Bombardment of Fort Sumter

The Bombardment of Fort Sumter occurred in April 1861 and marked the start of the American Civil War. Located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, Fort Sumter was a Union-held fort in a seceding state. On April 12, Confederate forces opened fire on the fort, demanding its surrender. After 34 hours of bombardment, Union Major Robert Anderson surrendered on April 13. This conflict galvanized both the North and the South, leading to a full-scale war as President Abraham Lincoln called for troops to suppress the rebellion. The event highlighted the deep divisions in the country over issues like states' rights and slavery.