The answers are taken from this link.
We begin with enumerated's explanation:
enumerated: "The South did not start the War of Northern Aggression.
The cause was a host of economic and political aggressions by the North, and finally, the North’s refusal to peacefully accept secession."
First, just so we're clear, there were three major events, with three separate lists of "reasons why".
Those three major events were:
- The first seven secessions before Fort Sumter, with "Reasons why" listed in one Ordinance (Alabama's), four official documents plus two unofficial but well known apologies -- Robert Rhett & Alexander Stephens.
- The beginning of Civil War at Fort Sumter, about which our Lost Causers try to claim that, 1) Confederate demands for surrender and then 2) assaulting Fort Sumter were not really Jefferson Davis' fault, but rather Lincoln's.
Here is the best explanation I’ve seen. - After Fort Sumter, secession of four Upper South states plus attempted secession of slaveholders in three Border States.
Virginia’s explanation is here.
Here are all thirteen Ordnances of Secession.
No Ordinance mentions slavery itself by name, though three (AL, MO, KY) refer to their “domestic institutions”, code for slavery.
Source: McClintock, “Lincoln and the Decision for War” c2008
- On December 8, 1860 Pres. Buchanan reminded South Carolina’s congressional delegation that disposition of Federal properties, such as Fort Sumter, was constitutionally a matter for Congress to decide.
[McClintock p86] - In mid-December 1860 Lincoln sent word to Gen. Scott: ”I shall be obliged to him to be as well prepared as he can be to either hold, or retake, the forts, as the case may require, at, and after, the inauguration.”
[McClintock p88] - On December 21, 1860 Pres. Buchanan issued orders authorizing Maj. Anderson to move his garrison to Fort Sumter, if necessary.
Anderson immediately moved from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter.
[McClintock p107] - In December 1860 most Northern Democrats decided in favor of Union and support for Maj. Anderson in Fort Sumter:
- ”Proponents of compromise had been urging their opponents for weeks to rise above party concerns and unite to save the Union.
Now, with civil war imminent… it appeared that a nonpartisan rallying to the Union was indeed under way – but not as conciliationists had envisioned it.- ’The Democrats are all coming over to our side.
You will soon have but one party in the north,’ a Detroit supporter assured Lincoln.
It seemed to be true everywhere, even in the hub of pro-Southern sentiment: ‘South Carolina is destroying the influence of all her friends here,’ wrote a New York conservative.
Another reported, ‘Many men a week or two ago in favor or concession are stiffening a little to resist all conciliation.
More than that, the reported acts of Buchanan and his Cabinet are making coercionists out of democrats.’
A travelling Republican congressman noted: ‘…The events at Charleston are fast making a united North.’ ”
Source: McClintock, “Lincoln and the Decision for War” c2008 p.111 - December 30, 1860: Pres. Buchanan responds to South Carolina demands for surrender of Fort Sumter that an attack on Fort Sumter would mean war.
- After the January 9 firing on Buchanan’s civilian supply ship Star of the West, Northern state legislatures condemned it and offered military support to the Federal government.
- On January 13 Buchanan told South Carolina’s envoy there would be no surrender of Fort Sumter.
- In early February, Buchanan again rejected another South Carolina demand to surrender Fort Sumter.
However, the decision to assault Fort Sumter was Jefferson Davis' and some now claim Lincoln "tricked" Davis.
But the truth is, Davis knew exactly what he was doing and chose war rather than waiting for negotiated settlements.
Davis’ reasons start here:
- ”Secession had been stopped at seven states.
The nascent confederacy was relatively tiny.- "At the very least, as the most modest of the Southern imperialists envisaged it, the full-grown Confederacy would have to include Virginia, Maryland, and other slaveholding states of the Upper South and the border."
“The Virginia convention voted 89-45 against secession on 4 April.
"Thus, in early April, it appeared that (unless something drastic were done) the Confederacy was doomed to carry on, if possible, as a mere string of seven states, an aborted empire.”
- "What was worse, it appeared that, given time, one or more of the seven might abandon the Confederacy and return to the Union.
If, in the lower South, true Unionists or 'reconstructionists' were few, they were nevertheless too numerous to suit the thoroughgoing, fire-eating secessionists.
Especially in Alabama, the home state of the Confederate government, reconstructionism in one guise or another seemed a threat to Southern independence. - "The outstanding secessionist, William L. Yancey, a resident of Montgomery, had failed to win election to the Confederate Congress.
In one Alabama town this 'fire-eater' had, in a sense, actually eaten fire: he had been burned in effigy.” - Confederate newspapers warned of trouble:
'We are in danger,' the _Charleston Mercury_ warned (March 25), 'of being dragged back eventually to the old political affiliation with the states and people from whom we have just cut loose.' "
[Ibid., pp. 132-133]"At the same time, another Confederate newspaper, the Mobile Mercury reported:
- ’The country is sinking into a fatal apathy and the spirit and even the patriotism of the people is oozing out under this do-nothing policy [regarding Fort Sumter]
If something is not done pretty soon, decisive, either evacuation or expulsion, the whole country will become so disgusted with the sham of southern independence that the first chance the people get at a popular election they will turn the whole movement topsy-turvy so bad that it never on earth can be righted again.’
[Quoted in Current, Ibid., p. 134]"So, by March 1861, some Confederates were already saying their new country was in trouble if something weren't done about Fort Sumter.
- And since January, ”Virginia was on record as saying she would join the confederacy if and when a war started:
- ”JOINT RESOLUTION concerning the position of Virginia in the event of the dissolution of the Union.
Adopted January 21, 1861.‘Resolved by the General Assembly of Virginia, That if all efforts to reconcile the unhappy differences existing between the two sections of the country shall prove to be abortive, then, in the opinion of the General Assembly, every consideration of honor and interest demands that Virginia shall unite her destiny with the slave-holding States of the South.’
[OR Series IV, Vol. I, p. 77]” - ”Davis had advisors who were urging him in that direction as well.
L.Q. Washington wrote:- ‘I fear the present Virginia Convention will not pass an ordinance of secession unless a collision or war ensues; then public feeling will force them to it.
There is a majority of old Federal submissionists, who got in by pretending to be resistance men.’ - ”One Alabamian had warned Davis,
- 'Unless you sprinkle blood on the face of the Southern people they will be back in the old Union in less than ten days.'
A sprinkle of blood, too, should bring the fence-sitters - -Virginia and the other border states--into the Confederate fold."
[W. A. Swanberg, _First Blood: The Story of Fort Sumter,_ p. 286] - ”These are the words of Virginian Roger Pryor, who, speaking to a Charleston audience on April 10, 1861, said,
- ’But I assure you that just as certain as tomorrow's sun will rise upon us, just so certain will Virginia be a member of the Southern Confederacy; and I will tell your Governor what will put her in the Southern Confederacy in less than an hour by Shrewsbury clock.
Strike a blow!’ [Ibid.,_ p. 289] - ”That same day, Davis received a telegram from [Fire Eater] Louis T. Wigfall, urging,
- ’General Beauregard will not act without your order.
Let me suggest to you to send the order to him to begin the attack as soon as he is ready.
Virginia is excited by the preparations, and a bold stroke on our side will complete her purposes.
Policy and prudence are urgent upon us to begin at once.’
[Wigfall to Davis, 10 Apr 1861, quoted in Richard N. Current, _Lincoln and the First Shot,_ p. 151] - ”Davis was already looking to start the war at Fort Pickens in Florida, knowing in advance the Federals were not going to attack.
- [Davis wrote to Bragg about Forts Sumter & Pickens] "It is scarcely to be doubted that for political reasons the U.S. govt. will avoid making an attack so long as the hope of retaining the border states remains.
There would be to us an advantage in so placing them that an attack by them would be a necessity, but when we are ready to relieve our territory and jurisdiction of the presence of a foreign garrison that advantage is overbalanced by other considerations.
The case of Pensacola 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 defense 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] - Of course, not every Confederate thought war would be a good idea.
”In the cabinet meeting, [CSA Secretary of State Robert] Toombs warned Davis that firing on Fort Sumter would inaugurate the Civil War.’Mr. President, at this time it is suicide, murder, and will lose us every friend at the North.
You will wantonly strike a hornet's nest which extends from mountain to ocean, and legions now quiet will swarm out and sting us to death.
It is unnecessary; it puts us in the wrong; it is fatal.’
[Robert Toombs to Jefferson Davis, quoted in W. A. Swanberg, _First Blood: The Story of Fort Sumter,_ p. 286] - ”But Davis knew this anyway.
He had predicted a civil war earlier.- "When Lincoln comes in he will have but to continue in the path of his predecessor to inaugurate a civil war"
[Jefferson Davis to Franklin Pierce, 20 Jan 1861] - ”Davis went ahead and ordered the fort reduced.
It was actually a good strategic move.
It immediately brought 4 additional states into the confederacy, including, most critically, Virginia, and there had been a possibility of bringing a total of 7 in.
Had all those 7 come into the confederacy, there would have been no way for the Union to prevail.
Lincoln knew the border states were crucial.
So did Davis.
It unified the confederate populace and suppressed thoughts of reconstructionism as they rallied around the confederacy.
The malaise talk of March and early April ceased at once and was replaced with patriotic exhortations and renewed recruiting of young men into the army. - ”… if we look at the total situation, the viewpoint that Davis ordered the firing on Fort Sumter to bring the upper south and the border states into the confederacy fits the entire situation, whereas the viewpoint that Davis was merely passively reacting to bold, brilliant strategic moves made by Lincoln until he finally had to attack because there was no alternative is a misrepresentation of Davis and does him a great disservice.”
Bottom line: Davis was urged into war at Fort Sumter by Confederate Fire Eaters and accurately warned against war by CSA Secretary of State Robert Toombs.
Davis chose war, for reasons which should be obvious to anyone willing to look.