Notes on Civil War and Fort Sumter

Key Vocabulary

• Perished: To die, especially in a violent or untimely manner.

Key Concepts

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• Effects of the Civil War:

  • Significant loss of life: Over six hundred thousand fatalities.

  • Millions injured due to the conflict.

  • Major social change: End of slavery in the United States.

Significant Events

• Fort Sumter:

  • Importance to the Union:

  • It was one of the last two forts retained by the Union within Confederate territory.

  • Known as the site where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, marking the conflict's official beginning.

  • Challenges in Holding Fort Sumter:

  • Geographical disadvantage: Access to the fort was only by sea, which made resupplying it difficult.

  • Threat from Confederate artillery: Supplies had to be transported past Confederate-controlled guns located on other islands in the harbor, making the fort vulnerable to blockade and attacks.