Take a look at the map of Fort Sumter. Using your Take Notes tool (click on the icon ), reflect on the geographic location of Ft. Sumter. Why do you think it was important for the South to capture it? Why was it an excellent location for a fort? Why was it so vulnerable to attack?

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Possible Answer

Ft. Sumter sat right in the middle of Charleston harbor. Charleston was a major port city in the deep South. Combined with cannons on the surrounding islands, its location allowed it to effectively stop any ship wishing to enter Charleston. However, those same cannons could also attack the fort from almost three sides.

The Civil War ripped families apart and made foes out of once-trusted friends. The Union commander of Ft. Sumter was Major Robert Anderson. He surrendered to Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard, who was in charge of the bombardment. Beauregard learned his artillery tactics at West Point from Anderson and was his star pupil.

Abraham Lincoln could have surrendered Ft. Sumter when its situation looked desperate and not risked any Union lives in a pointless defense. Instead, he chose to send supplies forcing the Confederates to act. In other words, he made the South fire the first shots of the Civil War. Why do you think that was important? Answer with your Take Notes Tool by clicking on the following icon .

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Possible Answer

In a fight, the person who strikes first is seen as the aggressor. Lincoln knew that a war was inevitable. However, he wanted to show that the North did not want to fight the South, but it was the South, who chose to go to war. Beauregard and the South took the bait.