Sectional tensions: The United States was deeply divided along regional lines, with the Northern states being industrialized and largely against the institution of slavery, while the Southern states were agrarian and heavily reliant on slavery. The election of Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860, who opposed the expansion of slavery, further heightened these tensions.
States' rights: Many Southerners believed in states' rights, arguing that each state had the right to determine its own laws and institutions, including the right to own slaves. They saw Lincoln's election as a threat to their way of life and believed that the federal government was overstepping its authority by interfering with slavery.
Control of forts and arsenals: After Lincoln's election, several Southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. They began seizing federal forts and arsenals within their territories, including Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The Confederates saw Fort Sumter as a strategic location that would give them control of the Charleston harbor and access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Symbolic importance: Fort Sumter had a symbolic importance as a representation of federal authority in the South. The Confederates believed that by capturing the fort, they could demonstrate their strength and resolve and pressure the Union to recognize their independence.
First shots of the Civil War: The attack on Fort Sumter is considered the first shots of the American Civil War. The Confederate bombardment of the fort on April 12-13, 1861, led to the surrender of the Union forces. This event galvanized public opinion in the Northern states and led to a call for volunteers to defend the Union, while further solidifying the resolve of the Confederate states.
The attack on Fort Sumter was the culmination of growing tensions between the North and South, fueled by issues of slavery, states' rights, and the control of federal properties. It marked the start of a four-year conflict that would have a profound impact on the United States and its history.