The primary reason for the conflict at Fort Sumter was the secession of Southern states from the Union.

The main cause of the conflict at Fort Sumter was the secession of Southern states from the Union. After Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, several Southern states opted to secede, fearing that his administration would jeopardize slavery and their way of life. Fort Sumter, situated in Charleston, South Carolina, emerged as a symbol of the North-South struggle. The Confederacy regarded the fort as a crucial military stronghold, while the Union considered it essential for maintaining control. This confrontation ultimately sparked the Civil War, significantly changing the course of the nation.