| History of Charleston, SC | ||||||||||
An Overview History of Charleston S.C.King Charles II of England gave the Carolina territory to eight loyal friends then collectively known as the “Lords Proprietor” in 1663. Their first Carolina settlement was “Charles Town” named after King Charles which would later be shortened to “Charleston”. The community was established in 1670 across the Ashley River from Charleston’s present-day location. The site was chosen by Anthony Ashley-Cooper with a mission of becoming a thriving “port town”. The initial settlement experienced turbulent times with periodic assaults by both Spain and France who contested England’s claim to the region. Combined with resistance from Native Americans and raids by pirates, the colonists built a fortification wall around the original settlement. All that remains of the original “walled city” is a preserved building that housed the settlement’s supply of gunpowder. A plan for the “new settlement” which is the present-day site of “Historic Charleston” was created in 1680 at the congruence of where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers flowed into the Atlantic Ocean. Land surrounding the intersection of “Meeting and Broad Streets” was set aside for a Civic Square. Over time it became known as “Four Corners of Law” referring to the various arms of governmental and religious law which presided over the growing city. The Next Era of Charleston The original settlers of Charles Town were English. As Charleston grew, it became a mixture of ethnic and religious groups. During this colonial time, Boston and Charleston became somewhat sister-cities as the wealthy made Boston their summer home while Charleston became their winter home. Trade began with Bermuda and the Caribbean with many migrants coming from those areas. Some French, Scottish, Irish and Germans transplanted to Charleston bringing different religions including Protestant, Catholic and Judaism to Charleston. Free Black Charlestonians and Black Slaves teamed to build the “Old Bethel United Methodist Church” in 1797. Charleston grew into a bustling seaport trade center and became the wealthiest and largest city south of Philadelphia and by 1770 it was the fourth largest port in the colonies behind Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Its population was about 11,000 with more than half being slaves. Rice and indigo became the primary cultivation by wealthy plantation owners and exporting made Charleston the cultural and economic center of the south. During this period of immigration to the low-country of Charleston, migration to the “upcountry” of Carolina was also taking place. Much of it came from abroad through Charleston but many new immigrants came southward from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Ultimately the upstate population became larger than the coastal low country surrounding Charleston. With differing backgrounds, cultures and interests several generations of conflicts took place between the “less-polished” up-states and the Charleston elite.
Post Revolutionary Period A free black (non-slave) Denmark Vesey instigated the planning of a slave revolt which was uncovered in 1822 before the revolt could be implemented. With ensuing hysteria, white Charlestonians restricted the activities of all blacks. Hundreds of blacks and even some white supporters of the planned uprising were held in the “Old Jail”. Denmark Vessey was eventually hung. During the first half of the 1800s, South Carolinians became adamant about state’s rights versus Federal government authority. Over 90% of Federal funding was derived from import duties of which a significant amount was generated by the port city of Charleston. In 1832 South Carolina nullified Federal tariff acts. This prompted the movement of Federal soldiers to Charleston’s forts such as “Fort Sumter” and began to collect tariffs by force. A compromise was eventually reached resulting in gradually reduced tariff duties. In the meantime there was political disagreement over the use of and the extension of slavery into other territories. Prior to the presidential election in 1860, the National Democratic Convention convened in Charleston. “Hiberian Hall” served as headquarters of those delegates supporting Stephen A. Douglas for president. The delegates hoped that Douglas could bridge the gap between northern and southern democrats on the slavery issue. The convention disintegrated when delegates failed to summon a two-thirds majority for any candidate. The split in the Democratic Party led to the election of Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate. The American Civil War Period On January 9, 1861, Cadets from the Citadel, South Carolina’s liberal arts military college fired the first shots of the Civil War on a Union ship entering Charleston Harbor. On April 12, 1961, South Carolina Confederate forces fired on the Union held Fort Sumter in the harbor. After 34-hours of continuous bombardment, Union forces surrendered Fort Sumter. In 1865, reinforced Union troops attacked Charleston and seized control of the city. After the eventual defeat of the Confederacy, Federal forces remained in Charleston during its reconstruction from war which had shattered the prosperity of Charleston. Slaves were freed, economy improved and Charleston enjoyed renewed vitality and commitment to reconstruction, preservation and dedication to restoring community and society institutions. Today’s Charleston South Carolina Today, all Charlestonians…black and white fondly refer to Charleston as “The Holy City” where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers merge to form Charleston Harbor in the Atlantic Ocean. Links of Historic Significance
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