Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What significant event took place at Fort Sumter?

1. The end of the Civil War

2. Union forces surrendered

3. Southern forces fired on Fort Sumter, starting the Civil War

4. The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation

The correct answer is: Southern forces fired on Fort Sumter, starting the Civil War

The significance of the event at Fort Sumter lies in its role as the site where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. This confrontation occurred on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked the Union-held fort located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The attack marked a pivotal moment in American history, as it signified the official beginning of hostilities between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy) that had seceded from the Union. The firing upon Fort Sumter galvanized public opinion, leading to widespread support for the Union cause and a surge in enlistments for the Union Army. It symbolized the breakdown of political negotiations and compromises that had attempted to resolve the conflicts between the North and South over issues such as states' rights and slavery. The event led to President Abraham Lincoln calling for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion, further escalating the conflict that would unfold in the ensuing years. Other events listed, such as the end of the Civil War, involved different contexts and timelines, while the surrender of Union forces refers to a subsequent situation at Fort Sumter when it was finally surrendered by Union troops to the Confederates after a 34-hour bombardment. The signing