lincoln and fort sumter

Lincoln's Inauguration and Early Presidency

• Date of Inauguration: March 4, 1861

• Beard Decision: Lincoln grew a beard after receiving a letter from an 11-year-old girl suggesting he would look better with one; she claimed her brothers would vote for him if he did.

• Facial Hair Trend: His beard initiated a trend where every president for the next fifty years (except one) wore some form of facial hair.

• Political Context: At Lincoln's inauguration, seven states had already seceded from the Union.

Inaugural Address Highlights

• Message of Unity: Lincoln's address aimed to restore unity between the North and South.

• Stance on Slavery:

  • Stated he had "no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery" in existing slave states.

  • Positioned himself against slavery but not as an abolitionist, reflecting the moderate Republican stance.

• Dispute Explanation:

  • Highlighted the core dispute as one where one section believed slavery should be extended and the other believed it was wrong.

  • Acknowledged that slavery was at the root of the conflict.

Opposition to Secession

• Understanding Secessionists' Motivations: Lincoln noted that secessionists acted because they felt they had lost majority support post-election.

• Majority Rule vs. Minority Secession:

  • Argued that if a minority could secede, any faction could do so, leading to anarchy.

  • Emphasized that secession rejected the principles of democratic governance and threatened liberty.

Call for Conciliation

• Warning to Dissatisfied Citizens: Lincoln placed the responsibility for civil war in the hands of those dissatisfied with the government.

• No Initiation of Conflict: He stated that the government would not attack the South but warned of the consequences of aggression.

Fort Sumter

• Preservation of Federal Power: Lincoln aimed to occupy federal military posts in the South without appearing aggressive.

• Decision to Resupply Fort Sumter: On April 12, 1861, he sent provisions to Fort Sumter, notifying Confederates of his plans, which led to their attack.

• Significance of the Attack: After a 33-hour bombardment, Fort Sumter surrendered, marking the start of armed conflict between the Union and the Confederacy.

Response to Secession

• Call for Troops: Following the attack on Fort Sumter, Lincoln called for troops to defend the Union.

• Further Secessions: Four Upper South states (Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas) subsequently seceded, bringing the total to eleven Confederate states.

• Impact of Virginia's Secession: Virginia's secession was critical due to its manufacturing capabilities and the involvement of Robert E. Lee as the Confederate general.

Border States and Union Military Strategy

• Border States Remaining in the Union: Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware remained in the Union, despite prevalent divided loyalties.

  • Delaware: Strongly pro-Union.

  • Maryland: Mixed sympathies, but majority pro-Union.

  • Kentucky: Deeply divided; many residents served in both Union and Confederate armies.

• Union Military Actions: To suppress secessionist activities, Lincoln deployed troops to the border states and arrested suspected Confederate sympathizers.

Formation of West Virginia

• Union Support in Western Virginia: Early Union occupation in western Virginia led to the establishment of an independent state.

• Creation of West Virginia: In 1863, voters in western Virginia counties seceded from Virginia, forming West Virginia, largely due to the area's Union sympathies and poor conditions for cotton cultivation.