1. In 1861, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States, leading to the Civil War. This act was sparked by the election of Abraham Lincoln and his anti-slavery stance, which many southern states viewed as a threat to their economy and way of life.

2. In 1924, the first Winter Olympics held in the United States officially opened in Chamonix, France. This event was significant for South Carolina as several of the athletes competing in the games were from the state, including speed skater Jack Shea and figure skater Beatrix Loughran.

3. In 1961, the United States severed diplomatic ties with Cuba following Fidel Castro's rise to power. This decision was partially motivated by concerns over the communist regime's ties to the Soviet Union and its potential impact on the geopolitical landscape of the Western Hemisphere.

4. In 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred, killing all seven crew members on board. One of those crew members was Ron McNair, a South Carolina native and accomplished physicist who had already made history as the second African American astronaut to travel to space.

5. In 2010, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford signed a law designating the Carolina Marsh Tacky as the state's official horse. This hardy breed has been a part of South Carolina's history and culture since the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century, and the law sought to increase awareness and support for the preservation of the breed.