1. On November 8, 1861, Edmund Ruffin, a prominent Virginia farmer and Confederate sympathizer, spoke to a large crowd in Charleston, South Carolina about the need for states' rights and secession from the United States. Ruffin had gained notoriety for firing the first shot at Fort Sumter during the Confederate attack on the fort in April of that year.

2. Governor Richard I. Manning was born in Sumter County, South Carolina on November 8, 1756. Manning was a prominent lawyer and politician who served as Governor of South Carolina from 1824 to 1826. He was also a supporter of states' rights and nullification, and was active in the movement to nullify federal tariffs in the 1820s.

3. In 1923, the University of South Carolina played its first football game on November 8 against Erskine College. The game, which took place at Columbia's Merritt Athletic Field, ended in a 13-0 victory for the Gamecocks. This marked the beginning of a long and storied football history at USC.

4. On November 8, 1864, Union troops under the command of General William T. Sherman set fire to the city of Columbia, South Carolina during the Civil War. The city was largely destroyed and many civilians were killed or injured. The burning of Columbia remains a controversial event in South Carolina history, with many still debating whether it was a deliberate act of destruction or an unfortunate result of wartime chaos.

5. In 1966, the Clemson Tigers defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 35-10 on November 8 in Columbia. The win gave Clemson its second consecutive ACC championship, and was part of a dominant era for the Tigers under legendary coach Frank Howard. The rivalry between these two South Carolina colleges is one of the most intense in college football, and this game was a significant moment in that history.