Historical Context
The American Civil War raged from 1861 to 1865, killing between 600,000 to 1 million Americans on both sides of the divide. After a long and intense crisis over slavery, Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, and the Confederate States seceded shortly after.
The first battle of the war took place at Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina, which had been the first state to seceded the union. After a long period of shortages in the fort due to a Confederate blockade, the first crisis of Lincoln's administration was to resupply the fort. After an ultimatum from the South to evacuate the fort was ignored, Confederate forces attacked on April 12, 1861, beginning the civil war.
Photo Info
Photographer: Unknown
Location taken: Fort Sumter, South Carolina, Confederate States of America
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Related Events
- 1861-01-09 A Union merchant ship, the Star of the West, is fired upon by cadets from the South Carolina Military Academy as it tries to deliver supplies to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina; considered to be the first shots fired in US Civil War
- 1861-04-12 Fort Sumter in South Carolina is attacked by the Confederacy, beginning the American Civil War
- 1861-04-13 After 34 hours of bombardment, Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederates (US Civil War)
- 1861-04-14 Formal Union surrender of Fort Sumter (US Civil War)
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