[DiogenesLamp]

The South had made it clear they were not going to allow the fort to be resupplied. That meant the ships would be engaging them. Everyone on both sides knew this was going to immediately turn to force. Nobody had any illusions that they were simply going to step out of the way and allow something they had been preventing for 3 months already.

Warships meant war. You talk about Toombs, now go read what the members of Lincoln's cabinet told him. Lincoln had the advantage of at least five other people telling him this was going to start a war. And it did.

Lincoln started the war. He did it with the full knowledge that it would cause a war.

[Mr Rogers]

“The South had made it clear they were not going to allow the fort to be resupplied...Lincoln started the war.”

So...Lincoln started the war by not unilaterally giving in to southern demands?

WHO FIRED FIRST?

None of this, “But Mommy, he MADE me hit him first” nonsense. Lincoln refused to surrender a US fort to the Confederates. The SOUTH CHOSE to make the first strike. And ever since, they get to deal with it! The South chose to start the war.

[Bull Snipe]

Davis started the war. He did it with the full knowledge that it would cause a war.