The war really began when Lincoln called for volunteers. There was no other purpose for this than to force the South back into the Union.
The first shots were fired at Fort Pickens, but the real start was when the North decided to resupply Ft. Sumter.
This fort blocked the major port of the South.
Sorry! All that I remember was that the South attacked Fort Sumtner (Sp?) (I think that fort). Didn't know who provoked the other just knew that the North had not been openly agressive and the South attacked. Still, Lee was a great man(as I've said 2previous times).