What happened in the beginning of the civil war? This pivotal moment in American history marked the onset of a conflict that would last for four years and result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The Civil War, fought between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy), was primarily driven by the issue of slavery and the differing economic interests of the two regions. In this article, we will delve into the events that led to the outbreak of the Civil War and the first few months of the conflict.
The roots of the Civil War can be traced back to the early 19th century, when the United States was rapidly expanding westward. As new territories were admitted to the Union, the question of whether they would allow slavery became a contentious issue. The Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 all attempted to address the issue of slavery, but they only served to deepen the divide between the North and the South.
The election of Abraham Lincoln as President in 1860 was the final catalyst for the Civil War. Lincoln, a member of the newly formed Republican Party, opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories. This stance was unacceptable to the Southern states, who feared that their way of life was under threat. In December 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union, followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.
The beginning of the Civil War was marked by a series of military engagements known as the “First Year of the War.” The first major battle, Fort Sumter, took place in April 1861. Located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, Fort Sumter was a Union stronghold. When Lincoln ordered the fort to be resupplied, Confederate forces bombarded it, leading to the fort’s surrender. This event effectively marked the beginning of the Civil War.
The next major battle, the Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas), took place in July 1861. The Union forces, led by General George B. McClellan, were defeated by the Confederates, led by Generals P.G.T. Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston. This victory gave the Confederacy a much-needed morale boost and convinced many Northerners that the war would be a long and difficult struggle.
The Union’s first major victory came in September 1861, when Union forces under General John C. Frémont captured the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. However, this victory was short-lived, as Confederate forces quickly regrouped and drove the Union troops out of the city.
The beginning of the Civil War was characterized by a series of small-scale engagements and failed Union campaigns. The war would continue for another three years, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Ultimately, the Union’s determination and industrial might would prove to be too much for the Confederacy, leading to the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in April 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.
In conclusion, what happened in the beginning of the Civil War was a series of events that led to the outbreak of a brutal conflict between the North and the South. The issue of slavery was at the heart of this conflict, and the first few months of the war were marked by a series of military engagements that would shape the course of the entire conflict.
