1. Birth of Mary McLeod Bethune - December 11, 1875, marked the birth of Mary McLeod Bethune, an important educator and civil rights leader in South Carolina. She founded the National Council of Negro Women and served as an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

2. Charleston Tea Party - On December 11, 1773, citizens of Charleston protested the Tea Act by holding their own version of the Boston Tea Party. The event helped to galvanize opposition to British rule in South Carolina.

3. Historic Preservation Act - On December 11, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Historic Preservation Act into law. The act established a national system to identify and preserve historic properties, including many in South Carolina.

4. First Civil Rights Sit-In - On December 11, 1955, six African American students from South Carolina State College staged the first civil rights sit-in at a whites-only lunch counter in Orangeburg, SC. The protest helped spark a wider movement in the South.

5. South Carolina Secedes - On December 11, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. The action led to the Civil War and helped shape the course of American history.