1. South Carolina and the U.S. Constitution

2. Split State Up Country vs. Low Country Federalists vs. Antifederlists
Low Country leaders were in favor of a new federal constitution
Delegates were John Rutledge, Charles C. Pickney, Charles Pickney, and Pierce Butler (all wealthy)
Federalists: wanted a strong, central government; favored the new constitution
Antifederalists: opposed the new Constitution because the new government was too powerful

3. What does South Carolina delegates want?
Wanted a strong, central government
Favored federal protection of property
Federal control of commerce (trade)
Also wanted to protect SC rice planters from paying an export duty
Wanted government to support slavery

4. Ratification of the Constitution
Two debates in the state over the constitution
Jan 1788-Chief antifederalist Rawlins Lowndes was afraid of too much power in the hands of the new government (Bill of Rights)
May 1788 Ratifying Convention
Low Country had more delegates
Majority rules
SC was the eighth state to ratify the Constitution

5. New Government in South Carolina
Punishing the Loyalists
Most Back Country settlers were Loyalists during the American Revolution
Confiscation Act 1782
listed 239 South Carolinians who had sided with the British
Lands were to be sold at auction
Slaves, wagons, and horses turned over to Patriot Army
Amercement Act
Listed 47 who had taken British protection
Property was fined
Back Country vs. Low Country
Goal of the Back Country was to move the state capital to a central location
1786-Columbia-was established

6. State Constitution 1790
Back country leaders convinced the General Assembly to write a new state constitution
Gov. Charles Pickney was president of convention and Low country delegates were in control
Low country delegates claimed they paid more taxes
Both sides wanted to control the legislature
State was divided into two sections (Low Country still had control)

7. Important Reforms Church and state were separated
Primogeniture was abolished
Custom where the eldest son inherited all the property of the family