The Palmetto State's rebellious spirit ignited on this day when South Carolina's delegates gathered to declare their independence from the United States. The decision came after months of rising tension between the northern and southern states over slavery and states' rights. Abraham Lincoln's recent presidential election victory, perceived as a threat to their way of life, was the final straw. With the signing of the South Carolina Declaration of Secession, the state became the first to take the drastic step, paving the way for 10 other southern states to follow suit, ultimately leading to the American Civil War.