Today tourists flock to the warm waters of Myrtle Beach, explore refurbished plantations, and stroll the picturesque streets of old Charleston. In this history of the state, Kenneth Townsend examines the rich and complicated past of these places. Beginning with the area's earliest settlers, Townsend traces the state's integral role in the American Revolution and its rise as an agricultural powerhouse; the Civil War and the legacy of slavery; and its recent economic reemergence after the Civil Rights era. Highlighting major historical figures, key events, and cultural icons from Andrew Jackson to James Brown, Townsend sheds light on one of the country's oldest and loveliest states.