Historical Context

James Buchanan Administration

  • Buchanan's Controversial Actions:

    • Prior to presidency, in 1854, Buchanan supported the arrest of Cuba from Spain to establish it as the sixteenth slave state.

    • During his 1856 presidential campaign, he was favored by the South who threatened to secede if a wrong candidate was elected.

  • Secession Threats:

    • His presidency saw seven states secede from the Union before Lincoln's election.

    • Buchanan's actions were consistently pro-South, particularly regarding

  • Blame for Crisis:

    • Buchanan blamed Republicans and abolitionists for the crisis.

    • At this time, no state had formally seceded but preparations were underway.

    • He declared secession as illegal, emphasizing the idea that the Union was sovereign and could not be dismantled by individual states.

  • Crisis Management:

    • Buchanan claimed the president lacked the power to stop secession or coerce seceding states back into the Union.

    • He proposed a constitutional amendment to protect slavery in territories and to nullify personal liberty laws passed by Northern states, displaying his pro-Southern stance.

  1. Committee of Thirteen (Senate)

    • Key members included Stephen A. Douglas and John Crittenden (chairman).

    • Despite having influential members, they proposed the Crittenden Compromise consisting of ten provisions.

  2. Committee of Thirty-Three (House)

    • This committee was notably ineffective, with members unable to agree on any proposals, causing a complete failure to develop a resolution.

Crittenden Compromise :

  • Key Provisions:

    1. A constitutional amendment to prevent Congress from abolishing slavery anywhere.

    2. Extension of the Missouri Compromise line to protect slavery in territories south of the line.

    3. Enforced Fugitive Slave Law with compensation for lost slaves.

  • Proposal Outcome:

    • The Crittenden Compromise proposal was thoroughly rejected by Republicans and failed in both the Senate committee and the full Senate.

    • The attempts to compromise contributed to the tensions leading to civil conflict.

Lincoln's Inauguration

  • Inaugural Address (March 1861):

    • Considered one of the most pivotal inaugural addresses in U.S. history, where Lincoln emphasized the permanence of the Union and the legality of secession.

    • He stated he would not interfere with slavery where it existed but aimed to prevent its expansion and stressed the need for peace while acknowledging the South's aggression.

Fort Sumter

  • Following South Carolina's secession on December 20, 1860, federal forts in Charleston became critical flashpoints, particularly Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie.

  • Supply Missions:

    • Buchanan planned a non-provocative supply mission to Fort Sumter via the unarmed merchant ship, Star of the West, which was fired upon and failed to deliver supplies.

  • Deteriorating Conditions:

    • Troops at Fort Sumter faced dwindling supplies; this tension led to Lincoln's decision to send supplies and reinforcements after his inauguration.

Start of the Civil War

Fort Sumter Engagement:

  • Major Anderson's Command:

    • Major Robert Anderson at Fort Sumter represented the Union stronghold under siege.

  • Conflict Timeline:

    • On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces initiated the bombardment on Fort Sumter, marking the official start of the Civil War.

    • The bombardment lasted 34 hours with significant artillery exchanges but no casualties during the engagement.

  • Surrender of Fort Sumter:

    • Major Anderson surrendered the fort on April 14, 1861, leading to widespread enlistment and mobilization for war across the North.

Proclamation of Insurrection (April 15, 1861)

  • Declared the seceding states in a state of insurrection and called for 75,000 troops to put it down.

  • This proclamation precipitated further Confederate action, leading to more states joining the Confederacy.