The immediate consequence of the bombardment was the surrender of Fort Sumter by the Union forces.

The direct result of the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April 1861 was the surrender of the fort by Union troops. After withstanding relentless artillery fire for 34 hours, Major Robert Anderson and his roughly 100 soldiers, facing insurmountable odds, were forced to surrender. This event marked a pivotal moment at the start of the Civil War, as the fall of Fort Sumter energized the Confederacy and strengthened Northern determination. The surrender not only signified the beginning of the conflict but also spurred a surge in enlistments in the Union Army, as citizens united to defend the Union against Confederate aggression.