The Civil War Begins
Standards 8.4.4
10 questions will be
addressed throughout the
Power Point to answer.
Take notes on the “yellow”
highlighted words.
SC in the 1850s
• After the passing of the Compromise of
1850, many in SC wanted to secede from
the United States.
• SC government called for a convention to
discuss secession.
• 3 groups were important at this time:
– Unionists, Cooperationists, and Secessionists
Unionists
• Believed that SC should
remain in the United
States
• Unionists did not
always agree with the
actions of the Northern
states or the federal
government, but agreed
that the US Constitution
would protect the state.
Benjamin Perry
Cooperationists
• Wanted to secede
from the Union, but
only if other
Southern states did
so.
• They believed it
would be a mistake
for SC to secede
alone.
Secessionists (Also called “Fire-Eaters”)
• Wanted to secede
from the U.S. as
soon as possible
(true REBELS).
• Did not care what
other Southern states
thought or did.
Checkpoint! (Answers only)
• 1. What were the three main groups
involved in politics after the Compromise
of 1850?
• 2. What did Unionists believe in?
• 3. What did Cooperationists believe in?
• 4. What did Secessionists believe in?
Secession
• In 1852, the secessionists failed to
persuade SC to leave the U.S.
• Other Southern states were not ready to
secede, and saw SC as a reckless and
radical state.
• By 1860, views of SC had not changed too
much, but another situation caused many
Southern states to consider secession.
The Election of 1860
• In 1860, the Democratic Party could not
agree on a presidential candidate.
• Due to this disagreement, the party split
into two parts: the Northern Democrats
and Southern Democrats.
• Because the Democrats split, the
Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln,
was able to win the election.
Abraham Lincoln
The Election of 1860
• Lincoln was opposed to slavery, but at first
he did not want to immediately end it
• He was content to keep slavery where it
was, but would not allow it to expand.
• His election horrified many Southern
states, especially….
• SOUTH CAROLINA!
SC Secedes
• When news of Lincoln’s election reached SC,
the leaders of the state called for a meeting in
Columbia to discuss secession
• They were upset that Lincoln would stop
slavery’s expansion and try to eventually abolish
slavery, therefore ending southern wealth and
way of life.
• Every part of SC sent delegates to this
meeting…and every delegate was in favor of
secession
SC Secedes
• On December 17, 1860, the meeting was held in
Columbia at the First Baptist Church.
• A case of smallpox was discovered, and the
meeting moved to Charleston.
• On December 20, 1860 in Charleston, the
delegates unanimously voted for the Ordinance
of Secession, which pulled SC out of the United
States. The political statement said that the
federal government should not interfere with the
decision making of individual state (states’
rights).
SC Secedes
• Over the next few weeks,
six other Southern states
seceded from the U.S.
Four more states will also
secede.
• They joined together with
SC and formed the
Confederate States of
America.
First Baptist Church, Columbia
“The Union is Dissolved!”
Checkpoint! (Answers only)
• 5. What did Abraham Lincoln believe
about slavery?
• 6. Why was SC so worried about
Lincoln’s election as President?
• 7. Why did the Secession Convention
move from Columbia to Charleston? What
date did SC secede from the Union?
The First Shots of the Civil War
• There were 3 U.S. forts that guarded
Charleston and its harbor
• The two most important forts were Fort
Moultrie (where the old palmetto fort used
to be), and Fort Sumter
• U.S. troops were stationed only at Fort
Moultrie
Map of Charleston Harbor
Defenses
Fort Sumter Today
The First Shot of the Civil War
• On December 26, 1860, the U.S. troops
moved out of Fort Moultrie and into Fort
Sumter
• SC quickly took control of Fort Moultrie
and started taking aim at Fort Sumter
• Eventually, the U.S. troops in Sumter
began to run out of food
The First Shot of the Civil War
• President Lincoln ordered ships to go to
Fort Sumter to bring more supplies
• Lincoln hoped to get the Confederates
(Southern troops) to fire on the ships
• Why?? – So that it would look like the
South was starting the Civil War
The First Shot of the Civil War
• The Confederates (South) decided to take
Fort Sumter before those ships could get
to it
• At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, the
Confederates in Charleston opened fire
on Fort Sumter.
• The fort surrendered after 34 hours of
fighting
• The Civil War had begun!
Fort Sumter Under Attack!
Fort Sumter After the Attack…
Checkpoint! (Answers only)
• 8. When did U.S. troops move into Fort
Sumter?
• 9. Why did Lincoln hope that southern
troops would fire on the supply ships?
• 10. On what date did the Confederates
open fire on Fort Sumter?