page_title: History of Charleston, South Carolina
section_title: 20th century to 1945
hierarchical_section_title: History of Charleston, South Carolina / Postbellum: 1865–1945 / 20th century to 1945
caption_attribution_description: The U.S. Charleston Naval Shiyard, South Carolina (USA), preparing ships for war in 1941. The large ship on the right is probably USS Leonard Wood (AP-25), converting from an Army transport. The freighter is probably USS Hamul (AK-20), converting from a merchantman. The two two-stack destroyers at the piers are probably USS Swanson (DD-443) and USS Ingraham (DD-444) fitting out. The single-stack destroyers (2 pier side and 1 in dry dock) are probably USS Mayrant (DD-402), USS Trippe (DD-403), and USS Rhind (DD-404) in from neutrality patrol. The ships building on the ways just beyond the piers are probably USS Corry (DD-463) and USS Hobson (DD-464). Beyond them, barely visible are two more ships on another pair of ways, probably USS Beatty (DD-640) and USS Tillman (DD-641). Four of the ships afloat were commissioned between May and July 1941. The photo, taken at 300 meters, was dated 24 July 1941 and was probably taken slightly earlier. Note the Yard craft pier side in the foreground.
context_page_description: The history of Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the longest and most diverse of any community in the United States, spanning hundreds of years of physical settlement beginning in 1670 through modern times. Charleston was the leading city in the South from the colonial era to the Civil War The city grew wealthy through the export of rice and, later, sea island cotton and it was the base for many wealthy merchants and landowners.
  The devastation of the Civil War and the ruin of the Charleston's hinterland lost the city its regional dominance. However, it remained the center of the South Carolina economy, while in politics the upstate politicians routinely attacked its aristocratic and undemocratic tone. Beginning during World War II, Charleston became a major naval base. In recent decades, tourism and service industries have led the economy to a new level of prosperity.
context_section_description: In the early 20th century strong political machines emerged in the city, reflecting economic, class, racial, and ethnic tensions. Nearly all opposed U.S. Senator Ben Tillman, who repeatedly attacked and ridiculed the city in the name of upstate poor farmers. Well-organized factions within the Democratic Party in Charleston gave the voters clear choices and played a large role in state politics.
  The Charleston riot of 1919, of whites against blacks, was the worst violence in Charleston since the Civil War.
  The city became a national leader in the historic preservation movement, 1920 to 1940.  The city council introduced the nation's first historic district zoning laws in 1931. The immediate grievance was the invasion of antebellum residential neighborhoods by "modernistic" gasoline stations. The regionalism of the time provided a supportive context for Charleston's reaction against glaring manifestations of modernity.  Landscape preservationists in Charleston shared ideas with regionalists across the South. They argued that preservation activities in Charleston served as a way of coping with perceived negative aspects of modern urban industrial society, and allow people to take pride, despite their relative poverty compared to rich Yankee cities. 
  Nostalgia for the historic neighborhoods was suspended briefly during World War II, as the city became one of the nation's most important naval bases. It was overwhelmed by sailors, servicemen, construction workers, and new families. Peak employment of 26,000 was reached in July 1943 at the Charleston Naval Shipyard. High wages rejuvenated the economy, although restrictions on new housing construction led to severe overcrowding.   For the first time women and African Americans were recruited on a large scale to work in the Navy Yard and related industries in a full range of jobs, including well-paid skilled positions.
caption: The Charleston Navy Yard in 1941.
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