Secession and Civil War

(Period: Sectional Conflict)

Synopsis:

For a brief synopsis of the history of this time and period: Click Here.

Historical synopsis courtesy of A Hypertext on American History from the colonial period until Modern Times by Department of Humanities Computing, University of Groningen, The Netherlands and the former United States Information Agency (1953-1999).

Key Facts:

• Lincoln did not recognize the secession of the Southern states in his inaugural address
• Virginia seceded with difficulty, taking Robert E Lee with it to the South.

Key Events:

• February 7, 1861 - Seven Southern states declare themselves the "Confederate States of America"
• March 4, 1861 - Lincoln is sworn in as president of the United States.
• April 12, 1861 - Southerners opened fire on federal troops at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.

Key Places:

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