why was sumter an important fort and how did its fall affect bot the union and the confederacy?

Answer 1

Until the day that the South fired on the North at Fort Sumter, which was located in the harbor area of Charleston, South Carolina, the Union was at odds on how to deal with the secession of the Southern States, which had formed their own government but were essentially economically strangled by the Union Navy, which closed ports in the South. There had been no fire exchange until that moment in time, and attempts were made for reconciliation between the two parties before this moment in the war. When the South gained control of Charleston Harbor by overtaking Fort Sumter, a Union stronghold after the split of the Union, there was a leverage for the South because they had created a hole in the Union's blockade of the Atlantic coast, an attempt to strangle the economy of the South into submission (deep subject on state's rights vs. federal is the main topic of the war). Had Fort Sumter fallen sooner out of the hands of the South and back into the hands of the Union, who had tried repeatedly to regain control by destroying the fort, the War of the Rebellion may have ended sooner than it actually did.
Another scenario which could have ended the Rebellion quickly would have been an earlier control of the state of Virginia by the North, since they fought most of their battles in Virginia and tried repeatedly to regain Virginia from the South.

Answer 2

It was in the center of Charleston harbor. It could interfer with shipping. It was indefensable from a land bombardment, so it's tatical importance was minor.

It was a symbol to both sides. Since South Carolina was the first state to leave the union, this was a sign that the union still held territory there. The South wanted to push a fight, since the Navy could blockade them into submission.

When the fort was attacked Lincoln was freed of constraints and called for volunteers. Without a conflict started by the South, the North would have been reluctant to fight.