South Carolina is one of the original 13 states of the United States of America. Material remains left by Nomadic inhabitants of South Carolina date back to approximately 13,000 BC. In 1719, Carolina became a colony of the British Crown. Political and social differences between the northern and southern regions of Carolina became prominent during the early years of the colony. The northern and southern sections of Carolina, each had their own governors. The split between the colonies became official in 1729 when the British Crown and Parliament recognized North Carolina and South Carolina as British colonies. South Carolina declared its independence from the British crown on March 15, 1776.

When Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the United States in 1860, running on an anti-slavery platform, South Carolina promptly ceceded from the Union and became the first succession state to join the Confederacy.