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G8.2* ©2013 Integrated Lessons.com 1

The Battle of Fort Sumter *

1 The decades before the Civil War were very violent because of

states’ rights and slavery. Abolitionists, or those who opposed

slavery, and pro-slavery supporters fought around the country.

The north and south of the U.S. quickly grew apart. Northerners

mostly wanted to end slavery while southern landowners forced

thousands of slaves to work the cotton and tobacco fields.

Southerners felt slavery was vital to their economy. They

wanted the right to decide if it would be legal in the south. The

North disagreed.

2 Abraham Lincoln was elected president in late 1860, and he wanted to stop the spread of slavery. However, this was the last

straw for the south. On December 20 of that year South Carolina

seceded from the Union. Ten more southern states joined it over

the next few months because they wanted to form their own

country where slavery would be protected. These states named themselves the Confederate States of America. The war was

approaching.

3 In the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina sat Fort Sumter. This fort was nearly finished construction. It was a five-sided

fortress was built on a man-made island and had three tiers. Across from Fort Sumter sat Fort Moultrie and both would

protect the city of Charleston from enemy ships with crossing fire. Sumter was supposed to have an impressive 135

cannons, but on the eve of the Civil War the fort only had 60, and was empty of any men.

4 The Union commander of Fort Moultrie was Major Robert Anderson. He realized that his present position was dangerous.

His fort was surrounded by Confederate, or Rebel, forces. The major felt that being in Fort Sumter would be safer and easier

to defend. So in the early morning hours of December 26, Anderson secretly led his men out into the harbor and occupied

Sumter. Then, the major quickly went about increasing the fort’s defenses.

5 When the Confederates saw the Union troops in Fort Sumter they immediately realized the threat. The Union could keep

out any supply ships from Charleston. Goods could not be bought or sold. On April 11, Confederate General Beauregard

sent men out to Major Anderson and demanded his surrender. Major Anderson refused. Several hours later, the

Confederates tried again to convince the Union troops to give up but failed.

6 In the early morning of April 12, 1861, the Confederates bombarded Fort Sumter. The Civil War had begun. The Union

forces responded, shooting their small number of cannons at the Confederates. Cannon balls shot across the harbor from one

fort to the next, and thunderous booms shook Charleston. Explosions in the sky looked like fireworks. The people of

Charleston found the fighting exciting, so they had picnics on the hills around the harbor to watch the battle. As the fighting

raged, the officer barracks in the center of the fort caught fire and added to the smoke from the cannons. After working hard

to keep the flames from exploding the gunpowder, the Union forces were exhausted and out of food. Nearly all of the

ammunition was used. Major Anderson realized that there was no point in continuing the losing battle. After 34 hours of

fighting he surrendered to General Beauregard.

7 The Confederates allowed the Union troops to join the Federal ships outside the harbor. As Anderson and his men left, the

rebels saluted them in a sign of respect for their valor. The South took over Ft. Sumter and began repairs and resupplying for

war. Amazingly, not a single soldier had been killed during the battle. Major Anderson returned to the north as a hero. After

this, President Lincoln called for 75,000 new soldiers to put down the rebellion. Sadly, both sides had no idea that the Civil

War would be the bloodiest and most destructive war in the history of the United States.

Battle of Fort Sumter

G8.2* ©2013 Integrated Lessons.com 2

Directions: read the questions below and circle the best answer.

6. What would be a synonym for the word bombarded in paragraph 6?

A. attacked B. received C. threw D. bombed *

1. What two major issues caused southern states to leave the Union?

A. South Carolina seceding

and the election of Lincoln

B. election of Abraham

Lincoln and states’ rights

C. States’ rights and

slavery *D. violence over slavery and

the taking of Fort Sumter

2. True or False. People of the Confederacy were called Rebels.

A. True * B. False

3. True or False. The North fired the first shot of the Civil War.

A. True B. False *

4. Why was Fort Sumter so important?

A. it lacked cannons B. it guarded the city of

Charleston from enemy ships

*

C. it was a finished fort

ready for war

D. it was the only fort near

Charleston

5. Which of the following events happened first?

A. General Beauregard

demands surrender of fort

B. South Carolina secedes

from the Union *C. The Confederacy forms D. Anderson's men take boats

during night and take fort

7. This article would best be classified as—

A. fantasy B. historical fiction C. a biography D. historical nonfiction *

Battle of Fort Sumter

G8.2* ©2013 Integrated Lessons.com 3

8. Which word best completes the analogy?

Union is to the North as Confederacy is to

A. government B. federal C. the West D. the South *

13. Which of the following would be the best title for paragraph 2?

A. Slavery Will End B. Lincoln is Elected C. War is Declared D. The Confederacy is Born *

A. joined B. broke away * C. changed D. added

12. Using context clues, what does the word seceded mean in paragraph 2?

10. Which resource would you use to find an antonym for the word surrounded from paragraph 4?

A. a dictionary B. a thesaurus * C. an atlas D. an almanac

11. Which research question would best be answered by this article?

A. Why did the South

secede from the Union?

B. How did the South take

over Union bases?

C. What happened during

the battle of Ft. Sumter? *D. Who was Major Robert

Anderson?

9. Which statement belongs in the empty box?

Cause Effect

Anderson and his men take over the

fort during the night

?

A. The Confederates order

Anderson to give up fort *B. The Rebels bombard

Sumter

C. Anderson surrenders D. South succeeds from the

Union