Fort Sumter
Definition
Fort Sumter is a sea fort located in Charleston, South Carolina. It's best known as the site where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861.
Analogy
Think of Fort Sumter like a spark plug in an engine. Just as a spark plug ignites fuel to start an engine running, the attack on Fort Sumter ignited tensions between North and South, starting the Civil War.
Related terms
Battle of Bull Run: This was the first major battle of the American Civil War, occurring just months after the conflict at Fort Sumter. The Confederate victory gave Southern soldiers confidence early in the war.
Secession: This is when a state or group withdraws from a larger political entity. In this case, several Southern states seceded from the United States before and during the Civil War.
Confederate States of America: This was an unrecognized country formed by eleven Southern slave states that had seceded from Union following Lincoln's election. Its formation was one of many events leading up to war.
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