1. On December 17, 1737, Charles Pinckney, a prominent South Carolina statesman, was born in Charleston. Pinckney was a signer of the United States Constitution and played a key role in the development of the country's legal system.

2. In 1860, December 17 marked the date that South Carolina officially seceded from the Union, becoming the first state to do so. This pivotal event helped lead to the start of the American Civil War.

3. On December 17, 1903, the first flight in South Carolina took place when the Wright Brothers' plane, the Flyer, made a stop in Charleston on its way to Florida. The 12-second flight was a historic moment in aviation history.

4. In 1954, the Charleston hospital workers' strike began on December 17, marking a crucial moment in the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina. The strike, which lasted for 100 days, was led by African American workers and resulted in significant changes in the state's labor laws.

5. December 17, 2012, marked the date that a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, tragically killing 26 people, including 20 young children. While this event did not occur in South Carolina, it had a profound impact on the state and the entire nation, leading to new debate about gun control and school safety measures.