agreed that the dismantling of the Union could not be tolerated. In his second inaugural address, Lincoln looked back on the situation at the time and said: "Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the Nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came." Civil War Major Robert Anderson, commander of the Union's Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, sent a request for provisions to Washington, and Lincoln's order to meet that request was seen by the secessionists as an act of war. On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Union troops at Fort Sumter and began the fight. Historian Allan Nevins argued that the newly inaugurated Lincoln made three miscalculations: underestimating the gravity of the crisis, exaggerating the strength of Unionist sentiment in the South, and overlooking Southern Unionist opposition to an invasion. William Tecumseh Sherman talked to Lincoln during inauguration week and was "sadly disappointed" at his failure to realize that "the country was sleeping on a volcano" and that the South was preparing for war. Donald concludes that, "His repeated efforts to avoid collision in the months between inauguration and the firing on Ft. Sumter showed he adhered to his vow not to be the first to shed fraternal blood. But he also vowed not to surrender the forts. The only resolution of these contradictory positions was for the confederates to fire the first shot; they did just that." On April 15, Lincoln called on the states to send a total of 75,000 volunteer troops to recapture forts, protect Washington, and "preserve the Union", which, in his view, remained intact despite the seceding states. This call forced states to choose sides. Virginia seceded and was rewarded with the designation of Richmond as the Confederate capital, despite its exposure to Union lines. North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas followed over the following two months. Secession sentiment was strong in Missouri and Maryland, but did not prevail; Kentucky remained neutral. The Fort Sumter attack rallied Americans north of the Mason-Dixon line to defend the nation. As States sent Union regiments south, on April 19, Baltimore mobs in control of the rail links attacked Union troops who were changing trains. Local leaders' groups later burned critical rail bridges to the capital and the Army responded by arresting local Maryland officials. Lincoln suspended the writ of
{
        'QUESTION: Who was the President when the civil war started?' : 'Answer: Abraham Lincoln',
        'QUESTION: What event marked the beginning of the civil war?' : 'Answer: The Confederate forces firing on Union troops at Fort Sumter.',
        'QUESTION: Why did the Confederate forces attack Fort Sumter?' : 'Answer: They saw Lincoln\'s order to provide supplies to Fort Sumter as an act of war and decided to take action against it.',
        'QUESTION: How did Lincoln respond after the Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter?' : 'Answer: He asked for 75,000 volunteers from different states to recapture forts, protect Washington, and preserve the Union.',
        'QUESTION: Which state became the new Confederate capital after Virginia seceded?' : 'Answer: Richmond.',
        'QUESTION: Did all southern states decide to join the Confederacy?' : 'Answer: No, some states such as Missouri, Maryland, and Kentucky did not fully secede.',
        'QUESTION: What happened in Baltimore after the states started sending Union regiments south?' : 'Answer: Mob attacks occurred on Union troops changing trains, leading to the burning of critical rail bridges and the arrest of local Maryland officials.',
        'QUESTION: What significant decision did Lincoln make regarding the conflict?' : 'Answer: He suspended the writ of habeas corpus, allowing him to arrest people without trial if necessary.',
        }