T 



lie dawn of conflict — and disaster 



As relations between the South CaroUna state 

 government and the federal government were erod- 

 ing, arguments over slavery further polarized the 

 North and South. The state's economy was thriv- 

 ing and by 1860, South Carolina ranked third in 

 per capita wealth in the United States. Cotton, 

 corn and tobacco ranked high in agricultural 

 products that buttressed the economy. South Caro- 

 lina was not prepared to let her economic afflu- 

 ence be affected by social and economic sanctions 

 set forth by the federal government. 



On December 20, 1860 the state legislature 

 approved the Ordinance of Secession, making 

 South Carolina the first southern state to leave 

 the Union. Ten other states followed suit and 

 formed the Confederate States of America. On 

 January 9, 1861, Southern shore batteries fired 

 on the vessel Star of the West which was at- 

 tempting to deliver supplies to a United States 

 garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston. Later, 

 Confederate troops bombarded and captured the 

 fort, thus opening hostilities. 



JL obacco makes a comeback 



The War proved devastating to both the people 

 and the economy of South Carolina. In 1865, 

 General William T. Sherman, with an army of 

 60,000, cut through the state leaving only ashes 

 behind. Half of the state's agriculture was de- 

 stroyed, including almost half the tobacco crop. 

 During the years of Reconstruction, tobacco culti- 

 vation in South Carolina was negligible. Then, 

 some of the North Carolina manufacturers became 



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