The Federal troops present in Charleston, commanded by Major Robert Anderson, had moved from another fort along the coast, Fort Moultrie, to Fort Sumter on December 26, 1860.
In January 1861, a ship intending to deliver supplies to the 200 Federal troops at Fort Sumter had been fired upon - forcing the vessel to turn around and retreat. Coupled with the controversial status Buchanan’s successor had among the Southern states, this would only further set the stage for the crisis that was brewing on the horizon. Thus, the crisis of secession fell under the “lame duck” period of the Buchanan administration. At this point in American history, the president did not formally take office until early March. South Carolina would famously lead the charge for succession, being the first to formally do so on December 20, 1860.Īnother important key detail to make note of in the lead up to Fort Sumter was the incoming transfer of power from President James Buchanan over to the newly elected Abraham Lincoln. As a result, the election of Abraham Lincoln - who had campaigned against the spread of slavery into new American territories - was perceived as a threat by many in this region. It is important to note that slavery was deeply intertwined with the economy and culture of the Southern states at this time. By this point in American history, years of debate and attempted compromises had failed to address the issue of slavery adequately and the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln had been the final straw for those that supported maintaining the institution of slavery.
By April 1861, the tensions that would boil over into the Civil War were a well entrenched part of American political life and had only intensified over the previous couple of months. The firing on Fort Sumter was the climax of a series of events that were months, if not decades, in the making.
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