Did Lincoln start the civil war?

Answer 1

Yes

Lincoln realized that war was necessary to preserve the Union. He created a plan to make the South start the war by firing the first shot. The battle at Fort Sumter is the official start of the war. The conflict began years before. Lincoln said that he knew with absolute certainty that the division of the United States into two parts was decided long before the Civil War by the financial powers of Europe. World bankers wanted to control the money in the US and a strong united country would make it difficulty for them. By making slavery an issue in the minds of the public, they could and did divide the nation. They supported the Confederacy.

Lincoln's plan to put the South in the wrong:

Neither the people of the North or the South wanted war. Lincoln knew that he would have to motivate the North to fight. Lincoln knew that the department of the Navy was loaded with Southern sympathizers. Any orders going through that department would also be known by the Southern leadership. Lincoln knew that the South would not permit the North to claim the property located in its Southern port. Lincoln ordered the Department of the Navy to prepare for the reinforcement of Fort Sumter, knowing the South would also know of these plans. Lincoln ordered 4 warships (Powhatan, Harriet Lane, Pawnee, and Pocahontas) with 715 officers and men with an aggregate of 38 heavy guns to be sent to Fort Sumter. He also sent a large transport steamer with 200 Infantry solders and boats loaded with supplies. Lincoln also sent 3 sea going tugs to pull the heavy laden supply boats over the Charleston sand bar. Lincoln also ordered the captains to assemble 10 miles from the harbor and wait until all ships and supplies had arrived. Then the Powhatan would be the lead ship for the expedition and all orders would come from the Powhatan.

In secret Lincoln ordered the Powhatan to Pensacola. All the ships off Charleston harbor could do nothing but wait. The South could see the collecting armada and felt deceived and threatened by this large show of force. They knew it was necessary to take the fort as soon as possible, so they opened fire. The civil war had begun and Lincoln tricked the South into war.