The Civil War had a profound effect on the economy of South Carolina. Before the war, the state was a major producer of cotton and rice, and Charleston was a thriving port city. But after the war, the state's economy shifted dramatically. The textile industry was the first major industry to take root in South Carolina's interior and Piedmont regions.
With the invention of the cotton gin, cotton became an important crop, particularly in the interior of the state. A new capital, Columbia, was founded in the center of the state, which somewhat reduced the political power of the lower country's elite. Dissatisfaction with the federal government and its tariff policies grew during this period. In 1820s, South Carolina citizen John C. Calhoun developed the nullification theory, according to which a state could reject any federal law that it considered a violation of its rights.
During this period, armed conflict was avoided, but in 1860 tensions between the state and the federal government reached their peak. Unhappy with restrictions on free trade and by calls for the abolition of slavery, South Carolina seceded from the union on December 20th 1860, being the first of the Southern states to do so. When Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor on April 12th 1861, the nation was plunged into the Civil War. On the eve of the Civil War, South Carolina was still one of the top cotton-producing states in America. However, productive land had been opened in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, then in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas.
Cotton from these new areas was shipped via Mobile and New Orleans instead of Charleston. Meanwhile, rice planters in low-lying areas faced competition from Burma, Bengal, Java and other European rice-producing colonies. The colony of Carolina had been divided in 1710 into South Carolina and North Carolina. Some of the richest families in North America in the years before the Civil War lived in the Georgetown area. According to historian Gavin Wright, his fellow historians often try to explain the rise, spread and persistence of slavery in terms of productivity advantages. When South Carolina surrendered to Union forces on February 18th 1865, it marked a turning point for its economy.
Land prices had fallen by half and agricultural markets were in terrible condition after the war. Many programs, resources and services at the South Carolina State Library were fully or partially supported by a grant from the U. S.Before rapidly industrializing in 1950s, South Carolina had primarily an agricultural economy throughout its history. The South Carolina Port Authority (SCPA), constituted in 1942 by the state legislature, owns and operates public port facilities as well as Greer and Dillon inland ports.
Starting in 1960s, South Carolina became one of first states to begin requesting foreign direct investment which promoted transformation of state moving away from agriculture and textile industry. In mid-20th century number of farms in South Carolina had fallen dramatically and land on farms had fallen from more than half to about quarter of state's land area. This shift in emphasis on state's manufacturing sector was due to opening many branches by companies based in northern United States and foreign countries; in per capita terms South Carolina has been one of main recipients of foreign capital investment. In 1827 state created South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company which drew tracks from Hamburg in Edgefield district to Charleston. In failed attempt to stop abolition of slavery South Carolina was first state to declare itself secessionist after election of Abraham Lincoln. South Carolina ratified United States Constitution on May 23rd 1788 becoming eighth state to join union. The Civil War had a lasting impact on South Carolina's economy that can still be felt today.
The war caused a dramatic shift away from agriculture towards manufacturing as well as an influx of foreign investment into the state. The creation of new industries such as textiles helped to diversify South Carolina's economy while also providing jobs for many citizens who had been displaced by war or economic hardship. The establishment of public port facilities such as Greer and Dillon inland ports also helped to stimulate economic growth by providing access to international markets for goods produced within South Carolina.
