@scenario
@width=540
@title=%string0
^^Length: %string1 to %string2
Slavery was an issue that had split the United States since its birth. 
Although many attempts were made at compromise, most notably the Missouri
Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act, they all
were ultimately unsuccessful.    
During the lame duck period after Licoln won over Northern Democrat Douglas
and Southern Democrat Calhoun, and before he was inaugurated, South Carolina
seceded from the Union eventually followed by 10 other states forming the
Confederate States of America under Jefferson Davis of Mississippi.  
In Licoln's inaugural address, Licoln did not make any direct threats against
the Confedreates but stated that the Union would last forever, and that he
would use all available power to hold federal possessions in the South.  On
April 12, South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter and forced it to surrender the
next day.  On April 15, Licoln called for Union troops to take back the fort,
and the Civil War began.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Caldwell 1996
@end
