‘Where the war was won.’ SC license plate to honor state’s role in Revolution

Next year is the 250-year anniversary of the American Revolution and South Carolina is declaring its role in leading the United States to victory.

The South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission designed a license plate to honor the upcoming 250-year anniversary in 2022, but they’re updating the slogan to honor the state’s pivotal role in the war.

“The Revolutionary War was won here in South Carolina and we need to remind our fellow states,” said Molly Fortune, SC250 executive director.

The current design illustrates South Carolina war hero Sgt. William Jasper hoisting the Liberty flag after South Carolina troops beat the British Navy during the Battle of Fort Sullivan in 1776.

Above the image is the phrase, “250 Year Anniversary Revolutionary War,” but South Carolina legislators wanted to change the phrase to something that highlights the state.

Gov. Henry McMaster signed the law May 12 requiring the commission to change the phrase to “Where the Revolutionary War Was Won.”

The slogan may spark confusion because the American Revolution was won after Yorktown, Va., in 1781.

However, lawmakers explained that the slogan is a tribute to the several patriot victories that happened in South Carolina, building momentum for the final liberating siege of Yorktown.

“You read those histories and you will see that the experts would agree back then and now that this is where the British Southern campaign was defeated,” McMaster said.

Charleston state Sen. Chip Campsen said he proposed the new slogan because he believes South Carolinians should get more credit for their role in defeating the British.

“It should make us extremely proud to be South Carolinians,” said Campsen. “For many years we were not honored for the significance of what we did.”

Over 200 Revolutionary War battles were fought in South Carolina and many of them, like the Battle of Kings Mountain (1780), Huck’s Defeat (1780) and Cowpens (1781) were major victories that weakened British forces.

South Carolina military leaders such as Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens and Francis Marion commanded many of these battles and served as legislators after the war.

The anniversary license plate will be the standard issued plate from Jan. 1, 2026, until Dec. 31, 2032, and is included in the cost of regular vehicle registration fees.

Drivers can also select a standard plate with the motto “In God We Trust” for the price of regular vehicle registration, or pay an additional fee for a specialty plate from the South Carolina DMV gallery.

This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.