What did president Lincoln have to do with the Civil War again?

Answer 1

President Lincoln was committed to maintaining the Union and during his initial campaign for president he ensured the country that he would retain federal properties even if the States seceded. This included not only the 4 federal properties in Charleston harbor (including Fort Sumter) but the other properties such as the forts along the gulf of Mexico and mints such as the one in New Orleans.

After his election the States began to secede because his election represented federal interference in the Constitutionally protected rights of the States. The first shots of the War was not the firing on Fort Sumter but the firing on the unarmed ship “Star of the West” when President Buchanan tried to supply food to Fort Sumter.

President Lincoln was told by General Winfield Scott that it would take no less than 20,000 union troops to retain Fort Sumter and that such troops would take many months to acquire and train and move to the Fort and that it was better to let it go. President Lincoln listened to other civilians in his cabinet and decided for the troops (under manned and under supplied) at Fort Sumter to hold out. This occurred when the commander at For4t Sumter began an abandoning of Fort Sumter by moving the troops and civilians across the bay to another installation. Then under of cover of darkness he reinstalled his troops. South Carolina had already related to President Buchanan that supplying Fort Sumter would be considered an act of war. Then they made the same official report to the commander of Fort Sumter if he didn’t pull his troops out of the Fort. South Carolina considered Fort Sumter as South Carolina property after secession and Lincoln knew this. If President Lincoln hadn’t forced the issue the war would not have begun at that point.


None of this had anything had anything to do with slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation wasn't issued until 1863 and in fact freed no slves. Freeing the slaves didn't occur until the completing of the war and the 13th Amendment.

Answer 2

Lincoln was an excuse for secession not the reason. Remember a low level civil war had been being fought in Kansas since 1854. If Breckenridge or even possibly Douglas had been elected the odds are the south would not have succeeded in 1860 but the conflict between the north and south seems to have been enviable. As far as the numbers of people killer, the Civil War was a major case of advances in weaponry having out ran tactics.

Answer 3

Sometimes I wonder how a person can be so out of it that they have to ask such basic questions, like this one. President Lincoln was the president during the CIvil War. That in itself should answer the question. But he freed the slaves, and kept the country in tact. He was the commander in chief at the time.

Answer 4

President of the USA during the war. The split off of the CSA was, in many ways, attributed to the fact that he was elected President.

He gave the order to reinforce Fort Sumter, which led to the actual first shot of the Civil War.

He led the country throughout the length of the conflict.

Answer 5

Abraham Lincoln had nothing whatsoever to do with the Spanish Civil War.

Answer 6

He was inaugurated as President of the US shortly before it started and served as President throughout the war.

Answer 7

President Lincoln signed the paper to free the slaves......is that what you mean?

Answer 8

He was the actor that played the president in the movie.

Answer 9

What, the Chinese Civil War? Mao Tze Dong won that one...oops! Maybe you should DYOH

Answer 10

Emancipation proclamation freeing slaves.