Second lecture series begins Jan. 7

The Great War for Empire had, for South Carolinians, reached an increasingly unhappy conclusion regarding the subsequent actions of the British government toward the Colonies.

Revolution had ushered into history a new nation with boundless potential, but the independent bent Carolinians had demonstrated since the 17th century did not vanish. As their fathers and grandfathers had done in 1719 and 1776, questioning the wisdom of bowing to external authority, South Carolinians of the 1850s likewise scrutinized the worth of remaining part of the United States.

In 1860, yet again, they cast off the yoke of outside government and soon loosed the first volley of the Civil War.

"South Carolina and the United States, 1763-1860" is the second of three annual lecture series presented by Dr. Walter Edgar on South Carolina history, to be held 6-7 p.m. on successive Wednesdays in the Charleston Museum Auditorium. It will be followed in January 2010 by the third and concluding series, "South Carolina in Transition, 1860-2010."

Edgar, professor of history at the University of South Carolina and president of the board of the S.C. Historical Society, is the author of the magisterial "South Carolina: A History" and editor of "The South Carolina Encyclopedia." His series, which is being held through March 25, is presented by the historical society in cooperation with

USC's department of history and College of Arts and Sciences.

The series opens this week with "Our Little World: South Carolina at Mid-Century," drawn from Chapter 9 of "South Carolina: A History." By the midpoint of the 18th century, South Carolina was Britain's wealthiest Colony in North America, its "opulent" capital and one of the five major cities of the continent. A well-to-do, sophisticated elite dominated public life as powerful citizens of the Atlantic World. In his initial lecture, Edgar will explore the sources of this wealth as well as the texture of everyday life, education, architecture and the rich cultural life of the Colony.

Throughout the series, the historical society will showcase a display of historical documents in the auditorium lobby related to the week's subject. Presentations by the two guest lecturers will be followed by an informal reception in the lobby.

"As I tell my students, South Carolina was settled by human beings, and history might not always be what you like. But it's never dull, and always fascinating," says Edgar, host of the SCETV program "Walter Edgar's Journal."

If the tone sounds somewhat academic, it is not. Says Edgar: "These are good talks for educated lay audiences."

Series schedule

Jan. 7: Our Little World: South Carolina at Mid-Century ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 9).

Jan. 14: The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of Revolution. Guest lecturer, Dr. A.V. Huff Jr., professor emeritus, Furman University ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 10).

Jan. 21: South Carolina and the British Empire.

Jan. 28: Making Revolution and Revolutionaries ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 10).

Feb. 4: The American Revolution, Part 1 (1775-1780) ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 11).

Feb. 11: The American Revolution, Part 2 (1780-1783).

Feb. 18: The American Revolution, Part 3.

Feb. 25: South Carolina and the New Nation ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 12).

March 4: The Rise of the Cotton Kingdom ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 13).

March 11: A World in Shadow: Persons of Color in Antebellum South Carolina. Guest lecturer, Dr. Bernard L. Powers Jr., professor of history, College of Charleston ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 14).

March 18: Antebellum South Carolina ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 14).

March 25: To Secede, or not to Secede, that is the Question ("South Carolina: A History," Chapter 15).

Call 723-3225, ext. 13.

Reach Bill Thompson at bthompson@postandcourier.com or 937-5707.