The National Park Service Website says, "Decades of growing strife between North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back." Major Robert Anderson surrendered the outpost and was as dignified in surrender as he was in resuming command.

• Did all the Southern states join South Carolina in its actions in April, 1861?
• What was Lincoln's immediate response to the loss of Fort Sumter?
• What were the major conflicts brought about by so-called Fire-eaters?