The significant event that took place in Fort Sumter was the Battle of Fort Sumter, which was the initial battle of the Civil War.
Explanation:
The Attack on Fort Sumter took place from April 12 to April 13, 1861 near Charleston, South Carolina. The bombing and the surrender of Fort Sumter marked the start of the Civil War.
Shortly after Lincoln's victory in the 1860 presidential election, South Carolina had seceded. Another six Southern states followed in February 1861. On February 7, 1861, the seven states drafted a provisional constitution, following the example of the US constitution. They united in the Confederate States of America. The city of Montgomery, Alabama was chosen as the temporary capital. A peace conference was organized in Washington to resolve the disputes between the two parties, but it failed. The eight other states that had slaves refused to separate from the United States. All Northern forts within the confederation borders were seized, but Fort Sumter and three other forts were the exception to this. President Buchanan protested against the taking of the forts. However, he did not provide a military response, except for the failed attempt to supply the fort via the ship Star of the West. The governors of Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania had meanwhile discreetly begun purchasing weapons and training militia units.
Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as President on March 4, 1861. In his Inaugural speech, he stated that any separation from the United States of America was void because the constitution was a binding contract. He also stated that he did not intend to attack the Southern states militarily and that he did not want to end existing slavery, but that he would defend the Northern possessions. He ended his speech with the call to restore the Union.
Southern delegations were sent to Washington with a proposal for peace between North and South. The Confederates wanted to pay for the conquered possessions. Lincoln rejected any negotiation because he did not recognize the Confederation. The conclusion of an agreement would implicitly mean that Lincoln recognized the Confederation as an independent state. The Secretary of State, William Seward, nevertheless conducted indirect negotiations that ultimately failed.
Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina was one of the four forts not yet conquered by the South. Lincoln wanted to keep the fort at all costs, so he sent unarmed ships to supply the fort. Southern President Jefferson Davis gave command to Southern forces led by General P.G.T. Beauregard to bomb the fort on April 12 to force it to surrender, which happened. The Northern states all supported Lincoln, who called for the fortresses to be reclaimed and the Union to be preserved.
The states of Tennessee, Arkansas, North Carolina and Virginia refused to send troops against the South. They too separated themselves and joined the Southern Confederation. The port of Charleston would remain in Southern hands for the remainder of the war, but was blocked as much as possible by the Northern Navy. On April 5, 1865, the fort was finally recaptured by Northern units.
