What event started the Civil War?

Answer 1

Northern states generally opposed slavery whereas the South needed slaves to drive their economy. The disagreement over the issues of slavery in the territories and popular sovereignty ultimately led to such incidents as Bleeding Kansas following the passage of the infamous Kansas-Nebraska Act. It was around this time (1854) that the Republican Party was established and quickly came into power. In the election of 1860, Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States, but did not receive a single electoral vote from the Southern states. Outraged that the President could be selected without a bit of Southern support infuriated the South, so South Carolina seceded and was followed by 6 other states. (The Southern states also, they all preferred state rights over federal power, a premise clearly not granted by the Republican government.) Following secession, Lincoln refused to acknowledge the Confederate states as anything but United States territory, so he was very careful not to make a declaration of war. Following South Carolina's seizure of Fort Sumter in Charleston's harbor, military tension mounted and skirmishes at sites such as Bull Run/Manassas ensued, kicking off a Civil War.

Answer 2

no it actually started in 1855 when the south started threting to succed from the union but although the fighting didnt start until 1861 it acualy started in1855 because the south was prepared for war then

Answer 3

Not very much.

Some skirmishing in the buffer-state of Missouri, then the war's first pitched battle at Bull Run (Manassas), which demonstrated the unpreparedness of the Union armies.

Nothing more of consequence would happen until January 1862, with the start of the war in the Mississippi Valley.

Answer 4

There wasn't much combat in 1861.

By the time of Lincoln's inauguration in March, many of the Southern states had declared for the Confederacy.

The first (few) shots were fired in April.

By July, the Northern press and politicians thought it was time for some action, and pressured the unfortunate General McDowall into a failed drive on Richmond.

In November, the elderly General-in-Chief of the USA, Winfield Scott, retired, having launched an important programme of blockading of Southern ports.

In Tennessee, the popular frontiersman John Fremont (The Pathfinder) talent-spotted the modest and unknown U.S. Grant.

Answer 5

The major event that soon led to the US Civil War was the bombardment of the US fort, Fort Sumter that guarded the Charleston, South Carolina harbor. US President Lincoln had warned the Confederacy that the US would not start an armed conflict with the South. He made it clear that if the South initiated such a conflict, he would have no choice but to defend Federal property. The fort had to surrender, and Lincoln responded by calling for an army of 75,000 volunteers to serve a three month enlistment to end the rebellion.

Answer 6

Because Lincoln was big on ending slavery and the South didn't want that. So the South rebelled against Lincoln, causing the Civil War.

Answer 7

the first shots at fort Sumter
Lincoln's refusal to accept the Crittenden Compromise, because it would have allowed some extension of slavery.

Answer 8

it was in 1861 and because of the freedom of slaves

Answer 9

the president which is Abe Lincoln didn't want slavery to spread. but the south did so they got mad and separated from the US, and attack fort Sumter which started it .

Answer 10

The American Civil War actually first started over states rights. You see, the South had lots of cotton, and was making lots of money from the sale of cotton. Some members of Congress took notice, and before long convinced enough members of Congress to raise the cotton tax a lot higher than it already was so the Treasury could get the tax money. This was a government infringing on the rights of the Southern states. Also, all the textile mills were in the north, and needed the South's cotton to make cloth for clothing. The North wanted the South to sell them the cotton at a lower price so the Northern textile owners could get more money for their cloth. The Southerners didn't like the higher taxes, so instead of selling to the North, they sold the cotton to England and other countries for more money, and could make back what they lost on taxes. This made the Northerners furious, who decided to steal the cotton off boats headed to sea. They robbed them of their cotton, and burned many boats. The South had taken enough from the North. They read the Constitution, and found it was perfectly legal to secede from the country. So, 11 Southern States decided to leave the Union. South Carolina was the first. Now, there was a big fort in the Charleston Harbor which had been built by Union forces, but was built on land belonging to the South. The South told the Union to leave. They would not. After several days of cannon balls hitting the fort, the Union Army decided to leave. The South happily let them go. Then, the other 10 states seceded and became the Confederate States of America, with the Capital being in Richmond, Va. The South had been hoping their Democratic Presidential candidate would win the Presidency. But, when Mr. Lincoln won, the South finally seceded. This went from Apr 1861 to July 1863. The Union Army was in dire straits, and had lost many battles. The people in the North got tired of the war costing so much, tired of their men dying, and wanted the rest to come back home. Lincoln was about to capitulate. Then, someone approached him about training former slaves to fight. Lincoln didn't want to do that, but then he was told the colored troops could be put up front where the heavy fighting was, and they wouldn't lose so many white soldiers. So, after much thought, Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves, effective Jan 1, 1863. And, it was at that point three years into the war that the war became about slavery. It took three years! Lincoln was also hoping when the Southern slaves heard about free colored troops fighting for the North, they would desert and come fight with them. Many slaves did run away to fight for the Union.