Our second episode on Charleston, S.C. dives into how the Southern city became the flashpoint for America’s greatest conflict. History for Cocktail Parties Hosts Thornton Kennedy and James Ottley continue their journey through Charleston’s rich past, exploring the city’s architecture, symbols, and the events that set the stage for the Civil War. You’ll learn why Charleston’s famous Palmetto tree became a lasting emblem of strength, how clever residents built their homes “sideways” to outwit the tax man, and why the USS Yorktown and Fort Sumter remain powerful touchstones of American history. Ottley and Kennedy also unravel the string of near-misses and misunderstandings — from misfired cannons to misplaced ice shipments — that almost started the Civil War before Fort Sumter ever did.