Before the first permanent colony in South Carolina, in the 1500's, many other countries tried to settle down but were always unsuccessful due to problems. In 1520, two ships sent by Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon explored the coast of South Carolina, but then went back to Spain. Later in 1526, Ayllon came back with 500 settlers and tried to establish a colony, but due to problems that they had ran into the colony had not even lasted a few months before they abandoned it. Then a while after that a group of Protestants came along and tried to settle on Parris Island, but that never worked out either. In 1566, the Spanish tried yet again to settle on Parris Island (Parris Island today is used as a U.S. Marine Corps base and recruit depot) but that colony had not lasted long either, just like all of the rest. Then after 1586, the Spanish completely gave up on South Carolina and never came back. And finally in 1629, another country tried to settle in South Carolina, except this time it was the English, Sir Robert Heath received a grant from King Charles I of England for South Carolina, he tried to settle there but it did not last long. This was last attempt of colonization before the first permanent colony in South Carolina ("South Carolina: European Exploration and Early Settlement", 2001.)

In 1729, Charles Town and South Carolina became an official royal province. At that time many of the colonists were not happy at all with the way the proprietors were running the colony. But these were not the original proprietors; most of the originals had already died. The anger in the colonists was triggered by a few reasons. First, there were constant attacks on the colony by the Spanish and the Native Americans, and the proprietors were not giving any defense against those attacks. Many colonists were killed and this enraged the others. Then, the proprietors were showing financial and political problems ("South Carolina", 2001). So in 1719, the colonists decided to kick the governor out of Charles Town and break away from the proprietor government. Then, they sent an agent to Great Britain to ask and persuade the king that South Carolina be made a royal province. It was allowed but first in 1721 a provisional royal government was setup in Charles Town. Finally, in 1729, South Carolina was made a royal province ("South Carolina", 2001).

The eight original proprietors were a group of powerful, nobleman by the names of Sir William Berkley, Virginia's governor, his brother John Berkley, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, George Monck Duke of Albmarle, Sir George Carteret, William Earl of Craven, Edward Hyde Earl of Clarendon, and Sir George Clarendon ("South Carolina", 1972). These eight people were known throughout the English government and had relations with the king, Charles II. They knew him well enough that he gave them a charter of land in the new world. This land was known as Carolina. He named them lord proprietors over that land. When they were in South Carolina they issued "A Declaration and Proposal to All That Will Plant in Carolina". This document promised religious freedom, political freedom, and land to all who came to South Carolina with them. Also a while after they also drafted "The Fundamental Constitution of Carolina" this was just a document describing an ideal society in Carolina, but it never worked and a few years after it was drafted it was taken back. By the time the colonists overthrew the proprietor government most of the original proprietors were already dead ("South Carolina", 2001).

The first Native Americans to settle in the South Carolina area were those in the Mississippian Culture, which was way before South Carolina's colonist's time in prehistory. This culture was also known as the Mound Builders, this name came about because the tribe built huge, monumental mounds, which were probably built for spiritual beliefs or ceremonies ("Mound Builders", 2001). In the 1600's, there was the Cherokee these Native Americans did interact with the colonists, but in 1760, they decided to go to war against the colonists and side with Britain during the Revolutionary War. Also in 1600, there was the Yamasee, they also decided to go to war against the colonists in 1715 during the Yamasee War. Finally, there is one last native tribe in the South Carolina area, which is the Catawba tribe; these Native Americans never went to war against the colonists. Instead they kept peaceful relations with them. Just like most colonies, South Carolina had troubles with the Native Americans near or in their colony ("South Carolina", 2001).