1. On May 12, 1775, the Provincial Congress of South Carolina met in Charleston to discuss the growing tensions between the American colonies and British government. This meeting marked an important step toward the state's eventual break from British rule.

2. May 12, 1780 was the date of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War fought in South Carolina, known as the Battle of Fort Moultrie. Although the Continental Army suffered heavy losses, the battle helped to bolster morale and inspire resistance against the British.

3. On May 12, 1912, the Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, resulting in the nomination of William Howard Taft for President. Taft's running mate was James S. Sherman, a former U.S. Representative from New York who had served as Vice President under Taft's predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt.

4. South Carolina State University was founded on May 12, 1896, as a land grant institution for African Americans. Originally named the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina, the school has since grown to become a comprehensive university offering a wide range of academic programs.

5. The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military History Museum was established on May 12, 1896, by an act of the state legislature. Located in Columbia, the museum houses a collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the state's military history, including items from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and both world wars.