<P> Eight remaining slave states continued to reject calls for secession . Outgoing Democratic President James Buchanan and the incoming Republicans rejected secession as illegal . Lincoln 's March 4 , 1861 , inaugural address declared that his administration would not initiate a civil war . Speaking directly to the `` Southern States '' , he attempted to calm their fears of any threats to slavery , reaffirming , `` I have no purpose , directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the United States where it exists . I believe I have no lawful right to do so , and I have no inclination to do so . '' After Confederate forces seized numerous federal forts within territory claimed by the Confederacy , efforts at compromise failed and both sides prepared for war . The Confederates assumed that European countries were so dependent on `` King Cotton '' that they would intervene , but none did , and none recognized the new Confederate States of America . </P>
<P> Eight remaining slave states continued to reject calls for secession . Outgoing Democratic President James Buchanan and the incoming Republicans rejected secession as illegal . Lincoln 's March 4 , 1861 , inaugural address declared that his administration would not initiate a civil war . Speaking directly to the `` Southern States '' , he attempted to calm their fears of any threats to slavery , reaffirming , `` I have no purpose , directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the United States where it exists . I believe I have no lawful right to do so , and I have no inclination to do so . '' After Confederate forces seized numerous federal forts within territory claimed by the Confederacy , efforts at compromise failed and both sides prepared for war . The Confederates assumed that European countries were so dependent on `` King Cotton '' that they would intervene , but none did , and none recognized the new Confederate States of America . </P>
who was the president when the civil war started
who was the president when the civil war started
Lincoln
Lincoln