The most characteristic factor of the political, economic, or social environment of South Carolina that led to the Regulator Movement is:
Very few courts and no sheriffs in the backcountry led to lawlessness.
This movement arose primarily in response to the lack of legal authority and protection in the backcountry regions of South Carolina, which created an environment of insecurity and lawlessness. Residents sought to establish their own forms of justice and order due to the ineffective governance in that area.