is now South Carolina in the 16th century. In 1562, the Huguenots,
led by Jean Ribaut, established a brief settlement on Parris Island in Port Royal Sound. This failed,
and the Spanish built Fort San Felipe on Parris Island in 1566 and named the settlement Santa Elena.
Spanish missions remained in the area until the English attempted a foothold on the region. The
Spanish relocated to Florida, and the English established the first permanent European settlement at
Albemarle Point in 1670 under William Sayle.
Under King Charles II of England, Carolina was controlled by the Lords Proprietors. Ultimately the
colony moved to Oyster Point, and the colonist established the capital Charles Town, which was
eventually renamed Charleston. This became the cultural nexus of the South. The 1680’s ushered in
prosperous times for the colony. Plantations were worked by indentured servants, African, and Native
American slaves. Freemen farmed land given them by the proprietors. Crops took hold, and rice,
introduced at this time, became a key staple crop. Foresting and fur trading added to the wealth.
Tensions between the Spanish and French began to escalate, however, and antagonism grew against
proprietary rule. Ultimately the colonists revolted against the proprietary rule in 1729, following
an uprising by Native Americans that left the colonists feeling unprotected, and South Carolina became
a royal province.
Around the 1750’s, rice and indigo brought in great wealth to the Lowcountry. Large numbers of
African slaves were brought in for plantation labor. The government encouraged European settlement,
and so Germans, Swiss, Scotch-Irish, and other settlers arrived from Virginia, Pennsylvania, and North
Carolina; these settlers tended to populate the upland parts of the state. The rise of cotton
plantations continued the Lowcountry majority of African-American slaves. South Carolina maintained
a strong relationship with England until the Stamp Act in 1765, when South Carolinian leaders for the
independence movement escalated Colonial tensions. In 1776, South Carolina formed an independent
government with John Rutledge as its president. Over two hundred battles occurred in South
Carolina. South Carolina became the eighth state in May 1788, replacing its royal charter with a
state charter in 1790; Columbia became the new capital.
The early 19th century brought unfavorable times to South Carolina’s economy, as western states
grew more cotton and national tariff policies were passed which hurt the state’s farming economy.
Tensions rose as abolitionists and slavery apologists vied for their different political philosophies.
Ultimately South Carolina chose to become the first state to secede from the Union on December 20,
1860. This led to the first shots of the Civil War being fired from Charleston Harbor on April 12,
1861. The state suffered tremendous loss of life, and General William T. Sherman of the Union
decimated the state. Dark times lay ahead for South Carolina during Reconstruction. Corruption in
the state government and high taxes stifled the state’s efforts for building schools and railroads.
The state’s agrarian economy was in shambles, and an era of white political supremacy reigned.
While expansion of the textile industry improved the state’s economy, the boll weevil infestation
brought devastation to its cotton crops in the 1920’s. Poverty and racism led many African-Americans
to migrate to Northern cities.
During and following World War II, dramatic change came to the state. The Civil Rights movement of
the 1960’s ended the legal segregation and discrimination of African-Americans, who gained political
and economic power in the state. The 1970’s and 80’s brought continued economic growth. Economic
diversification took hold following the closure of naval facilities in North Charleston. The state is
considered part of the "Sun Belt", and continues to bring in new industries and residents. Despite
the remaining challenges from its past, South Carolina’s future appears assured of success.
Many famous individuals have called South Carolina their home. Among these are singer James Brown,
statesman John C. Calhoun, jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, U.S. president Andrew Jackson, civil rights
leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, singer Eartha Kitt, astronaut Ronald McNair, TV personality Vanna White,
singer Chubby Checker, author Pat Conroy, heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, TV host Leeza Gibbons,
actress Andie McDowell, senator Strom Thurmond, and Revolutionary war officer Thomas Sumter, among
others.
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