Civil war
After Abraham Lincoln's election, South Carolina began the precedent of secession from the Union that the rest of the Confederate States followed, but the Civil War did not begin with this incident. It began in South Carolina at Fort Sumter when Abraham Lincoln decided to maintain the fort as part of the Union's holdings, and Jefferson Davis, of the Confederacy decided to take it. This became the initial conflict that started the bloodiest American war. The way in which both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis handled this affair is debatable to its effectiveness and importance for either side. Both had ways to look upon this situation with pride and contempt. To Lincoln occupying Fort Sumter and keeping it among Union holdings was important for strategic and symbolic purposes. It strategic importance, is stated by the Charleston Mercury, "Border southern States will never join us until we have indicated our power to free ourselves--until we have proven that a garrison of seventy men cannot hold the portal of our commerce." This shows two key factors surround the fort. The first is that by having this presence it would keep the border states on the side of the Union because it did not give in to Confederate demands. The
It marked the beginning of a long and grueling war, that, if given time, may have been avoided through diplomacy in place of rash actions. " This is basically showed the South's need for support of their cause. The battle of Fort Sumter was, in fact, the fault of both sides, though it may have been inevitable. " This also refers to maintaining Southern patriotism. Despite the positive consequences of maintaining the fort, there was logic to abandoning Fort Sumter and letting the South have it. Witness the temper manifested by the Republican in the free States, and even by the Union men in the South. Just as Lincoln had good reason for keeping Fort Sumter, Jefferson Davis had good reason for wanting the fort and firing those first shots. the whole country will become so disgusted with the sham of southern independence that the first chance the people get at a popular election they will turn the whole movement topsy-turvy. " Not only does this demonstrate that Davis's top advisor was vehemently against attacking Fort Sumter, but he also states that it was unneeded to attack it. Also Document D states, "If something is not done pretty soon. By occupying it, the South was denied access to the outside world. It's actual role in the war itself was but minimal. This shows the need that Davis had, to keep people's interest in the growth and achievements of the Confederacy, and it is well known that killing gets people's attention.
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