"South Carolina is too small for a republic and
too large for an insane asylum."
- South Carolina Attorney General James Petigru
After the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States on November 6, 1860, several Southern states responded by seceding from the Union. The state of South Carolina was the first state to do so in December 1860. From then until February of 1861, six more states joined South Carolina in secession.
There was no system of due process, formal protocol, or established precedent for how secession would work. Secession immediately brought into question the states of federal troops and possessions including military installations located in the South. In South Carolina that included Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter. Soon after secession, Major Robert Anderson moved his 85 men from Moultrie to Fort Sumter which was deemed the better defensive position.
The federal government of the United States led by the Lincoln Administration wanted to keep all of their federal property, but did not want to respond with conflict. Instead, Lincoln chose to only resupply those installations. When they attempted to resupply Fort Sumter, however, they were met by Southerners in the harbor off the coast of South Carolina, and were told to turn around. This led to Confederate Commander P.G.T Beauregard asking for the surrender of Fort Sumter which was refused.
At 4:30 AM on April 12, 1861, the Confederate artillery fired on Fort Sumter. The Union garrison returned fire. It was the first shots of the Civil War. Major Anderson surrendered the Fort the next day. Ironically, no soldiers were killed during the bombardment but two were accidentally killed during a ceremonial cannon salute after the Fort had changed hands.
There was no system of due process, formal protocol, or established precedent for how secession would work. Secession immediately brought into question the states of federal troops and possessions including military installations located in the South. In South Carolina that included Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter. Soon after secession, Major Robert Anderson moved his 85 men from Moultrie to Fort Sumter which was deemed the better defensive position.
The federal government of the United States led by the Lincoln Administration wanted to keep all of their federal property, but did not want to respond with conflict. Instead, Lincoln chose to only resupply those installations. When they attempted to resupply Fort Sumter, however, they were met by Southerners in the harbor off the coast of South Carolina, and were told to turn around. This led to Confederate Commander P.G.T Beauregard asking for the surrender of Fort Sumter which was refused.
At 4:30 AM on April 12, 1861, the Confederate artillery fired on Fort Sumter. The Union garrison returned fire. It was the first shots of the Civil War. Major Anderson surrendered the Fort the next day. Ironically, no soldiers were killed during the bombardment but two were accidentally killed during a ceremonial cannon salute after the Fort had changed hands.
* * * Discussion Questions * * *
1. Could the conflict at Fort Sumter been resolved peacefully? Explain.
2. Why do you think Fort Sumter became the first focal point? Was it the importance of the location or something else?
2. Why do you think Fort Sumter became the first focal point? Was it the importance of the location or something else?
Primary Sources
Sec. of State William Seward counsels Lincoln on his handling of the Fort Sumter Crisis.
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President Lincoln explains his actions that led to the conflict including Fort Sumter.
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Who?
There were 85 Union soldiers and 500 Confederate soldiers during the Crisis at Fort Sumter.
The Union was led by Commander Robert Anderson, and the Confederates were lead by Commander P.G.T. Beauregard.
Union Commander Robert Anderson (left) and Confederate Commander P.G.T Beauregard (right)
What?
Early in the morning of April 12, 1861, Confederate guns around the harbor opened fire on Fort Sumter, which at the time was holding Union forces. On April 13th, Major Robert Anderson of the Union surrendered the fort and evacuated the next day.
Early in the morning of April 12, 1861, Confederate guns around the harbor opened fire on Fort Sumter, which at the time was holding Union forces. On April 13th, Major Robert Anderson of the Union surrendered the fort and evacuated the next day.
When?
The battle took place from April 12 - April 13, 1861 but the stand off between opposing forces had lasted more than a month.
The battle took place from April 12 - April 13, 1861 but the stand off between opposing forces had lasted more than a month.
Where?
Fort Sumter is located in the Charleston Harbor off of South Carolina
Fort Sumter is located in the Charleston Harbor off of South Carolina
A picture of Fort Sumter in the present day, which is now available for tours.
Why?
The new Lincoln administration sought not to provoke armed conflict, but refused to surrender Federal installations to the Confederates. They attempted to resupply Sumter in the past but the ship was turned away by the Confederates.
The new Lincoln administration sought not to provoke armed conflict, but refused to surrender Federal installations to the Confederates. They attempted to resupply Sumter in the past but the ship was turned away by the Confederates.
Secondary Sources
The Smithsonian Magazine
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A podcast by Teaching American History
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Conspiracy Theory?
There is a conspiracy theory that states that by attempting to resupply Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln purposely provoked war with the South. People who side with the policies of Lincoln state that he came up with a brilliant plan that would force the Confederate states to take the first shots of the war. Those who oppose Lincoln state that he deviously created this conspiracy in the name of making the the South look like the bad guys and to raise the public opinion of him.
What do you think? |
Citations
- “Battle of Fort Sumter Facts & Summary.” American Battlefield Trust, 13 Apr. 2018, www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/fort-sumter.
- Editors, History.com. “Fort Sumter.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/fort-sumter.
- Petersen, Paul R. “Who Started the Civil War?” Quantrill's Guerrillas, 2014, quantrillsguerrillas.com/en/articles/244-who-started-the-civil-war.html.
- Frye, Dennis. “Dennis Frye: By Attempting to Resupply Ft. Sumter, Did President Lincoln Purposely Provoke the War?” The Washington Post, WP Company, 11 Apr. 2011, www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/house-divided/post/dennis-frye-by-attempting-to-resupply-ft-sumter-did-president-lincoln-purposely-provoke-the-war/2010/12/20/AFgfCMLD_blog.html?utm_term=.8be1e0e3ebe2.
- Trust, American Battlefield. YouTube, YouTube, 4 Jan. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RSwONm4Krk