Thanks for posting this. Yes that is the official reason, he gives, and is the legal reason for the war. The south committed acts of War, with the US by seizing US property. There is not much the Federal government could do legally, if they had decided to either give the Union their property or negotiated payment for the materials and facilities. Anderson, by his actions, committed, what the south considered and act of war, and southern response was an act of war. The South made a huge mistake in firing on Ft. Sumpter. after that war was inevitable and unavoidable. However, the events leading up to that were not in a vacuum or separate. My biggest concern is the polarization and the views of technicality. The attitudes of the regions developed from many different factors. Geographically, culturally, the North and south were very different, especially views on economics, class slavery, etc. but in essence. The South viewed the North to be Hypocrites, because the Rich New England manufacturers treated day laborer like slaves, and ensured that they were in essence chained, by debt, to the employer. And people overlook the slums and horrible conditions of the times in the cities. it was the haves and have nots, with a very small middle class of shop owners, service providers, small business enterprises, hired shop managers, Manufacturing supervisors. The North took great advantage of the Immigrants coming overs, especially those who spoke little or no English, had no money, no sponsor. They would put them up in substandard housing, give them credit for extremely overpriced goods at the company store, and were working for room and board, and having no money and very little much like slaves. When they became ill, or disabled and unable to work, they were tossed out on the streets. that is what the fire breathers in the South pointed out, the publications of the Antislavery newspapers villainizing the Southern Planter, just because they owned slaves, created an anger and a tension, that was going to explode no matter what, like an overfired steam boiler. The South had about the same class structure, with the planters at the top of the food chain. But in addition, there was a huge segment of the Southern population, which were described as "dirt poor Farmers." These were the poor, but highly independent farmers who made a somewhat comfortable life on their small farms, but basically had nothing. I also think that the Geographic regions that settlers and migrants were originally influenced the significant regional differences in North and South, especially the views of the Constitution, even though not illegally technically, the North viewed it as being illegal. The Majority over the North viewed it as illegal. and I think this view stems from the fact that they had to deal with the war of 1812 Secession attempt in New England states. I think how the officials dealt with it is a major factor in that erroneous view. The fact is the North was not going to tolerate the South from seceding whether it was legal or not. They also were much like spoilt brats and they wanted to keep blaming and punishing the South for their differences, especially Slavery.. The Northerner tended to favor diplomacy, and fabrication, while the South was prone to throw down the Male Bovine manure card, and may be prone to exaggeration. The South tended not to fabricate, but to exaggerate, and to be highly passionate, and they were not diplomatic. I believe the South threw down fighting words as well, which so outraged the North who were so incensed, they said a whole lot of fighting words back. That made the South want to leave. The North views Robert E Lee, and all the other Active Army Officers to be traitors, because they served the Confederacy. To those in the South it was a Continuation of the service to the Country. they viewed that the North had gone so far left, they could no longer consider that region a part of their country. Since the Capital and majority were up North, they formed their own Country. The South never intended to invade the North or to try and take over the Country. they wanted nothing to do anymore with the North, and even during the war, the South was trying to curry favor and develop the Nation further in the West. I also think when the North Realized that the South still intended to acquire the western territories, they felt it as a big or bigger threat than slavery, and the original secession. I believe, that that Congress felt had to act to prevent the west from becoming a part of the Confederacy. I also think that They also had great concern that the South was going to stir up the Indians in the West, to pull troops from the East. When you view it from the perspective of a personality difference between individuals, it would be A New York Business Executive coming to Arkansas, and telling a 7th generation where and how he can farm his own land, and who he can hire, how much he must pay his farm hands, and that he has to pay the New Yorker higher taxes, and forces him to by from the New York Executive. Most people understand the situation between individuals but not between the regions. The Arkansas Farmer, using a few phrases referring to the region the CEO is from, references to the Execs being the son of a female Canine, in very angry and undiplomatic tones and language. This would certainly start a feud between the two individuals. A think a significant similarity between the two exists.