CIVIL WAR

Questions:

- What inspired the confederates to attack Fort Sumter (creating the Civil War)?

During March 1861, a debate raged in the Confederate government regarding how forceful they should be in trying to take possession of Forts Sumter and Pickens. Davis, like Lincoln, did not wish to anger the border states by appearing as the aggrassor. With supplies running low, Lincoln informed the governor of South Carolina, Francis W. Pickens, that he intended to have the fort re-provisioned, but promised that no additional men or munitions would be sent. This news was passed to Davis and his cabinet in Montgomery, where the decision was made to compel the fort's surrender before Lincoln's ships arrived.

This duty fell to Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard who had been given command of the siege by Davis. Ironically, Beauregard had previously been protege of Anderson. On April 11, Beauregard sent an aide to demand the fort's surrender. Anderson refused and further discussions after midnight failed to resolve the situation. At 4:30am on April 12, a single mortar round burst over Fort Sumter signaling the other harbor forts to open fire. Anderson ddi not reply until 7:00 when Captain Abner Doubleday fired the first shot for the Union. After a 34-hour bombardment, and with his ammunition almost exhausted, Anderson surrendered the fort.

- How did the personal backgrounds of leading officals affect the Civil War?

- How did white citizens in the North treat free blacks during the Civil War?

Introduction:

       There are said to be many causes of the Civil War, some of which can be traced back to the earliest of American colonization. Slavery in the United Sates began in Virginia in 1619, but by the end of the Revolution the North had abandoned the practice of slavery, causing a major difference between the Northern and Southern territories.  (Early 19th century) Southerners strived to defend slavery by maintaining partial control in the federal government. This was easy for them considering the many Southern presidents during this time. As time went on however, more states were being added to the Union, which involved compromises of Free and Slave states. The South wanted a balance between the two, but it was eventually disrupted with the Compromise of 1850. Half of California was declared Free, and the other half Slave. The growing difference in the amount of Slave and Free states was becoming a symbol of the changes occuring in the Northern and Southern regions. The North was being introduced to industrialization while the South remained well-known for its agriculture success. The North had also been experiencing high birth rates, which meant the South would be inferior in the future government (a possibility of a Northern, anti-slavery prez). As the South realized that their role in the government was deteriorating, they approached slavery as an issue of states rights. They stated that the government could not interfere with slavery in the states where it had originally existed. The South had figured that confronting the government or succession from the Union would be their only way to protect their way of life. Tensions between the North and South were only heightening, especially in politics. There were originally two parties: the Whigs and the Democrats. With the new anti-slavery movement, the Northerners began to form a part called the Republic. This new party had thoughts of industrialization, education, etc. The Northerners viewed this party as prosperous and beneficial in the future, while the Southerners felt it would only cause conflict. In the election of 1860, Lincoln became president as a Rebuplican and the North had accomplished complete control of the government. In result to Lincoln's victory, South Carolina suceeded from the Union, followed by Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,  and Texas. These states formed the Confederate States of America, with a constitution similar to the original, with the exeption of defending slavery and stronger state rights (leader Jefferson Davis). Lincoln stated that he had no intention in changing the Slave states to Free and that he did not plan on invading the south. The Confederates attacked Fort Sumter (described above), starting a series of battles, collaboratively known as the Civil War.

Conclusion:

        Though the Civil War broke apart many families and homes, the overall result of this war was very beneficial to the future stature of the country. The war accomplished important things such as the abolishment of slavery, and keeping the South as part of the United States. The Civil War symbolizes a great challenge that our country has overcome. It eliminated slavery, the tragic system that our country was built upon. Lincoln was correct when stating that "Government cannot endure half free, half slave". The country was separated in two, causing a great complication.

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