The Road to the Civil War

• Seven southern states seceded from the Union due to Lincoln's election and fear of federal invasion.
• Lincoln promised not to end slavery where it existed but stated his intention to preserve the Union.
• Confederate officials began seizing branches of the federal mint, arsenals, and military outposts.
• Secretary of State Seward suggested a united effort of threatening war against Spain and France to avoid war between the states.
• The spark that started the Civil War occurred at Fort Sumter, a federal outpost in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter, which surrendered after 34 hours of cannon blasts.
• The Civil War had begun, and the Union was badly broken.
• Lincoln refused to recognize secession, declaring the Union to be "unbroken."
• Saving the Union would help to save democracy, and if the Union failed, monarchs could say that people were unable to rule themselves.
• The assault on Fort Sumter was the "last ray of hope" for preserving the Union, according to Lincoln.

Think you know your Civil War history? Test your knowledge with this quiz on the events leading up to the start of the war. From the secession of southern states to the attack on Fort Sumter, this quiz covers the pivotal moments that ultimately led to the Union and Confederacy going to war. See if you can recall the key players, motivations, and strategies involved in one of the most significant events in American history.