1861 marked the beginning of a profound national crisis. The year commenced with political tensions reaching a breaking point, culminating in the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April. This event signaled the collapse of national unity, as secessionist states and the Union clashed over issues of sovereignty, slavery, and political authority. The military mobilizations and early battles of 1861 laid the groundwork for a war that would dramatically reshape both the nation’s political landscape and its moral commitments.