Confederate Forces: Under the command of General P.G.T. Beauregard
Union Forces: Under the command of Major Robert Anderson
What:
The Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, for 34 hours, ultimately forcing the Union garrison to surrender.
This marked the beginning of the American Civil War.
Impact: Why Significant?:
The first battle of the Civil War: The bombardment of Fort Sumter dramatically escalated tensions between the North and South, pushing them into open warfare.
A turning point in American history: This event solidified the secession of the Southern states and signaled the beginning of a devastating conflict that would reshape the nation.
Shifting public opinion: The attack on Fort Sumter rallied support for the Union cause in the North and led to the enlistment of thousands of volunteers for the Union army.
Symbol of the conflict:Fort Sumter became a symbol of the clash between federal authority and states’ rights, an issue that had been simmering for decades.