He sent a fleet of heavily armed warships which invaded South Carolina's sovereign territory."
Noooooo.
There was no "fleet" in Charleston Harbor on April 11, there was only one small ship -- the Revenue Cutter USRC Harriet Lane arrived late in the day and never got anywhere close to "South Carolina's sovereign territory".
Jefferson Davis himself confessed he had no need to wait for a Union provocation, since:
- "There would be to us an advantage in so placing them [Lincoln] that an attack by them [Lincoln] would be a necessity, but when we are ready to relieve our territory and jurisdiction of the presence of a foreign garrison [Fort Sumter] that advantage is overbalanced by other considerations.
The case of Pensacola, [Ft. Pickens], then is reduced [to] the more palpable elements of a military problem and your measures may without disturbing views be directed to the capture of Fort Pickens and the defence of the harbor.
You will soon have I hope a force sufficient to occupy all the points necessary for that end.
As many additional troops as may be required can be promptly furnished.'
[Jefferson Davis to Braxton Bragg, 3 Apr 1861]
So, regardless of endless Lost Causer lies about this, Jefferson Davis himself confessed he didn't need to wait for Lincoln to provide him a pretext to start war at both Forts Sumter and Pickens.