Politics :
Prior to the 1960's, the state Democratic
Party was firmly in control of the government of South
Carolina at all levels. The state Republican Party
was little more than a country club group organized
to reap the benefits when a Republican was in the
White House. Most voters in South Carolina were Yellow
dog Democrats, but Governor Strom Thurmond's run for
President as a States' Rights Democrat in 1948 opened
up the possibility of voting for a party other than
the national Democratic Party. The Republican Party
did not gain relevancy in the state until Strom Thurmond,
as a United States Senator, switched parties in 1964
from Democrat to Republican. From 1964 to present,
the Republican Party has gradually gained strength
and by the 1990's it became the dominant party of
the state.
Electoral strategy :
Republican electoral strategy for state elections
revolves around winning in the three major metro areas
of South Carolina: Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville.
When they run up big margins in the counties of Charleston,
Berkeley, Dorchester, Lexington, Greenville, and Spartanburg,
Republican candidates usually win and Mark Sanford
demonstrated this perfectly in his 2002 gubernatorial
race against incumbent Governor Jim Hodges.
Democratic statewide candidates typically focus on
a strategy that maximizes their advantage in the Midlands,
limits their losses in the Upstate, and breaks even
in the Lowcountry. Jim Hodges defeated incumbent Governor
David Beasley by successfully using this strategy
in the 1998 gubernatorial election.
Culture in South Carolina
:
The history and culture of South
Carolina extends much further back than the mere 200
plus years that modern Americans have inhabited it.
The first Americans came to the region nearly 11,000
years ago, after crossing the land bridge from Northeast
Europe and migrating down through what is now Canada.
By the end of the 15th century, South Carolina was
home to a number of very distinct tribal cultures.
In 1526, Spanish explorers made the
first attempt at establishing a settlement on Winyah
Bay near what is now Georgetown. The settlement was
abandoned. In 1562, French Huguenots attempted to
build a settlement near what is now Beaufort. The
settlement failed when its leader was delayed in returning
from France and the settlers abandoned the colony.
Eventually the nobles who had been
given the Carolinas by King Charles II established
a settlement, and in 1670 the English arrived at Albermarle
point and later settled near Charleston.
During the following years, the history
and culture of South Carolina changed slowly, until
the late 1700s. South Carolinians were leaders in
the resistance to the Stamp Act and took and active
role in the American Revolution with nearly 300 battles
fought in the state. The battles of Kings Mountain
and Cowpens are considered by many historians to be
the turning points in the Revolution. In 1788, South
Carolina became the 8th state to ratify the Constitution.
The state prospered during the following years, but
the rise in taxes was difficult for Carolinians to
take, and in 1860, South Carolina became the first
state to secede from the Union. The Civil War shaped
much of the history and culture of South Carolina
in the following years. Sherman left his trail of
scorched earth through the state as he returned north.
