Fort Sumter and the First Shots of the American Civil War

What was Abraham Lincoln's main goal as stated in his first address to the country?

• To preserve the Union

• To abolish slavery

• To expand the United States

• To negotiate with the Confederacy

Which state was the first to secede from the Union after Lincoln's election?

• South Carolina

• Florida

• Georgia

• Texas

Why did South Carolina fire on Fort Sumter?

• They saw the supply ship as an act of aggression

• They wanted to start the Civil War

• They were ordered by the Confederacy

• They wanted to capture the fort

What was the significance of Fort Sumter in the context of Northern power?

• It was one of the last strongholds of Northern power in the South

• It was the largest fort in the South

• It was a major supply depot

• It was a symbol of Southern resistance

How did Lincoln view the secession of the southern states?

• As something that could not happen without consequences

• As a peaceful transition

• As a permanent separation

• As a minor issue

What was the Confederacy's belief about Fort Sumter?

• That it no longer belonged to the United States

• That it was a threat to their independence

• That it was a neutral territory

• That it was a Confederate stronghold

What was the immediate consequence of the firing on Fort Sumter?

• The beginning of the American Civil War

• The surrender of the fort

• The retreat of Union forces

• The negotiation of a peace treaty

According to the text, what did South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas call themselves when they seceded from the Union?

• the United States

• the Confederate States of America

• Fort Sumter

• the American Civil War

What was the effect of South Carolina firing on Fort Sumter and demanding the fort to surrender?

• Lincoln was elected president of the United States.

• Seven southern states seceded from the Union.

• The American Civil War had begun.

• Lincoln sent a supply ship to Fort Sumter.

Read this paragraph from the text.

Fort Sumter, a U.S. fort, was located in South Carolina. The fort had not received supplies for a long time. The men there had very little left to eat. South Carolina would not even allow food to be brought to the fort because South Carolina believed that Fort Sumter no longer belonged to the United States. Lincoln knew he could not let this fort collapse. It was one of the last strongholds of Northern power in the South. He had to send a supply ship.

Based on this evidence, what conclusion can you make about Fort Sumter?

• The fort was important to the Union and the Confederacy.

• People did not care about the fort and the men there.

• The fort was the strongest fort in the United States.

• People wanted to punish the fort because it was located in South Carolina.