the trigger of the war Flashcards
(14 cards)
why were fort sumter and fort pickens problematic following the seccesion of the southern states
Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens were problematic following the secession of the South. Fort Sumter was a Union fort in Confederate seas (Charleston Harbour, which was a key port in the Confederacy). The Fort represented the threat to the secessionist movement as it was federal territory. The Union force in Fort Sumter was commanded by Major Robert Anderson.
what was the star of the west
The ‘star of the west’, owned by free states, was a ship which President Buchanan in January 1861 with supplies and reinforcements for Robert Anderson. However, when the ship was approaching Fort Sumter, South Carolina (Confederate State) batteries opened fire on them and the captain retreated, highlighting the tension between the Union and the Confederacy. Anderson decided not to respond, so war was avoided.
farmer and mcphersons view following the star of the west
“A truce (of sorts) was agreed” - Farmer and “A tactic truce emerged” - McPherson
how was a true reached following the star of the west
A trice was reached because following the attack of the star of the west, other secessionists warned South Carolina to cool down as there was fear that their actions would spark a conflict before the Confederacy was formed. This was seen as a truce and it allowed time for negotiations between South Carolina and Wahington.
why was retention of fort sumter a test of lincolns credibility
Retention of Fort Sumter was a test of Lincolns credibility because in his inauguration speech he made it clear that he was determined to keep hold on to what remained of Federal property in the South. This was a problem for him as evacuating the Fort would be a sign of weakness, whereas too much firm action would drive the upper South into Union, which Lincoln was determined to preserve.
events of 5th of march
On 5th of March 1861, within hours of Lincolns inauguration he realised that time was not on his side. Anderson had warned Lincoln that there was only 4 weeks left of supplies on Fort Sumter which left Lincoln in a sticky situation as it would be taken as a challenge to the Confederacy and might lead to war. Lincoln was faced with options
lincolns options
Option
Supported by
Description
Potential problem
Withdrawal
Mass of Lincolns cabinet
Lincoln would withdraw from helping Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter wouldn’t be given any supplies so would suffer.
Hold the fort
Protect it
Discontent with Confederacy
Resupply
Blair (in Lincolns Cabinet)
Give supplies to Fort Sumter to keep it alive
Discontent with the Confederacy
Sewards’s policy of “masterly inactivity”
Sewards’s policy of “masterly inactivity” was that if the Upper South didn’t want to join the Confederacy through a coercive act, the Confederate states had no option but to rejoin the Union. He believed that Lincoln should make some efforts to appease the Confederacy because he realised that the conflict between the federal Government and the Confederacy would unite the South, while having the ability to divide the North. Seward therefore sent assurance to Confederate leaders through a series of intermediaries that Sumter would be abandoned.
northern public opinion of fort sumter
ublic opinion influenced Lincoln because it influenced him to reprovision the Fort Sumter. During this time period there was a lack of unionist feelings throughout the public which meant that the hope of Union had been destroyed. In the North there was also a clamour for firm action and for not abandoning Fort Sumter.
lincolns decision of 28th march 1861
On March 28th, Lincolns cabinet decided to resupply Fort Sumter following influence from Northern public opinion.
lincolns actions and dates
Seward tried to convince Lincoln that he should delegate power, abandon Sumter and provoke a war against France and Spain to unite the nation. Lincoln decided he would not take Sewards advice.
On 4th April, Lincoln advised Major Anderson to try and survive and hold out until supplies reached Fort Sumter as he informed him that a relief expedition would be coming.
On 6th April, Lincoln sent a letter to Governer Picken saying that he was going to resupply Fort Sumter. However Lincoln accidently signed an order to reprovision Fort Pickens instead, which meant that ships set off to Fort Pickens on 9th April (3 ships and 500 men).
On 9th April, Davis’ cabinet decided to take over Sumter before it was resupplied. They decided that General Pierre Beauregard (commander of the confederate forces) should demand Anderson to evacuate Sumter and if they refused there were orders to reduce (decrease an existing position) Sumter.
mcphersons view on lincolns decision to resupply the fort
McPherson argues “Lincolns new conception of the resuplly undertaking was a stroke of genius as he was telling Jefferson Davis, heads I win, tails you lose. It was the first sign of the mastery that would mark Lincolns presidency”. Many people believed that Lincolns actions were brilliant as they put the decision on the Confederacy, if the Confederacy attacked unarmed boats delivery food to hungry men they would be in the wrong. His actions also united Northern public opinion.
first shots of the war
On 11th April Beauregard demanded the surrender if Sumter, however Anderson refused. Beauregard pointed out that Anderson would have to surrender soon anyway due to the lack of supplies, however he still refused.
Negotiations dragged on for hours and on the 12th April 1861 the first shots of the American Civil War were fired.
On 13th April, Anderson felt as though he had done his job so surrendered Fort Sumter.
On 15th April Lincoln issued a call to arms. Northerners were excited and ready to fight, less to abolish slavery. Lincoln asked for 75 000 men for 90 days, Davis called for 100 000
Upper South reacted to the outbreak of war by some succeeding and some not. For example, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina joined the Confederacy. The border states, Delaware, Missouri, Maryland and Kentucky decided to stay in the Union.
summary
Fort Sumter was geographically and physiologically the springboard for Lincoln to galvanise Northern support to preserve the Union and suppress the rebellious succeeded Southern states.
