The bombardment of Fort Sumter marked the opening salvo of the Civil War. In April 1861, Confederate forces in Charleston Harbor fired upon this Union-held fort, challenging federal authority and signaling that the conflict between state interests and national unity had reached a breaking point. This aggressive act not only initiated military hostilities but also underscored the profound ideological and political divisions in the United States, setting the stage for a prolonged struggle over justice, sovereignty, and human dignity.