Final Answer:
The first shots of the Civil War were fired by the Confederacy at Fort Sumter.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fort Sumter, located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, was a Union-held fort at the outbreak of the American Civil War. On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard initiated the conflict by bombarding the fort, marking the beginning of the Civil War. The Union garrison, commanded by Major Robert Anderson, eventually surrendered after a two-day siege.
This event was a culmination of tensions between the Northern and Southern states over issues like states' rights, slavery, and secession. The Confederates considered Fort Sumter as an intrusion on their sovereignty, demanding its evacuation. However, the Union refused to abandon the fort, leading to the Confederate attack. The ensuing battle not only signaled the start of the Civil War but also galvanized both sides in their respective causes.
The significance of Fort Sumter lies in its symbolic initiation of the bloodiest conflict in American history, which lasted four years and resulted in significant social, political, and economic changes. The firing upon Fort Sumter acted as a catalyst, intensifying the divide between the Northern and Southern states and ultimately leading to a full-scale war that shaped the course of American history.