What event in 1861 started the civil war?

The Civil War in the United States began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. This attack followed the secession of several Southern states from the Union in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln. The conflict marked the beginning of a brutal war over issues including states' rights and slavery. The attack on Fort Sumter prompted Lincoln to call for troops, solidifying the division between the North and South.