What about the US warships that were sent to supply Fort Sumter? Were they not in South Carolina waters? Is that not an act of war?
You can read any number of sources and come to the conclusion that the firing on Ft. Sumter did not push the border states into the Confederacy. The border states were willing to stay in the Union provided the cotton sates were not coerced into staying. The planned invasion of the South forced the border states to make their decision. If a Union soldier would have asked a Confederate soldier why they fought, the great majority would say “because you are here.”
The fact is, the federal government lost the consent of the governed in those states that seceded.
No, they were in American waters. However, I agree that it was an act of war to fire upon them.
“because you are here.”
The best yet...So simple.
At the time the Confederacy opened fire the ships were not in South Carolina waters. And I believe Lincoln sent a letter to the governor of South Carolina stating that if the ships were allowed to land provisions then no troops or munitions would be landed and the status quo would continue. Apparently the Confederates were not interested in that.
You can read any number of sources and come to the conclusion that the firing on Ft. Sumter did not push the border states into the Confederacy. The border states were willing to stay in the Union provided the cotton sates were not coerced into staying. The planned invasion of the South forced the border states to make their decision. If a Union soldier would have asked a Confederate soldier why they fought, the great majority would say “because you are here.”
There is no doubt that the border states were on the fence until the Confederacy started the war and they were forced to choose sides. But for the Confederacy to complain about an invasion is no different than Egypt or Syria complaining about Israeli invasions in 1973. Strictly speaking Israel did invade both countries. But had Egypt and Syria not started the war then there wouldn't have been an invasion. Likewise the Confederacy chose war. Since they did it then they can't really complain when the war doesn't go the way they would have liked.
The fact is, the federal government lost the consent of the governed in those states that seceded.
And those states that seceded lost everything when they chose to start a war.
Ask a Union soldier why they fought and the great majority would say "because you started it."