5.7 Military Conflict in the Civil War

The Civil War began in April 1861 when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The event united the North and led President Lincoln to call for seventy-five thousand volunteers to suppress the rebellion. The secession of four additional slave states, including Virginia, brought the total number of Confederate states to eleven. Both sides entered the war with confidence and deep misunderstanding. The North believed its superior industry and population would bring a quick victory. The South believed that its skilled generals, motivated soldiers, and potential foreign support would ensure independence.