1. In 1776, South Carolina became the first colony to adopt a state constitution. This document established the framework of government for the fledgling state and set certain individual rights, such as freedom of speech and religion.

2. On March 19, 1865, Union forces under General William T. Sherman began their assault on the Confederate fortifications around Florence, South Carolina. This engagement would prove to be a significant turning point in the final stages of the Civil War in the state.

3. In 1910, a violent tornado struck the town of Seneca, South Carolina, killing dozens of people and causing widespread damage. This devastating natural disaster remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in state history.

4. On March 19, 1942, a massive explosion at the Hercules Powder Company plant in Graniteville, South Carolina, killed 11 workers and injured dozens more. The blast was caused by a mishandling of chemicals and remains one of the worst industrial accidents in the state's history.

5. In 2009, former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted to having an extramarital affair with an Argentine woman. The scandal made national headlines and led to calls for his resignation, but Sanford remained in office until his term ended in 2011.