Who Was Right in the Civil War

When the Confederate States of America seceded from the Union, Abraham Lincoln was correct in holding Fort Sumter, while Jefferson Davis was wrong in attacking Fort Sumter. When South Carolina seceded from the Union 1860 President Buchanan ruled that secession was illegal, although nothing could be done. Since secession was illegal that meant that the United States of America did not view the Confederate States as a sovereign nation, that made Fort Sumter and American controlled fort.

When South Carolina seceded it was believed that other states would only secede after the newly formed Confederacy showed their strength, Charleston Mercury even said "states....never join...indicated...power"(Document C), simply put, more states would never secede unless they saw that the Confederacy was ready and willing to fight. Edmund Ruffin also stated that "shedding...blood...change...secession"(Document E) This held true, within months of the attacks more states seceded proving that it was necessary for the South to attack the North in some way to gain more support. However, the attack against Fort Sumter was highly discouraged by many people because they feared that it would be creating nothing but trouble for the newly formed confederacy. In a cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Robert Toombs warned President Jefferson Davis that an attack on Fort Sumter is "...Unnecessary...puts in wrong...fatal" (Document F), and Toombs was correct in his warning. At the outbreak of war the government instated a draft, even thought it was unpopular in the North, it mobilized thousands of people who would go off to war to preserve the Union.

Lincoln was correct when he decided to hold Fort Sumter; since secession was considered unconstitutional the United States did not view the Confederacy as a sovereign nation. That meant that that South had no control of the fort. Also in his inaugural address President Lincoln stated that he would "Hold, occupy and possess...property" (Document A). Lincoln had every right to hold onto Union territory, if he willingly surrendered the fort to the confederacy, he would be letting them leave the Union without problems, showing the rest of the nation that he was a pacifist, and it would have also lead to more stated seceding because they saw him as weak and no trouble would result from secession.

When Jefferson Davis decided to besiege Fort