1. On January 23, 1788, South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the United States Constitution. The state played a crucial role in forming the federal government, and its ratification helped to solidify the idea of a unified nation.

2. In 1861, January 23 marked the beginning of the Civil War in South Carolina, as Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The attack led to a four-year conflict that would reshape the state and the nation.

3. On January 23, 1944, the U.S. Army established a new training center in South Carolina to prepare soldiers for combat in World War II. The Fort Jackson installation would go on to become the largest Basic Combat Training Center in the United States.

4. In 1961, January 23 was designated as the official holiday commemorating the birth of Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. The holiday remains controversial, with some arguing that it glorifies the legacy of the Confederacy and white supremacy.

5. On January 23, 2002, the South Carolina State House unveiled a statue of Strom Thurmond, a former U.S. Senator and one of the state's most controversial politicians. The statue sparked widespread protests due to Thurmond's history of advocating for segregation and opposing civil rights legislation.