The Attack on Fort Sumter

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Attack of Fort Sumter

At around December in 1860 South Carolina declared its secession from the federal union after Lincoln won the presidential elections

It cut links with the authorities of United States . Up to this time there was a big division between the south and the north . Lincoln 's win left no doubt in the mind of the southerners that he will advance his call for the abolishment of slave trade something that the south was not ready for

Other seven

states followed the footstep of South Carolina and formed the confederation . Some of these states were : Mississipi , Alabama Texas , Georgia , Florida among others . These states formed the confederate states of America . After the secession there are some issues that arose between the states and the union . The question of who should retain the ownership of federal property once a state secedes especially the harbors , ports and military ports . The states want the property to revert back to the state but the union stood its ground and declared full possession of all the federal property (Burgess , J ,1910

South Carolina sent a delegation of commissioners to the Washington to try and arrive at an amicable solution over the issue of forts and military posts . During his inauguration as the president of the United States Lincoln argued that the union constitution was the best document to settle disputes as the document was binding . He insisted that this supreme document has bestowed powers upon him as the president to protect and uphold the constitution . President Lincoln reiterated that he had no intention of attacking south nor did he intend to end slavery in the states where it existed . Perhaps this was an attempt to assure the south that his leadership will not interfere with state affairs as long as they upheld the constitution . However he stressed that he was to protect the federal property and he was ready to use any means to ensure that they remained under union possession (Burgess , J 1910

South made an offer to the Washington to pay for the federal property so that they can revert back to the states .They made a plea for an agreement and making of treaty a suggestion that was rejected by President Lincoln . He did not want to enter in to any talks with the confederacy as this body was not legitimate . Entering into negotiation with the south would mean that he had recognized them as legitimate government

As the south was making an attempt to come into the conclusion of the matter and make a treaty with the United States government , Major Anderson of the United States army moved in the troops into Fort Sumter Though the move was not sanctioned by the Washington authorities Anderson believed that his action would delay any rebellion movement from the south (Burgess , J , 1910

This move angered the confederacy as they had earlier received a word that the forts would not be reinforced up to the...