The opening shots of the Civil War are traditionally marked by the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861. Union forces surrendered less than 34 hours later. For many, this event answers the question “What Year Was The Civil War?” and signifies the definitive beginning of the conflict. However, within the U.S. Senate at the time, the attack on Fort Sumter was seen as the culmination of a series of events that had been steadily leading the nation towards war.
The Election of Lincoln and the Seeds of Secession
The ground for the Civil War was laid months before the bombardment of Fort Sumter. The election of Abraham Lincoln on November 6, 1860, proved to be a pivotal moment. Lincoln’s victory, secured solely through votes from the North and representing the rise of the Republican Party, was a catalyst for the South. Just four days after the election, on November 10, Senator James Chesnut of South Carolina resigned his Senate seat. He returned to his home state to initiate the drafting of an ordinance of secession, demonstrating the immediate and forceful reaction in the South to Lincoln’s presidency. Senator James Hammond, also of South Carolina, followed suit, pledging his full support to the Confederacy.
The Senate Divided and the Secession Crisis
These dramatic resignations and the growing secessionist movement created a palpable crisis in Washington D.C. When the Senate convened for the 2nd session of the 36th Congress on December 3, 1860, the gravity of the situation was evident. Vice President John Breckinridge presided over a deeply fractured chamber. Even the opening prayer from the Senate chaplain reflected the somber mood, pleading for peace and unity amidst growing division. The absence of ten Southern senators during the roll call further underscored the escalating crisis.
As weeks passed, the secession crisis intensified. The Senate found itself grappling with empty seats and the eroding unity of the nation. Following Mississippi’s vote to secede on January 9, Senator Jefferson Davis delivered a stark warning to his colleagues. He declared that if they wished to prevent civil war, they still had a chance, but if not, a war unlike any seen before would be unleashed. By the end of January, six more senators had departed, and another three left in February. Ultimately, 25 senators, out of a body of 66, left to support the Confederacy. Even Vice President Breckinridge, though his home state of Kentucky remained with the Union, ultimately aligned with the South.
Efforts for Peace and the Inevitable Conflict
Even before Lincoln’s inauguration and the attack on Fort Sumter, the Senate was experiencing its own internal “civil war,” marked by division and resignations. Despite this turmoil, the Senate continued to perform its constitutional duties. During these critical months, they confirmed cabinet secretaries, a Supreme Court justice, and passed essential legislation, including the 1861 tariff bill for much-needed revenue. An attempt to avert war was made through the Committee of Thirteen, which considered peace proposals like Senator John Crittenden’s plan. Crittenden’s compromise aimed to extend the Missouri Compromise line to the Pacific, hoping to peacefully divide free and slave states. However, figures like Radical Republican Senator Charles Sumner rejected compromise, viewing secession as a “revolution,” not merely a political disagreement. Crittenden’s proposal failed, signaling the diminishing hope for a peaceful resolution.
Fort Sumter: The Spark of Open Conflict
By the time Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as president on March 4, 1861, the threat of Confederate action against Fort Sumter was looming. Northern Republicans and the abolitionist press were advocating for a firm response, demanding the reinforcement of Fort Sumter. Lincoln authorized resupplying the fort, but with food, not armaments, in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Despite this, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, leading to its fall. This event, while traditionally recognized as the start of the Civil War and providing the answer to “what year was the civil war?”, was preceded by months of political and social disintegration. Following Fort Sumter, Senator Stephen Douglas declared the stark reality of the moment: “Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war.” The lines were drawn, solidifying the division across the nation, a division that had been brewing and intensifying within the Senate for months prior to that fateful April day in 1861.
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