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Period: 1500 to
1500s - European arrival
1521: Spanish explorer Francisco Gordillo arrived on the coast of South Carolina. -
Period: to
1670 - Colonial foundation
1670: Founding of Charles Town (present-day Charleston) by English settlers. -
Period: to
1700s - Colonial era and War of Independence
1776: South Carolina is one of the original 13 states to declare independence from Great Britain. -
Period: to
1800s - Civil War and Reconstruction
1860: South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union, starting the Civil War. 1861: The Civil War begins with the attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston. 1868: South Carolina is readmitted to the Union after the Civil War. -
Period: to
1900s - Civil Rights and Development
1964: Implementation of the Civil Rights Act, ending racial segregation in the state. -
Period: to
2000s - Present
2015: South Carolina removes Confederate flag from Capitol grounds following shooting at Emanuel AME Church.