Question
Why did South Carolina want to take
control of Fort Sumter?
They felt threatened by the U.S.
presence in their state.
They knew that it would start the
Civil War.
They did not like Major Anderson.
They wanted Fort Sumter to defend against the U.S. Army.
control of Fort Sumter?
They felt threatened by the U.S.
presence in their state.
They knew that it would start the
Civil War.
They did not like Major Anderson.
They wanted Fort Sumter to defend against the U.S. Army.
Ask by Crawford Owen. in the United States
Mar 29,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
They felt threatened by the U.S. presence in their state.
Solution
South Carolina’s desire to take control of Fort Sumter is rooted in the tensions leading up to the Civil War, particularly regarding states’ rights and federal authority.
Let’s evaluate each option:
They felt threatened by the U.S. presence in their state. This is a valid reason, as South Carolina viewed the federal presence as a threat to their sovereignty.
They knew that it would start the Civil War. While taking Fort Sumter did indeed lead to the outbreak of the Civil War, this was not necessarily the primary motivation for South Carolina.
They did not like Major Anderson. This may have been a factor, but it was not the main reason for wanting control of the fort.
They wanted Fort Sumter to defend against the U.S. Army. This reflects their desire to protect their state from what they perceived as federal aggression.
While all options have some truth, the most compelling reason is that South Carolina felt threatened by the U.S. presence in their state, which aligns with their broader concerns about federal authority and states’ rights.
Let’s evaluate each option:
They felt threatened by the U.S. presence in their state. This is a valid reason, as South Carolina viewed the federal presence as a threat to their sovereignty.
They knew that it would start the Civil War. While taking Fort Sumter did indeed lead to the outbreak of the Civil War, this was not necessarily the primary motivation for South Carolina.
They did not like Major Anderson. This may have been a factor, but it was not the main reason for wanting control of the fort.
They wanted Fort Sumter to defend against the U.S. Army. This reflects their desire to protect their state from what they perceived as federal aggression.
While all options have some truth, the most compelling reason is that South Carolina felt threatened by the U.S. presence in their state, which aligns with their broader concerns about federal authority and states’ rights.
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
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Simplify this solution Extra Insights
South Carolina felt a profound sense of threat from the U.S. military presence in Fort Sumter, viewing it as an infringement on their sovereignty following their secession from the Union in December 1860. They believed that having a federal fort in their midst was both a provocation and a potential threat to their newly claimed independence, making them keen to assert control over it before any hostilities erupted.
Furthermore, the situation was complicated by their fear that the federal government might reinforce the fort with more troops and supplies, thus solidifying U.S. control in a state that had just declared itself a separate entity. Capturing Fort Sumter was seen as a crucial step to both assert their independence and prevent potential federal retribution.
